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54Lights is committed to elevating creatives of colour. We showcase Africa to the world, by lighting up great guests with roots in the 54 countries of the continent. We’re telling these under told stories from Africa to all corners of the globe. And because each guest has a unique and flavour-filled tale to tell, we will tell these stories with care. So that they can shape and reshape and reframe the narrative, one story at a time. Humbly hosted by Kondwani Mwase
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[Bonus] Keep it 100.. Celebrating the Centennial
32:59
32:59
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY In this episode, host Kondwani Mwase is joined by Rwandan urban music icon, Cassa. Cassa emerged from the music scene via private radio station Contact FM and has gone on to tour alongside the likes of Lupe Fiasco and Delasoul. He was also chosen specially to perform a tribute to Music Producer Quincy Jones! Amon…
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[11.54..NIGERIA] From Medical School to Mainstream Retail with Lola Adeyemi
32:54
32:54
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Kondwani interviews entrepreneur Lola Adeyemi, founder of It's Souper, an Afrofusion gourmet meal company selling flavourful soups, sauces and spices. Hear Lola's inspiring story of leaving medical school in Nigeria to follow her creative passions, moving to Canada, building a career in tech, then creating her fo…
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[10.54..ESWATINI] Giving Back By Design with Khulekani Msweli
24:07
24:07
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24:07
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY In this episode, Kondwani interviews Khulekani Msweli, a fashion designer, artist, entrepreneur and activist from Eswatini. Khulekani discusses returning to Eswatini after studying abroad to give back to his community through art and community development projects. He shares how art can speak truth to power and r…
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[9.54..NAMIBIA] From Namibia to the Junos: Garth Prince on Identity and Sound
48:44
48:44
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Kondwani interviews Juno award-winning artist Garth Prince, who shares his journey from Namibia to building a music community in Canada. With infectious rhythms and cross-cultural sounds, Garth describes how creating music became his pathway to preserve his African roots. Listen as Garth unpacks his evolution fro…
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54Bites: The Best in Class with Navi Kahlon
17:46
17:46
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17:46
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY In this quick episode of 54Bites we are joined in virtual studio by our newest intern Navi Kahlon. Navi, who has roots in Tanzania, joins us from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University. As our Brand Partnerships intern, Navi is leading the charge with great strategic relationships we're craftin…
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[8.54..MAURITIUS] Passion Triggers Art with Pascal Lagesse
34:03
34:03
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY 54Lights touches down in the beautiful nation of Mauritius for this light-hearted and light-filled conversation with Pascal Lagesse. Pascal joined us virtually from his homeland where he has been working as a visual arts professional for over two decades. A prolific painter who’s refined his skills and signature …
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[7.54..MALI] From Mali to the Microphone with Daouda Doumbia
28:22
28:22
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28:22
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Kondwani interviews emerging radio personality Daouda in this fun and insightful episode. Originally from Mali, Daouda shares stories from his journey studying communications in Canada and gaining experience in university radio. Daouda talks to Kondwani about his travels, Ottawa's surprisingly vibrant local music…
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[6.54..KENYA] - At the Intersection of Seat and Stage with Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu
29:54
29:54
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY In this episode, host Kondwani Mwase is joined by Kenyan/Ugandan creator and director Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu. Mumbi joined us in, virtual studio, from Toronto where she now lives after time in Victoria, BC. During the course of this short, yet infinitely sweet, conversation, Mumbi shared insights about her journey a…
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[5.54..TANZANIA] Educating and Supporting Tanzanian Women
24:06
24:06
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Diana Gasper has made her life in North Carolina after meeting her American husband in Canada, yet she will always have the most love and longing for her home of Tanzania. Diana is a businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who helps women and girls in Tanzania to create their own businesses and sources of …
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[Bonus.ETHIOPIA..] Sustainability, Community and Change in Africa with Yodit Seyoum
34:00
34:00
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34:00
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Yodit Seyoum is an interior designer from Ethiopia. She joins our host Kondwani to talk about her journey to becoming involved in sustainable and community-focused design and environmental advocacy. They discuss the importance of sustainability in the world and how this can be reflected in their home continent of…
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[4.54..ETHIOPIA] The Java Jaunt: Journeys from Ethiopia to the World with Muna Mohammed
34:19
34:19
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY 54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (bean) at a time. In the latest episode of 54 Lights, Kondwani converses with Muna Mohammed, the innovative CEO behind Eight50 Coffee. Muna's deep-rooted connection to coffee cultivation, passed down through generations of her family, led he…
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Revisiting the First and Fabulous Four Episodes
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23:05
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23:05
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Host Kondwani Mwase is joined in virtual studio by guest-host and social media manager Ariana Busato for a behind the scenes look/listen on episodes past. Ariana, who helps with the podcasts socials and guest outreach, turned the tables on our host and asked him a series of questions about the first four episodes…
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[3.54..ZAMBIA] Escaping the Colonial Mindset with Aaron Samuel Mulenga
43:37
43:37
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Join Kondwani as he interviews Aaron Samuel Mulenga, an artist, (soon to be) professor and an expert on Afro-futurism. The conversation, broadly speaking, touched on the impact of colonialism on African art and culture. Together they question the roots and influences of the colonial mindset, discuss whose history…
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54Bites: Finding Safety in Spaces with Chawa Mphande
15:23
15:23
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY She's Baaaaack!!!! Chawanangwa Mphande returned to 54Lights to share her reflections on our previous pods. In her first conversation, we discussed her childhood friend and leading cultural artist Qabaniso Malewezi. In this instalment, Chawa (as she's affectionately known) spoke about her impressions of Zimbabwean…
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[Bonus.Zimbabwe..] Rewriting the Meaning of Africanism with Shelton Mpala
26:54
26:54
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY In this episode of 54Lights modern-day Pan-Africanist Shelton Mpala speaks about his passion and the unique time we live in. The two unpack an African revival, of sorts, that is sweeping through the globe. Shelton was born and raised in Zimbabwe and describes himself as ‘just an African child’ who was lucky enoug…
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[2.54.. ZIMBABWE] On Being One of a Kind with Farai Madzima
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28:48
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What to expect when you press PLAY Farai Madzima is a man of and for the people. He is a leader, teacher and speaker who's passionate about managing people humanely and authentically, regardless of who they are. He celebrates diversity in all areas of life, including in business. He speaks about how we (as managers, leaders and people) must focus o…
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From Passion to Profession with Chawa Mphande
24:11
24:11
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24:11
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Chawanangwa Mphande, affectionately known as Chawa, joined us in studio to talk about our last episode with Qabaniso Malewezi (Q). As is the case for these special broadcasts of 54"Bites", Kondwani and hiss guest reflect on episodes past and project on the episodes yet to come. Chawa gave her perspective on how a…
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[1.54.. MALAWI] When Culture Comes Calling with Qabaniso Malewezi
23:19
23:19
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY In the official kick-off to the fourth season, the continental journey, that lives through this project, takes flight in the warm heart of Africa. Episode 1.54 (When Culture Comes Calling with Qabaniso Malewezi) brings listeners to Malawi, the native homeland of host Kondwani Mwase, and the starting line for this…
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WHAT TO EXPEXT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY 54Lights is on a bold mission to broadcast inspiring stories from Africa to the world. Creatively designed, passionately produced and curated for (and from) the community, the show is devoted to showcasing the continent...its people and its allies. Put another way, 54Lights is committed to illuminating the Africa…
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The Mindful Humanization of Diplomacy with Ray Fankhauser
34:07
34:07
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34:07
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Ray Fankhauser, a Canadian with over 20 years of diplomatic service, joined host Kondwani Mwase to talk about his travels, trials and triumphs. From his early days in the corps in China to taking center stages in Pakistan to his eventual journey home, Ray opens up and shares what he's learned most in the key year…
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Hope and Healing: Keeping The Light On Cyclone Freddy
25:35
25:35
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25:35
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Kondwani has had a few difficult weeks dealing with the devastation of Cyclone Freddy and its horrific impact on his birthplace of Malawi and other Southern Countries of Africa. In this episode, he talks about the distinct internal dilemma he is facing, ‘what do we do now?’ and contemplates how we can keep the fo…
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Cyclone Freddy and The Diaspora's Dilemma with Chawa Mphande
24:51
24:51
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24:51
WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Host Kondwani Mwase is joined by returning guest Chawa Mphande in an important episode reflecting on Cyclone Freddy. The two unpack and explore some tough questions about natural disasters, trauma and crisis management. The endpoint is a raw, yet hopeful, glimpse into the lives of some underprivileged people. Dur…
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Shaping Cultural Spaces with Jimmy Baptiste
26:31
26:31
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Jimmy Baptiste is an artist based in Ottawa, Canada. He is also a father, educator, graphic artist and culture builder. Jimmy extends his art into the community in a profound and colourful way, working with students to create beautiful murals that discuss themes of race, youth and empowerment. In this episode, Ji…
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Prolific podcaster, Dr. Patience Adamu is the architect of several incredibly compelling shows - The Drip, BBW (Big, Beautiful and Winning), Hyphenated among them. The PhD graduate and an all-round super-creator joins your host, Kondwani Mwase, to talk about the work of podcasting, questions of culture and the co…
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WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Ricardo McRae returns to the 54Lights studios. Over the course of the conversation, Ricardo gives host Kondwani an update on his life post-pandemic including the life-affirming accident he was in. The two also delve deep into business, a "winning" mindset and wealth as well as the influence our lifestyles have on…
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