Limitless Africa

Maya Horgan Famodu is the founder of Ingressive Capital, the venture capital fund investing in early-stage African start-ups. She has advised American tech companies like Facebook, X and the iconic accelerator Y Combinator. Maya is one of a new generation of African Americans who see their mixed background as a superpower and expertly straddle what it means to be both American and Nigerian.[0.00] Intro [4.02] What it means to be a third-culture kid [7.09] Ageist and sexist attitudes in Nigeria [10.13] Hanging out with Drake [16.31] How Andela's success inspired her [19.05] Why success is never an overnight thing [20.40] Years spent convincing the most influential corporations and venture capital funds to go to Africa [22.20] How to sell Africa [30.10] How to find an alternative to the anchor investor [36.29] How to identify great entrepreneurs and start-ups on the continent [39.30] How the village mentality fosters the African start-up ecosystem [43.05] Stereotypes hindering investment [47.02] Healthcare start-ups and opportunities for investment [51.11] A decade in Lagos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Africa has the youngest population in the world, 70% are under the age of 30. For this episode of Limitless Africa, we're talking to Generation Z - that's young people born between 1997 and 2012 - and we're asking them what they want for Africa.Elisa Jamal is 25 and from Mozambique. She campaigns against violence against women. Hadidjatou Nene Sandou Yaya is a 25-year-old climate activist from Togo.23-year-old Jeremiah Thoronka from Sierra Leone founded a clean energy startup. They are all Young African Leaders in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victor Ochen grew up in a refugee camp in Northern Uganda in the 1980s and 1990s at the height of the Ugandan civil war, one of Africa's longest conflicts. He talks about the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and how Africa's example can help resolve these issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we asked three African foodies about the dish that reminds them of home.Chef Binta is the founder of Fulani Kitchen Foundation. She is the winner of the Basque Culinary World Prize.Chef Helt Araujo runs the Flor Do Duke restaurant in Luanda, Angola. He's part of the research project Ovina Yetu which catalogues Angolan ingredients.Food entrepreneur Yasmine Fofana is a culinary food blogger (Afrofoodie) and founded Abidjan Restaurant Week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're re-releasing this interview with the Zimbabwean author Novuyo Rosa Tschuma as part of the launch of Limitless Conversations. In these Limitless Conversations, we discuss on social media the things that matter to you. We'll be hosting a Twitter Space discussion on African literature this Sunday, December 15th, at 7 PM CAT / 5 PM GMT. Book enthusiasts and literary advocates please come and join in. Tell us about your favourite books of the year!And please listen to this interview with Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, an award-winning Zimbabwean novelist we first released on Limitless Africa at the beginning of this year. Tschuma's debut novel House of Stone is set during the Gukahurundi massacres that took place immediately after Zimbabwean independence and remain shrouded in secrecy. Her second novel Digging Stars also received glowing reviews. It deals with an equally uncomfortable history. She charts the similarities between the reserves allocated to native Americans in the US and those allocated to indigenous people in South Africa and Zimbabwe.This is a must listen for anyone interested in African fiction, interested in reading it of course but also interested in how it is produced. Novuyo gives us a peek behind the scenes of some of the most prestigious writing institutions in the US, telling us what it's like to be a young African woman professor there. She talks about the situation in Zimbabwe and what it's like to come back home with your partner when you are queer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maya Horgan Famodu is a American-Nigerian venture capitalist. She talks about being a third-culture kid, what it takes to raise a $50-million fund, and what she looks for when she invests in African start-ups. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across Africa, young entrepreneurs are making their dreams happen in challenging circumstances. Here three very different young Africans explain how they made their first million.Maya Horgan Famodu is an American-Nigerian venture capitalist, originally from Minnesota in the US. She has a VC firm called Ingressive Capital. Her latest fund is worth $50m. She's invested in some of the biggest startups in Africa.Moulaye Tabouré is the Malian CEO and founder of ANKA, an online sales platform for African fashion and crafts based in Cote d'Ivoire. The company has raised $6.2 million in its series A funding although it has since announced it is closing its marketplace. Mountaga Keita is a Guinean-born inventor and successful businessman. He studied at Harvard University and worked in America. He came back to Guinea to launch his portable ultrasound machine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2023, journalist Stanis Bujakera was imprisoned for six months. The prosecutors were aiming for 20 years. The charge? Writing an article that suggested the country's military intelligence had been involved in an assassination.Stanis Bujakera is one of Democratic Republic of Congo's most popular journalists. In 2023, he was imprisoned for six months while reporting on the elections. The prosecutors were aiming for 20 years. After his arrest, organisations fighting for press freedom, like Reporters Without Borders, (that's RSF), and the Congo Hold-Up investigative team, worked to free him. Journalists and intellectuals including Wole Soyinka, Leïla Slimani and Soulemayne Bachir Diagne signed petitions. And ambassadors worked behind the scenes.There are countless other journalists in Africa who are stopped from doing their job - through intimidation, censorship and violence. In this interview we remember journalists like the Cameroonian Martinez Zogo and Sylvie Yebel. And there are others who have also died in suspicious circumstances: John Williams Ntwali in Rwanda, Ahmed Hussein-Suale in Ghana, and Thulani Maseko in Eswatini.The work African journalists do is extremely dangerous. In this interview, Stanis talks about his day-to-day life in the notorious Makala jail. It's a chilling reminder of the risks independent journalists take to tell the truth to power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social media means that lies and fake news can spread faster, inflame tensions, and serve the interests of the powerful. So the work that African journalists do - reporting facts and telling the truth - is more important than ever.Jeremias Langa is president of the Mozambican chapter of the press freedom association, Media Institute of Southern Africa.Rodriguez Katsuva is the co-founder of Congo Check, the first news website in the Democratic Republic of Congo that verifies news stories and flags up fake news.Carl Odera is an experienced Kenyan journalist who has reported from all over the continent including South Sudan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Extended interview with Jonathan Eig, a Pulitzer-winning author, who's written the most recent biography of Muhammad Ali. It's our chance to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary fight that took place in Kinshasa, then Zaire, now the DRC where Muhammad Ali became the greatest boxer of all time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year it's the 50-year anniversary of what many say was the greatest sporting event the world has ever seen. And it happened in Africa.Rumble in the Jungle, the boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, was held on 30 October 1974 in Zaire, now the DRC. Muhammad Ali's victory cemented his legacy and showed the world he was the ultimate Greatest of All Time. We speak to Muhammad Ali's biographer Jonathan Eig, the Pulitzer-winning author of Ali: A Life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this extended episode, we ‘re featuring two guests who decided to move back to the place they consider home, Sinatou Saka and Joli Moniz. Both talk about a turning point in their lives; when they realised that it would soon be too late to start afresh. Both tell us whether they now think if it was the right professional and personal decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many diaspora Africans are choosing to return to the continent. These ‘repats' - as they're often known - are keen to seize new opportunities. In this episode, three repats tell us how and why they came to Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to some surveys, over a third of women in Africa have experienced physical violence in their lifetimes. We speak to Peninah Kimiri, an expert in gender-based violence, about the rise of cyber misogyny, the increase of femicide and how all men need to step up to protect women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to some surveys, over a third of women in Africa have experienced physical violence in their lifetimes. We ask three activists from Senegal, Cape Verde and Kenya: how can we stop violence against women?Woppa Diallo is a lawyer and gender activist based in Senegal.Natácha Magalhaes is a Cape Verdean writer who often tackles the subject of gender-based violence in her writing. Peninah Kimiri is a Kenyan expert in gender-based violence who has worked across Africa, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oliver Barker-Vormawor is one of the activists behind the #FixTheCountry and #StopGalamseyNow movements as well as the #occupy-Julorbi-house protest in Ghana. This is a must listen for any activist who is looking to make change and anyone interested in how we can deepen and stabilise democracy on the continent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the #FeesMustFall protests in South Africa to the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria, social media activism has been shown to raise awareness and bring about social change. Claude Grunitzky talks to three activists.Oliver Barker-Vormawor is a governance advisor and one of the founders of the #FixTheCountry movement in Ghana in 2021. South Sudanese model Mari Malek started the social media movement #runwaystofreedom.Abdoulaye Oumou Sow is head of communications for the FNDC movement in Guinea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is African music finally getting the global recognition it deserves? And who's going to be the next breakout star?Abdul Abdullah is a Ghanaian American culture entrepreneur and founder of Accra's AfroFutures Festival Paola Ndengue is a specialist in media and the creative industries.Mmeli Hlanze is one half of Antidote Music, a music label and artist management company based in Eswatini. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we're broadcasting from the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Cabo Verde. The Limitless Africa journalists interviewed President José Maria Neves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Six young people from Cape Verde interview their President José Maria Neves. And they want to know what the most powerful man in the country is doing for young people like them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moulaye Tabouré runs Anka, a platform for African retailers. The start up has over 7000 sellers from 47 African countries. They have buyers in over 170 countries. The company has now raised $6.2 million in its series A funding. This is a fascinating conversation about e-commerce strategies, consumer behaviour and what really drives sales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fashion industry could increase the continent's prosperity by 25 per cent. Claude Grunitzky asks how can African fashion become a global leader? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Kagame has won the last four elections in Rwanda with over 90 % of the vote. There is no powerful opposition. What does that say about democracy in the country?For this episode of Limitless Africa, we speak to Seth Karamage, a Rwandan development economist specializing in peacebuilding and good governance. He has worked on fostering democracy in Rwanda as well as Nigeria, Kenya and Somalia. He's a former soldier with the Rwanda Defence Forces. This is an opportunity to ask someone who really knows the situation: Should young people bother voting in the election? And in situations where elections aren't held or their results are not in doubt, are military or political coups ever justifiable? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been nine military coups d'états in Africa since 2020. If we continue at this rate, there will be more coups in this decade than in any since the 1960s. Is this a good thing for Africa? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victor Ochen grew up in a refugee camp in Northern Uganda in the 1980s and 1990s at the height of the Ugandan civil war, one of Africa's longest conflicts. He has become a spokesperson for the people of Northern Uganda and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile is a groundbreaking journalist and social media influencer. She writes and thinks about what it means to be a mother and a feminist today. Feminism seems to have forgotten motherhood, when the decision to have - or not to have - a child is a question almost all women face. Gao is a mother to two children, but she is also an activist fighting for women's right to choose. In 2016, she also founded Abortion Support South Africa, an organisation which helps women access safe abortion clinics online. In 2023 they launched a telemedical service that provides first-trimester terminations, in collaboration with pharmacies, to give women access to safe abortions.Our correspondent Dimpho Lekgeu spoke to her. They spoke about how to bring up children with feminist principles, what the mommy influencer online community is really like, and how speaking out about her own abortion changed everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women can do amazing things if they are given the opportunity. Success can come in many forms, in business, in family life, or in international sport. Claude speaks to an award-winning entrepreneur, a renowned artist and an Olympic athlete about the importance of empowering women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare is one of the greatest challenges facing Africans today. But it's also one of the most exciting. Diseases and illnesses are constantly evolving. But so is technology. Can Africans keep up?Dr Magda Robalo is a medical doctor from Guinea-Bissau. She's worked for the World Health Organisation in Zimbabwe, Congo, Namibia and Ghana. She was Minister of Health in her home country and also served as the high commissioner for COVID-19,. She is now President and co-founder of the Institute of Global Health and Development. We talk about the diseases we really should be worried about, what kind of technology is really needed and why the best way you can stay healthy is to go to school. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We need more doctors in Africa. According to the United Nations, Africa has approximately 1 doctor for every five thousand people. Can technology help us reduce this healthcare inequality? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think of any infrastructure project in Africa, and it's likely a Chinese firm will be behind it. In 2020 Chinese firms were responsible for a third of all African infrastructure projects. So what does this mean for the continent? To find out Claude Grunitzky speaks to Hannah Ryder, the CEO of Development Reimagined (DR), an independent international development consultancy. They have offices in Beijing, Nairobi, and London. Hannah has over 20 years experience working as a diplomat and economist. She also led the United Nations Development Programme's work with China to help improve its development work in Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China and Russia have made their presence felt in Africa. But what is the nature of their relationship on the continent? And how can Africans benefit? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hear from two Gen Z artists on how storytelling and creativity are forging a new African identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Africa has the youngest population in the world, 70% are under the age of 30. For this episode of Limitless Africa, we're talking to Generation Z - that's young people born between 1997 and 2012 - and we're asking them about the future - their future. Elisa Jamal is 25 and from Mozambique. She campaigns against violence against women. Hadidjatou Nene Sandou Yaya is a 25-year-old climate activist from Togo.23-year-old Jeremiah Thoronka from Sierra Leone founded a clean energy startup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ofili, Olayinka Olajide and Tiana Eyakpobeyan will be representing Nigeria in the 4 by 100m sprint relay at the 2024 Olympics. They tell us about the challenges and opportunities that led them to Paris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2024 Olympics are about to begin in Paris, France. The athletes taking part have been training every day for years. We talk to three amazing female athletes about participating in the ultimate competition. We ask them: how has sport changed your life?Akoko Komlanvi is a multiple-time Togo rowing champion.Esti Olivier is a South African kayaking sprint athlete.Alcinda Helena Panguana is a boxer from Mozambique. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America heads to the polls this year. Would Trump be a better US president for Africa than Biden? Is the US ready to invest in Africa rather than just giving us aid? And what can we expect from a presidential candidate who memorably referred to a variety of African nations as “shithole countries”? Yinka Adegoke has been writing about tech and business across the continent for decades. He's currently editor of the media platform Semafor Africa. We discuss what Trump would mean for Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three African journalists choose the best US presidential candidate for Africa.José Gama is an experienced journalist from Angola, one of the economic powerhouses of the continent.Francis Kpatindé is the former editor of Jeune Afrique. He's now a political commentator at le Monde among other publications.Yinka Adegoke is a seasoned Nigerian journalist specialising in tech and business. He's currently editor of the media platform Semafor Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate the Actress and US Ambassador Meg Whitman on the growing creative industries in Kenya. The Kenyan superstar Kate Kamau talks about her film career, why she's going behind the camera and what #MeToo has done to the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actresses Kate Kamau and Idah Alisha, plus film director Reuben Odanaga explain how they're flying the flag for the Kenyan film industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yinka Adegoke is a Nigerian journalist who has lived and worked in New York City for the last 18 years. He tells us about the stereotypes he's encountered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Migrants have made America. And for many, the dream is still to come to the US. But what happens when that dream comes true? Three Africans tell us about coming to America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Model Nykhor Paul moved to the US at the age of ten and lived in a succession of foster homes after refusing to submit to an arranged marriage. She talks to journalist Abigail Musherure about how modelling saved her life, why she tries to challenge European beauty standards, and what kind of criticism she gets for being raised by white Americans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We speak to three black beauty entrepreneurs challenging stereotypes and championing natural beauty.Mari Malek, the South Sudanese model who started the beauty brand WAU.Patricia Lamah, a beauty entrepreneur from Guinea, has a chain of beauty salons where she sells her own beauty products.Carmen Miral is the founder of the Mozambican natural skin and haircare brand, Black Khakhela Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three activists on how they came out and what their sexuality means to them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gay and queer people have long been part of African culture. But LGBT rights are often seen as contradicting religious teachings. We talk to three young queer people about how they use faith in their activism.Thuli Mjwara works at the Inclusive & Affirming Ministries (IAM) in Cape Town, South Africa. Tom Twongyeirwe Junior is a National Coordinator at Universal Coalition of Affirming Africans Uganda and a 2023 Obama leader. Gloria is a human rights defender and a feminist working in Ghana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Fatmata Binta promotes and preserves culture through food in Ghana. Her ‘Dine on a Mat' experience, where she immerses guests in the full Fulani dining experience, won her the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in 2022. Chef Binta has also set up the Fulani Kitchen Foundation for women and girls. The organisation promotes the farming of fonio, an ancient African grain, among rural women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we asked three African foodies about the dish that reminds them of home. Chef Binta is the founder of Fulani Kitchen Foundation. She is the winner of the Basque Culinary World Prize.Chef Helt Araujo runs the Flor Do Duke restaurant in Luanda, Angola. He's part of the research project Ovina Yetu which catalogues Angolan ingredients.Food entrepreneur Yasmine Fofana runs the blog Afrofoodie and founded Abidjan Cocktail Week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this extended episode, we hear further from two of the young female agricultural entrepreneurs featured in the previous episode. They are using agritech to provide food security in their communities and combat climate change. Gislaine Matiedje Nkenmayi is a farming entrepreneur in Cameroon. With her company Mumita, she helps farmers grow more and preserve any excess produce.Gugulethu Mahlangu is an aquaponics farmer and the owner of House Harvest, a 14-hectare farm that produces vegetables in Boksburg, Gauteng province in South Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agriculture employs more than two thirds of those working in Africa. But farming is hard as farmers are impacted by extreme weather conditions.In this episode we talk to some young farming entrepreneurs who are rising to the challenge.Gislaine Matiedje Nkenmayi is the CEO of Mumita, an award-winning start-up helping small-scale farmers grow more in Cameroon. Gugulethu Mahlangu is a young aquaponics farmer in South Africa. She is the founder of the smart farm, House Harvest in Gauteng province.Angela Odero is the CEO and co-founder of Rio Fish Limited. She is on a mission to promote sustainable fish farming among women and to end the sex-for-fish trade in Kenya. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes, very rarely, a TV show comes along that captures people's imagination. The TV show Yellowstone has grown into a cultural phenomenon. And one of those unknown actors has become one the shows most beloved stars.Denim Richards stars as Colby, a faithful cowboy on the Yellowstone ranch, which is run by rancher John Dutton, aka Kevin Costner. It's an all-American show. So why invite Denim on Limitless Africa? Well, four years ago he decided to make a new life for himself and move from California to Botswana. Now he runs successful production companies in Gaborone and Johannesburg, runs masterclasses for actors all over the continent, and has just been named director for Media, Arts and Culture for the African Union. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Streaming is becoming more popular but platforms like Netflix, Showmax and Amazon Prime Video are still pushing a lot of Western content. We asked a Nollywood producer, a Hollywood star, and an arthouse film director: Can we get more African storytelling on these digital streaming platforms? And how can we make money for ourselves, not the fat cats in Hollywood? Denim Richards is an actor in the hugely popular US TV series Yellowstone.Samira Vera-Cruz is a Cape Verdean independent film director, producer and actress.Kunle Afolayan is one of Nollywood's most successful directors and producers, signing a three-film deal with Netflix in 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.