Change Africa Podcast

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Amini Kajunju is the Executive Director of the International University of Grand Bassam (a private university in La Cote D'Ivoire ) Foundation. Amini was the first African President and CEO of the Africa-America Institute (AAI) - the oldest non-profit organization of its kind in the US - where she initiated and directed the programs in higher education and skills training, including the Future Leaders Legacy Fund, William Tubman AAI Nursing Scholarship, East African Development Bank STEM scholarship fund and the State of Education in Africa conference. We began our conversation by exploring her experience at the AAI and how crucial it is to give global educational opportunities to Africa's best and brightest at the advanced level. We talk about what a world-class education is, making it Africa-relevant and the resources needed to create one. At the crux of the conversation was how we make quality education accessible for the bright but needy. Amini also shared her views on the role of both governments and private organizations in giving access to and practicalizing skill-based learning. This episode is also about the future of edtech, teacher training and motivation, mentorship, education investment, and why the African diaspora should consider coming back home to build the continent.

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Adisa Amanor-Wilks is the founder and CEO of Abjel Communications, a social enterprise communications agency focused on Africa, and a former journalist of 18 years’ experience working in the public, private and charity sectors across continents. As the first Ghanaian on the podcast, Kojo and Adisa challenge the ideas of the known Ghanaian hospitality into a rabbit hole of tracing our counter-perspectives to independence/pre-colonial times, even African unity and identity.

Adisa takes us through her path to journalism with a passionate tribute to some of Ghana's giants in the industry, the role of Radio-Univers, a student-based mentorship-focused radio in constantly shaping illustrious journalists, and how rote education needs to embrace such practicality. We talk about her decision to emigrate to the UK, why she started her communication agency, the struggles of being a single founder, and the inspirational story of the non-profit, DWIB Leukemia Trust, in which she serves as trustee.

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Visit the DWIB Leukaemia Trust at https://www.dwibuk.org/

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In this episode, we speak with Marie Lora-Mungai, the founder of Restless Global, an advisory firm that collaborates with organisations and financiers to bridge the gap between investors and local talents, paving the way for Africa's flourishing homegrown creative and sports sectors.

Marie's journey, rooted in her background as a journalist covering African stories, took an inspiring turn when she experienced the vibrancy of Nairobi. This eye-opening encounter shattered her misconceptions and ignited her fervour to showcase African innovation and creativity. Together with the talented cartoonist Gado, she birthed the groundbreaking "XYZ Show," a fearless political satire program that fearlessly tackled societal frustrations, sparking critical conversations that transcended mere entertainment.

The episode delves into the challenges and strides of the African creative industry. Hindered by limited infrastructure, funding avenues, global exposure, and cultural biases, African talent has often been overlooked on the international stage. However, positive shifts have emerged. Digital platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Apple Music have become catalysts for global reach, offering African content unprecedented visibility. With increased investment, collaborations, and growing cultural appreciation, the stage is set for higher-quality content production and broader exposure for African talent.

Marie sheds light on the complex task of cultivating a talent base for African homegrown industries. Historically, African creators have faced barriers in accessing education and resources, resulting in a shortage of skilled scriptwriters and content producers. While initiatives like Netflix's workshops and training programs aim to address this gap, developing a robust talent pool will take time. Marie emphasises the significance of nurturing local talent and producing quality content to attract investment and foster thriving creative industries.

Additionally, Marie unveils insights from her groundbreaking report on the African film industry, commissioned by UNESCO in 2021. This comprehensive study offers a panoramic view of the audiovisual landscape across all 54 African nations. Marie highlights the burgeoning interest in African content and the potential for a local production boom. She acknowledges the challenges impeding progress and the intricate web of bureaucracy and hurdles aspiring filmmakers face.

Links and Resources:

• Find Marie Lora-Mungai on LinkedIn
• Read her Newsletter, Hustle and Flow and her UNESCO report
• This podcast is produced by Nexa Media

Do you have a question for our hosts, email us at [email protected]

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Donald Ambe is a political activist who hails from Buea in Cameroon. He is a pan-African at heart whose life’s mission is the betterment of the lives of Africans across the world. He also mentors several young political aspirants within the student milieu.

Donald’s drive for activism began during his time as a young student when he discovered his fascination with leadership and student governance. Our conversation centered on African political dynamics and how to sanitize the inefficiency of political leadership in Africa. Donald elaborates on what he calls “the reduction of the African story”, which fuels great misrepresentation of the achievement and identity of the continent.

Donald sees the political mandate of the African leader through a timeline spectrum; the leaders of the struggle for independence focused on liberation, but today’s leaders must be concerned about economic prosperity.

Donald discusses his affiliation with the Julius Malema-led Economic Freedom Fighters. He highlights the need for the EFF’s unique approach of a blend between radicalism and civility as an important tool for keeping African leaders on their toes and consistently accountable to the people.

Donald agrees with the importance of a homogenized African currency, however, he has concerns about the relationships with colonial masters and the need for African states such as the francophone countries to disentangle themselves from colonial influence and to chart a path towards holistic liberation. Donald believes that the increased competition between global superpowers presents Africa with a unique opportunity to develop and to grow stronger through strategic positioning and negotiations.

The conversation draws to a close as we engage Donald’s work with training young African leaders. He identifies apathy as the first hurdle young people need to cross to contribute effectively to the development of the continent. He believes the involvement of the youth as the active and energetic workforce of the continent through constant messaging is the key to Africa taking its place as a behemoth within the global political and economic space.

We end on Donald’s optimistic view of the future of Africa. He believes that with consistent and intentional efforts, Africa would be able to realize its full potential.

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