Welcome to this special episode of Dear Diaspora! It's bittersweet to share that this marks my final episode of the show. Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of sharing the stories of African entrepreneurs and changemakers worldwide, while also pursuing my own professional goals. I’m now making space to do more of what I love–travel, be outside, all the things. While my podcasting era has come to a close, I hope to continue to find ways to be in community with you all. Thank you fo...
May 23, 2023•31 min•Ep. 66
Welcome back! I had the pleasure of speaking with Haja Batsu, founder of Uman4Uman for this episode. Uman4Uman is a social enterprise that provides sustainable menstrual products to girls in Sierra Leone. We dive into: Haja’s journey building a social enterprise from the ground up Her experiences pitching her business to people who don’t understand period poverty How you can support her work (links below) Mentioned in the episode: Sponsor a Grow for Me farm using referral code ‘dear diaspora’: h...
May 02, 2023•32 min•Ep. 65
Welcome to the latest episode of Dear Diaspora! I had the pleasure of speaking with Esther Armah, a creative powerhouse and author of the book Emotional Justice: A Roadmap for Racial Healing. Tune in to hear us discuss her concept of "revolutionary Black grace," which she describes as a way to honor our unique Blackness while connecting it to a global Blackness. We dive into what it looks like in practice, how we can use it to end the “diaspora wars," and how we can all work to replace judgment ...
Apr 18, 2023•36 min•Ep. 64
Discussions surrounding the “Diaspora Wars” – cross-cultural arguments among different ethnicities of African people – are often counterproductive. This week’s episode, with social impact professional and digital creator Jasmin Church, aims to shift that! Jasmin is passionate about connecting communities across the diaspora, and her Youtube channel @jazzyjetsets, focuses on her life as an expat in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tune in to hear about: Her journey from Trenton, NJ to Johannesburg, SA...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 63
Hey fam, thanks for tuning in – we’re diving into all things Black Panther: Wakanda Forever! My guest co-host is CJ Haamankuli, Globe Trotter, Nurse Practitioner – and one of my favorite cousins. Tune in to hear us discuss: How this sequel compares to the first movie How each of the characters showed us there’s no “right” way to grieve Queen Ramonda’s empathetic leadership style How African cultures are represented in the movie How the movie “blends” African cultures – and whether it helps or ha...
Dec 06, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 62
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode with daba Co-Founder and CEO Boum III Jr.! Boum is an entrepreneur driven by his passion for Africa. After working at Nasdaq and earning his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he went on to launch daba – a new application allowing everyday investors to find and invest in Africa's most promising opportunities. Tune in to hear us discuss: His journey from Cameroon to the United States How his African identity has shaped his expe...
Nov 15, 2022•50 min•Season 4Ep. 61
To say that Accra, Ghana has become one of the world’s most influential cultural hubs would be an understatement. This week’s episode is dedicated to sharing my experiences living and working in Ghana! Tune in to hear: How Ghana has positioned itself as the gateway to Africa My experiences working with Emerging Public Leaders Ghana How I handled living in one of Africa’s most expensive cities My thoughts on whether Ghana is worth the hype What I love about Ghana’s food scene and more! Resources ...
Nov 02, 2022•24 min•Season 4Ep. 60
It’s great to be back – thanks for tuning in to this special episode with guest Alice Mills Mai! Alice is a licensed mental health counselor, researcher, entrepreneur, and proud daughter of Ghanaian immigrants. Tune in to hear about: Her journey becoming a mental health professional after realizing nursing wasn’t for her Why there’s still so much stigma surrounding mental health in many African immigrant communities Healing practices inherent to many African cultures that we may not regard as me...
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 8 min
I was joined by Yeve Sibanda, attorney, public speaker, and author of My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words . Yeve is a native Zimbabwean who calls the United States her adopted home. Although she wasn’t allowed to speak her indigenous languages at school in Zimbabwe — the unfortunate legacy of colonization — she’s always found ways to embrace her culture and heritage. Tune in for tips on learning, teaching and celebrating African languages, especially when based in the Diaspora! Buy My First...
Nov 30, 2021•54 min•Season 4Ep. 58
For this week’s episode, I was joined by the lovely Mutale Sitali, founder of Likota — a Zambian furniture brand specializing in making furniture from reclaimed and recycled wood material. Their vision? Becoming a pioneer for the industry by creating furniture that is beautiful, eco-friendly, and reliable. Mutale built her company from the ground up and launched right before the onset of the pandemic. Tune in to hear her take on what’s necessary to build a thriving business in Zambia, why she ch...
Nov 16, 2021•30 min•Season 4Ep. 57
Afrobeats is undoubtedly one of the hottest music genres right now! This week's episode explores just how Afrobeats and other African music genres are cementing their place on the world stage. Hint: The Nigerian and larger African Diaspora have played a HUGE role. DJ, Creative Entrepreneur and Afrolit Podcast host Ekua Musumba was my lovely guest co-host - enjoy! Links: We’ll be chatting about destigmatizing mental health this season! Ask an anonymous mental health question here: https://www.que...
Nov 02, 2021•56 min•Season 4Ep. 3
This week's episode explores the question: Why hasn’t Africa "developed" as fast as other continents? As you can imagine, this is a HUGE, nuanced question. Nevertheless, Joy Malonza (founder of The Down Ballot) and I tackled the question head-on, with zero filter* Tune in to hear about: Africa's patterns of development before the transatlantic slave trade and colonization The legacy of colonization in Africa How institutions like The Wold Bank and IMF have impacted Africa's development Why capit...
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 4Ep. 55
Dear Diaspora is officially back – welcome to season 4 of the show! Let's just say a LOT has happened since the last episode! First, my short visit to visit family in Zambia turned into an extended, four-month stay. I also started a pretty cool fellowship with Princeton in Africa in July. Tune in to catch up and hear what you can expect from this season and some tea on the best and worst moments of my time in Zambia. BEST: My grandma's fantastic dating advice Experiencing Zambia's nightlife WORS...
Oct 06, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Today’s guest is Lee Ngwenya–writer, documentary filmmaker and host of Conversations with Leelabee, a podcast covering topics ranging from entrepreneurship to mental health. Lee was born in Zimbabwe but raised in Zambia, and knew early on that a traditional career path wasn’t for her. She attended school in North Carolina for social work but quickly realized that film was her passion. Capetown, South Africa had the exact program she was looking for and her training there has landed her work in S...
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 53
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with brother/sister duo Akinade Adelere and Oyin Aderele—hosts of Pod Save Africa. Pod Save Africa explores the interesting details of our history, our present and our hopes for the future through weekly podcast episodes. During our conversation, Akinade and Oyin share: How conversations and debates in his apartment with friends led Akinyade to launch Pod Save Africa Their initial reactions to the #EndSARS protests and why this latest round of ...
Dec 01, 2020•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 52
If you’re a student and looking for ways to engage with the continent in an impactful way, this is the episode for you! I had a great conversation with Doing Good Work in Africa (DOWA) Founder Ola Erogbogbo DOWA Fellow Adaeze Okorie. Doing Good Work in Africa connects brilliant and innovative university students to Africa-based companies, public entities and non-profit organizations working to address challenges at the grassroots level by implementing impactful and scalable initiatives. Tune in ...
Nov 24, 2020•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 51
This is Dear Diaspora’s 50th episode! The podcast launched September 2019 and since then, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing amazing guests from all over the world. To celebrate this milestone, I’m taking some time to reflect on a few things: The Biden-Harris win and what I’m hoping to see these next four years The biggest takeaways from past interviews and what they’ve taught me about Africa, the Diaspora and what role we actually play in contributing to Africa’s growth and development The 3...
Nov 17, 2020•27 min•Season 3Ep. 50
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Sam Baddoo, Founder of Fleri—a health insurance marketplace that helps immigrants protect the people they love, everywhere. Every year, immigrants across the globe send billions of dollars in remittances to their loved ones in lower-income and middle-income countries. What’s unique about Fleri is that it "unbundles" remittances by providing immigrants a direct way to provide quality healthcare to their loved ones back home. During the epis...
Nov 03, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 49
For the first part of today’s episode, I share my thoughts on Nigeria’s #EndSARS movement, similar movements across the continent and what us folks in the Diaspora can do to amplify the work of organizers on the ground. My guest today is serial entrepreneur, startup advisor and Founders Unfound creator Dan Kihanya. Dan grew up in Boston, Massachusetts with a Kenyan father and American mother. After studying mechanical engineering and getting an MBA from UC Berkeley, he ventured into entrepreneur...
Oct 27, 2020•47 min•Season 3Ep. 48
If you're anything like me, you've probably been thinking of various ways you can supplement your income - especially considering how the pandemic has impacted so many of our lives this past year. If so, then you’ll love today’s episode with Teri Ijeoma, Founder and CEO of Invest with Teri! Teri teaches you how to supplement your daily, weekly or monthly income with trading so that you can live your best life. During the episode, we discuss: Her upbringing in Dallas, TX and college experience at...
Oct 20, 2020•43 min•Season 3Ep. 47
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Emmanuel Gamor, host of Unpacking Africa - a podcast sharing resources while exploring ecosystems in our communities and figuring out issues pertaining to the African continent. With over a decade of experience in youth engagement, digital & managerial innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership education on the continent—Emmanuel is a true ecosystem builder. During the episode, we discuss: His experience studying in the US and returni...
Oct 13, 2020•46 min•Season 3Ep. 46
For today's episode, we catch up with Iveoma Okparaeke, founder of It's Iveoma, a platform created for anyone interested in moving to a country in Africa. She officially moved to Lagos, Nigeria in December 2019 and has not looked back! During the episode, Iveoma speaks pretty candidly about her experiences so far in Lagos. Tune in to hear: Why she decided to move back to Nigeria and what she realized when she made the move How she prepared and saved for her move Why you NEED an SUV to survive in...
Oct 04, 2020•57 min•Season 3Ep. 45
For today’s episode, I reshare an episode that provides a comprehensive overview of 5 key growth trends shaping Africa’s growth and development. These trends are outlined in the book Africa’s Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World’s Next Big Growth Market by authors Acha Leke, Mutsa Chironga and Georges Desvaux. Tune in for a refresher on these trends and how they will impact business in Africa for decades to come: Young, fast growing urban population with a lot of unmet demands. Afric...
Sep 27, 2020•45 min•Season 3Ep. 44
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela, Flutterwave, and The Future Africa Fund. Iyinoluwa “E” Aboyeji is regarded as one of the most successful African entrepreneurs of our time. He’s helped launch two of Africa’s best known and best funded startups, Flutterwave and Andela. While at Andela, a company training African developers and hiring them out to global tech companies, he and his team secured a $24 million investment Facebook founder ...
Sep 20, 2020•49 min•Season 3Ep. 43
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Edith Njage, CEO and co-founder of Arielle for Africa. Edith is a serial social entrepreneur aiming to create 100,000 jobs by 2030 through Arielle for Africa’s programming. She’s providing entrepreneurs in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda with the education, resources and tools they need to start and sustain their businesses. During the episode, we discuss: Edith’s educational background and how it informs the work she does to...
Sep 13, 2020•40 min•Season 3Ep. 42
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of interview Lukonga Lindunda, co-founder and Executive Director of Bongo Hive, an award-winning innovation hub in my hometown Lusaka, Zambia. Bongo Hive is changing the landscape of innovation in the region and it was so wonderful getting to know Lukonga better, learning more about the tech/innovation economy in Zambia and what Zambia is doing right in regard to supporting entrepreneurship. During our conversation, we discussed: What’s sparked his interes...
Sep 06, 2020•49 min•Season 3Ep. 41
For today’s episode, tune in to hear from the founders of the new home to the most innovative, melanin-focused, independent brands of the African Diaspora. Yard and Parish features a collective of affordable luxury online providing access to items that champion a natural, conscious, and colorful lifestyle. Co-founders Alesha and Samantha’s time studying and working in the UK inspired them to have a go at solving a global cultural issue. Until now, it really hasn't been simple or straightforward ...
Jun 21, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Today's solo episode is dedicated to supporting the work of activists mobilizing for Black lives. Later in the episode, I also share my thoughts on Black Lives Matter and why this is our (African immigrants) fight, too. Please support these incredible organizations: George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/ Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/ Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ B...
Jun 14, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 39
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shola Salako, Founder and CEO of BomaLink , a global business community and professional networking platform and service that connects members with African opportunities in Africa. Shola was born in the US and spent his formative years in Nigeria. After returning to the US for college, he developed an interest in technology and began his career in tech. Today, Shola is the CEO of Optimal Business Systems, an Information Technology solutions...
May 31, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Thanks for tuning in to episode 37 of the show! I had the pleasure of chatting with Amaka Uchegbu. Amaka was born in Enugu, Nigeria and grew up in Sheffield, England. After earning her bachelor’s degree at Yale, she landed her first full-time role at McKinsey & Company as a Business Analyst. While at McKinsey, Amaka co-wrote a compelling report on the “Future of Work in Black America.” Research shows that automation trends may be widening the racial wealth gap and disproportionately displaci...
May 25, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 37
