Best Afric Podcasts (2024)

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2023 Episode #5: Joseph Mucheru - President, JUMO 27:45

12M ago27:45

27:45

This week, Andrew sits down with Joseph Mucheru, the President of JUMO and former Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of ICT, Innovation, and Youth Affairs in Kenya. Today's discussion covers everything from Mr. Mucheru's transition back to the private sector, JUMO's growth plans, and how artificial intelligence (AI) can help advance the African eco…

1
2023 Episode #4: Paula Hunter - Executive Director, Mojaloop Foundation 28:10

1y ago28:10

28:10

This week, Andrew sits down with Paula Hunter, the Executive Director of the Mojaloop Foundation. They discuss the role and benefits that open-source payments infrastructure brings to the greater African fintech ecosystem.By Andrew Barden

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2023 Episode #3: Eugene Tawiah - Co-Founder & CEO, SecondSTAX 41:08

1+ y ago41:08

41:08

On this week's edition of the Africa Fintech Rising podcast, Eugene Tawiah (Co-Founder & CEO, SecondSTAX) sits down with Andrew to discuss the role that SecondSTAX is playing in revolutionizing how Africans and corporates interact with and invest in African capital markets.Despite having some of the best-performing stocks and bonds globally, Africa…

1
2023 Episode #2: David Waithaka - Chief Revenue Officer, Cellulant 41:00

1+ y ago41:00

41:00

This week, Andrew sits down with Cellulant's Chief Revenue Officer, David Waithaka. They discuss the evolution of Africa's fintech industry and its trajectory in the coming months. David discusses how he has seen Cellulant evolve from the sale of mobile ringtones into a leading and preeminent financial technology company operational across the cont…

1
Episode 1: Welcome to Ikoro Podcast 0:26

1+ y ago0:26

0:26

Welcome to our podcast. We are glad to have you join us. In the coming days, we are going to be talking about issues that concerns our people's development. Our invited guests will keep you thrilled and entertained. Do not go anywhere. Join us when we go live. Like and subscribe to our podcast updates and visit our website on www.ikorofmnews.com…

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From rags to riches: Re-afric make colourful shoes from recycled African fabric that sell worldwide 57:49

4+ y ago57:49

57:49

This week's episode comes from Kibera, Kenya's biggest, and one of Africa's largest, informal settlements. Life is tough here, and many talk about the "slum mentality" where a lack of opportunities leads to drug abuse, crime and a general sense of despair. Julius Otieno is an inspiration for those in his neighbourhood. After dropping out of high sc…

1
Affordable healthcare for the masses: Ilara Health's sustainable business model saves lives 57:15

4+ y ago57:15

57:15

This week we're featuring what has to be one of my favourite business models to date. One of the dominant themes in East Africa is that individuals and businesses don't have the cash to afford products and services that would earn them more money, and make their lives better. To open up access to electricity, off-grid solar power systems are now co…

1
The opportunities and challenges of making affordable socks in Kenya 44:31

4+ y ago44:31

44:31

This week we're talking with two friends who have set up a business making socks in Kenya. Both Vidyesh and Bishell grew up in Nairobi to entrepreneurial families, and after education in the UK returned home to begin a business. They are also friends with Sumit, who featured in the board game cafe episode. Vidyesh and Bishell decided on socks, as t…

1
Cracking the nut industry: how Kenya adopted the world's most valuable nut, with Charles Muigai 51:24

4+ y ago51:24

51:24

Do you know what the world's most expensive nut is? It's the macadamia nut. Similar in shape and colour to a chickpea, but up to twice the size, it's originally from Australia and is now grown in several tropical locations around the world. In Kenya, the first trees were grafted and planted in the 1970s with a few disparate growers and aggregators …

1
(Chia) Seed Investors: the surprising story of how chia seeds came to be grown in Africa 1:05:01

4+ y ago1:05:01

1:05:01

In this episode, I speak with Sabina Karumba about how she and her husband started Chia Africa. Most businesses have an interesting formation story, though this one is one of the best I've heard in a while. Sabina and her husband were watching TV one evening in 2012 when a doctor came on the show and explained the health benefits of chia seeds. Com…

1
How Lynk raised $1.3m and evolved from "TaskRabbit for Kenya" to micro-franchising and construction 46:45

4+ y ago46:45

46:45

In this episode, I catch up with Johannes, co-founder of Lynk. We initially spoke back in late 2016 along with his co-founder Adam. You can listen to the interview by searching for the episode on 'How Lynk is building a "TaskRabbit for Kenya"'. The company has continued to grow over the years, and this time we meet in the new Lynk house/ office. Wi…

1
From Uber to call centre: why Flare decided on the human touch for emergency dispatch in Kenya 41:58

4+ y ago41:58

41:58

In this catch-up episode, I chat with Caitlin who runs Flare. Caitlin and I first spoke in late 2016, and you can listen to the original interview by scrolling down to the episode named Ambulances. The premise then was that Flare would become a technology platform to connect people with ambulances much in the way that Uber has developed the model o…

1
Why Zamgoat believes goats are the next big meat in Zambia (and the world), with Paul Nyambe 1:00:31

4+ y ago1:00:31

1:00:31

In this second episode from Zambia, I speak with an entrepreneur who has found his niche and is fully focused on it. Paul Nyambe grew up farming goats in rural Zambia. He and his family were unable to earn money from the animals which always struck Paul as frustrating. Years later he built a career in food sales, specifically ice cream, which meant…

1
No credit card to drive! How City Drive Hire have opened up the Zambian car hire market 45:46

4+ y ago45:46

45:46

The landlocked country is just south of Malawi, Tanzania and DRC, and has the great Zambezi river as it's border with Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Economically there's a lot of copper and mining exports, and my sense is that the development of local services is most in line with Uganda or Tanzania, rather than Kenya (more developed) or Rwanda (l…

1
Moringa revisited: catching up with Audrey Cheng on the coding school's international expansion 36:55

5y ago36:55

36:55

In this episode, I catch up with Audrey Cheng, the founder of Moringa School. We first did an interview in October of 2016, and so it had been over 2.5 years since we last spoke. The initial episode is called "Coding Schools", and so be sure to scroll back through the archives to give it a listen, if you're interested. Moringa School is still going…

1
How Brexit is affecting Kenya's role in the global flower market, with Chris Kulei from Sian Roses 1:14:20

5y ago1:14:20

1:14:20

This week we're speaking with a big player in one of Kenya's largest industries: flower farming. Horticulture is one of the biggest sectors in the country's economy, and 60% of all the world's roses are grown in Kenya. This is for a number of reasons, which I discuss with Director of Sian Roses, Chris Kulei. Kenya has a number of natural features s…

1
A tech success story. How Africa's Talking equips African software developers with APIs 41:51

5y ago41:51

41:51

In this episode I speak with Bilha Ndirangu who is the CEO of one of Africa's most successful tech start ups. Started in Kenya nearly 10 years ago, Africa's Talking now serves over 5000 customers and has operations in 18 African countries. Most of this growth has been self-generated, though last year they took on investment of around $10m to fuel t…

1
How many eggs can you fit in an Uber? A Nairobi egg dealer on overcoming micro-business challenges 28:16

5y ago28:16

28:16

One of the nice things about having a podcast is that it allows you to have conversations with people you wouldn't otherwise get around to. In this episode I sit down with John, the man who I buy my eggs from in Kenya. In Swahili, "mayai" means "eggs" and so his customers know him as John Mayai. John works from an apartment building in Nairobi, and…

1
How a Kenyan couple captured the Japanese market in Kenya, with Wangari Wachira 51:43

5y ago51:43

51:43

Near to where I live in Nairobi is a Japanese cafe. Whenever I've been the food has been delicious, and the small place is full of people from Japan, enjoying Ramen bowls and cold imported beer. I thought it would be interesting to interview the owner to learn about how the business started. It turns out that the owner Wangari and her husband have …

1
Why did the home of running not make running shoes? Nava the co-founder of Enda Running explains 52:00

5y ago52:00

52:00

If you think about brands that different countries have, most people probably have two strong associations for Kenya. Safari and running. The safari industry is well established, with innumerate tour companies able to take you on your dream holiday seeing the Big Five. Running, however, is an industry which is much less developed. In fact, until En…

1
Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, why SunCulture can profitably sell to smallholder farmers 1:13:46

5y ago1:13:46

1:13:46

If you've been following The East Africa Business Podcast for a while, you might notice that most episodes are around the 30-40 minute mark. Whilst that was the intention here, in this episode Samir and I end up chatting for well over an hour. The reason being is that (to me at least) there's just so much interesting stuff to talk about the busines…

1
East Africa's first board game cafe, and why most Kenyans don't know how to play, with Bao Box 47:18

5y ago47:18

47:18

There are certain business models or concepts which seem to be universally popular. One big one recently has been creating a public space where friends can meet up for some food and drinks and play board games. In this episode I speak with Sumit Dodhia who a few years ago had the realisation that Kenya was missing such an institution, and so, along…

1
Move over Tesla, Opibus has a better way to get electric vehicles on African roads 53:55

5y ago53:55

53:55

We've got a very interesting interview this week, one that brings together using modern technology with a compelling market need. It's all about electric vehicles. Now, you've probably heard about Tesla and some other companies building cars that don't run on petrol. It turns out that, for now at least, these vehicles don't work in the East Africa …

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Transforming Africa's Agriculture - Oxfam Southern Africa 13:32

5+ y ago13:32

13:32

Agriculture markets are not working for the smallholder farmer, there is need to: • Create a level playing field by supporting equitable participation and benefits by all value chain actors (i.e., marketing of products taken over by middle man). • Generate evidence to advocate for a policy environment conducive for smallholder farmers (e.g. (i) imp…

1
Revamping R&D In Agriculture - Thandi Mgwebi. Deputy Vice-Chancellor TUT 10:15

5+ y ago10:15

10:15

Thandi Mgwebi is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation & Engagement at the Tshwane University of Technology South Africa, she chats about Revamping agricultural research and development (R&D), there is a need to: •Increase financing of agriculture research and development to support implementation of National Agriculture Investment Plans.…

1
A Review of The African Union Decade of Youth Development - Sithembile Mwa 13:13

5+ y ago13:13

13:13

Agriculture should form the backbone to any solution or strategy to the developmental challenges bedeviling the continent. It will be impossible to effectively advance social and economic transformation that addresses the challenges confronted by women, the youth and children on the continent without collective efforts targeted at transforming agri…

1
Plenary- Feedback from Breakaway Sessions. High Policy Dialogue on _Tranforming Agriculture in Afric 1:33:57

5+ y ago1:33:57

1:33:57

1. Transformation of Africa’s agriculture begins with us - All relevant stakeholder groups need to change: · Donor agencies and development partners need to change their investment priorities and strategies. · Governments should institutionalize an efficient and effective policy implementation culture, characterized by review of existing policies t…

1
Reflection & closing ceremony. High Policy Dialogue on _Tranforming Agriculture in Africa_ Day 3 59:34

5+ y ago59:34

59:34

We, 192 delegates from 21 African countries attended the 2018 Regional Policy Dialogue convened through a collaborative partnership between the Food, Agriculture and Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), the Graca Machel Trust (GMT), the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS), and the Centre for Coordination of Agriculture Research and Deve…

1
Video Games: Africa prepares for the $bn gaming market, with Nathan Masyuko from Ludique Works 39:48

6y ago39:48

39:48

Gaming is something that a lot of people may not consider as a business industry. I, for one, know or rather knew very little about it, though this interview with Nathan Masyuko from Ludique Works was one of the most insightful interviews I’ve ever had. We speak about the international, multi-billion dollar business in video games and Africa’s plac…

1
Relocating top African software developers to European tech teams, with Caspar Coding 32:43

6y ago32:43

32:43

An interesting heuristic you can think about when considering companies operating in East Africa is where the demand comes from. There are lots of businesses you can see where the product or service is developed in the region and ultimately is consumed in East Africa. Through the lens of this podcast, just look to some recent episodes on Tissue Pap…

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