Sally Osberg as master of ceremonies at Skoll Awards 2011

Sally Osberg, president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation, says “we all want to change the world.” She then gives more opening remarks at the 2011 Skoll Awards ceremony.

I'm not saying anything yet Arch, you're already laughing. You know the best thing about being up here is I don't have to look at that picture. Anyway, you know, begins the second line of a great song by a great British songwriter. 'We all want to change the world.' John Lennon was right. We all want to.

But tonight, we're here to celebrate those rare women and men who don't just want to, they do. Welcome to Oxford, to new theater and to this special moment in the forum when we confer the Skoll awards for social entrepreneurship. I'm Sally Osberg of the Skoll Foundation, and it's my privilege to be your Master of Ceremonies tonight.

I also hope that all those of you who've attended this occasion in the past are really liking you're new theater, new seats. It's an inside joke but if you haven't been here in the past just you know wiggle around because it was different let me tell you. We have a truly special program this evening, one which will take us, by way of the remarkable women and men we celebrate, to 17 countries.

In Africa, North America and Asia. We begin our journey in Senegal where Babba Maal was born. Not into the Griot caste that would have predicted his musical talent but to a fisherman's family. With the encouragement of his mother and his family's Griot friends The blind guitarist, Mansour Seck, Bubba Maal's talent blossomed.

His distinctive style comes from his own distinctive study of formal and traditional music. Orchestral, R and B, soul, reggae, pop and native African. Today Baaba Maal is an international phenomenon, who uses his celebrity to promote AIDS awareness environmental stewardship, and social justice. Please welcome a great conscience and a brilliant musician with his band Baaba Maal.

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