1000 African Voices

After 40 months of talking to everyone from my son, Tshedza to cabinet Ministers from Tanzania to Cape Verde, world class authors and management gurus such as Tom Peters and global public speakers, 1000 African Voices has recorded its last voice. It’s a sad moment but also an exciting one as it means other doors can now open.

Throughout the 40 months that the project ran, there are a few key contributors I need to thank; Cynthia Makhubele for the unwavering belief in the project, Bandile Lukhele for the energy and drive that saw us pitch the project to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Jones Maleka for the undying belief that there is still room for radio, Boitumelo Moneedi for the beautiful scripts and immaculate reports, the late Lungi Daweti, former Programme Manager for Channel Africa who said yes after we had received 21 no’s, Gcobani Schalk, a good friend who has listened to all the episodes and continued to provide guidance behind the scenes. Sam Ganich from Bosnia and Herzegovina produced over 100 of our episodes and without his service the show would not have lasted this long, Evita Situma whose idea it was in the first place for us to do the show. Debbie Williams also deserves to be thanked as does Bongani Madikila for contributing to the range of guests we have had.

Above all, thank you to our guests for being so generous with their time.

On the 18^th of November 2017, after ruminating on the idea for about a month I decided to launch a Podcast. This was following a Sunday conversation with a friend who was later going to be the first guest on the show. Evita Situma, or Eve for short deserves as much credit as anyone for giving birth to the idea of creating a platform that gives Africans a different perspective on their continent. Evita grew up in Zimbabwe but has a strong heritage that stems from Kenya and Tanzania.

In 2021, there is a proliferation of podcasts from all over the world focussing on any topic imaginable. Back in 2017, although the Americans were producing a lot of content, our continent only had a handful of podcasts from which to select. Something about that wasn’t right. An African child should have access to familiar content.

In 2021, four in each 10 individuals in the continent use the internet or have access to the internet. This is in stark contrast to the 90% penetration rate in the United States of America and the European Union. This is a sad situation for the African continent but equally a significant opportunity for new African entrants. As the cost of data continues to drop and penetration increases Africans will continue to consume digital audio content.

A Thousand African Voices has tried to bring forth the voices of Africans from all walks of life. We have engaged with sportsman and women, writers, actors, public speakers, policy makers, influencers, DJs, musicians etc. Our platform has served to amplify the African voice. Our guests have allowed us to explore topics ranging from existential politics, the power of YouTube, knowing oneself, rags to riches stories and the things that make us laugh.

It took 40 months to speak to 150 influential voices across the continent and in the diaspora. A project that started with wanting to connect Africans with each other culminated in a show made in Africa, by Africans and for Africans everywhere across the globe.

Hosting this podcast has been one of my life’s proudest achievements. I have learned a lot from being on the other side of the conversation. The feeling you get when you say hello for the first time and the person on the other side says hello back is second to none. More so, when those persons are the likes of Vusi Thembekwayo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Euphonik, Tom Peters, Mark Angel, Amy Ochiel Ochieng, Robert Katende, Peral Kupe, Ntsiki Mazwai, Vinolia Mabele (Ms. United Nations), Gciniwe Fakudze, DJ Zinhle, Bonnie Mbuli, Niniola, Veda Sunassee, Carol Ndosi, Tunde Badmuss, Professor Andre Roux, Minister Elisabeth Moreno, Eddy Kenzo, Azziad Nasenya and Nelson Kwaje, it is a feeling that is hard to compare.

As we bow out as the 1000 African Voices team, I am happy that there are projects that are amplifying the work we tried to do. Mobile Journalism Africa led by Emmanuel Yegon Kenya) and his team is a great project. Although my podcast hero, Andile Masuku (Zimbabwe) of the African Tech Roundup fame has retired his podcast it is worth checking out the work they have been able to do. MacGyver Mukwevho’s Podcast and Chill project (South Africa) is set to shape how Africans produce content. On Twitter, @AfricaFactsZone (Nigeria) provides some really good and informative content.

We can choose to wait for change to happen or we can choose to be the change we want to see. Take care Africa.

Every person has a story to tell. I knew this before I started the show, I was constantly reminded of this during the 150 recordings I believe it is an adage that will continue to hold true.

Take a moment to say hello to a stranger. What you learn may surprise you.

Take care Africa.

Avhurengwi

This episode features Tsitsi Mutendi who has been successful as a Fashion Creative director – Mucha; Media Professional (Created Zimbabwe’s first Glossy Women Empowerment Magazine – Jewel Magazine Zimbabwe), and Magazine Publisher/Editor-In-Chief.

She has been dubbed the Queen of Start ups. She has always enjoyed starting new entities and watching them grow and succeed. From her experiences she became the Co-Founder of African Family Firms, the biggest African Family Business Association on the globe; Owner and Administrative Director of Montessori Primary School; Business Services Consultant at Nhaka Legacy Planning, an estate planning firm helping family businesses create lasting legacies.

The most exciting thing about Tsitsi is that she does not intend to stop improving the world any time soon. Her passion for business and her passion for people continuously inspire her to keep creating. She is a leader that will never stop leading.

Linkedin: tsitsi-mutendi

Instagram: @tsitsi_mutendi

Twitter: @TsitsiMutendi

Website: http://www.tsitsimutendi.com

This episode features Fadimatou Noutchemo Simo, a Cameroonean who is the founder and president of Young African Aviation Professional Association, a non-profit organization that creates a platform of exchange between industries stakeholders and the next generation of aviation professionals in Africa. The aim of YAAPA is to meet up with future demand of skilled workers in the industry. Her mission being to raise awareness of aviation as a potential career, particularly in those communities which may not ordinarily be exposed to aviation. As part of YAAPA’s outreach program Fadimatou introduced the Heleta Aviation Scholarship Programme to encourage underprivileged children in rural areas of Africa to consider aviation as a future career choice.

She is also CEO of HEFA Group, her aviation consultancy firm. Fadimatou is the winner of the IATA High Flyer Award 2019 and the Commonwealth Point of Light Award 2019, she was an international visitor leadership program alumnus in 2016. She has been selected for the Global leadership in international aviation.

Linkedin: fadimatou-noutchemo-simo

Facebook: @fadimatounoutchemo

Instagram: @fadimatou_noutchemo

Website:https://www.hefagroup.net/ https://www.yaapa54.org/

This episode features Solomon Serwanjja, an investigative reporter and anchor of the Live @9 Bulletin on NBS Television. He is also the Uganda correspondent for KTN News in Nairobi. His reporting focuses on politics, human rights and good governance. He is a well-known journalist and his passion for investigative journalism highlighted his desire to make positive change in his native Uganda.

He is a recipient of the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) Award and the 2017 Bbale Francis Best Male News Anchor of the Year Award. He is a 2019 UN Reham AL Farra Journalism fellow, a prestigious fellowship that offers training to journalists.

He has won the 2019 BBC World News Komla Dumor Award. He is impressive in, not only with his eloquence and passion for telling African stories, but also with his commitment and bravery in uncovering what’s in the public interest.

Linkedin: solomon-serwanjja

Facebook: solomon-serwanjja

Twitter: @SolomonSerwanjj

Instagram: @SolomonSerwanjj

Yawa Hansen-Quao – Executive Director of Emerging Public Leaders

This episode features Yawa Hansen-Quao. Born in Ghana, raised biculturaly as she grew up in the United States of America, she returned to her home country with a fire in her heart. Having fought for all things right and honourable in university she continued her fight when she finished her studies and created the Leading Ladies Network (LLN), a resource and relationship base for young women as they take leadership roles in government, civil society, corporate organizations and others.

Through its Female Leadership Advancement, Mentoring and Empowerment Series, LLN trains young women to be instruments of social change, supporting them in all areas and preparing them to be servant leaders in their chosen fields. These women carry out projects to improve their societies and are prepared to take on further leadership roles.

Yawa continues to fight because she understands what women are capable of achieving when they are taught to embrace everything that they are. She knows that the battle will continue for years to come.

Linkedin: yawahansen-quao

Facebook: yhansenquao

Twitter: @yawahq

Website: http://www.emergingpublicleaders.org

Shermaine Hombarume – Finance Officer and Amateur Cook from Zimbabwe now living in the UK

Shermaine Homabarume from Zimbabwe and now living in the UK.

Shermaine is a highly motivated and driven Finance officer with years of experience in business environments. Her confidence, tenacity has helped her build a track record for account handling and client satisfaction A broad knowledge of a wide range of financial practices, including financial assessments. When she is not worried about balancing the books, Shermaine is in the kitchen experimenting with different kinds of ingredients. 

In the episode Shermaine focuses on family, childhood memories and the role of music and love in her cooking. She takes us into the kitchen and remembers the bygone era when she was a young teenager in Harare, Zimbabwe.

This episode features Charlot Magayi, Environmentalist; Influencer; Founder of Mukuru Stoves. She was born and raised in Mukuru – one of the biggest slums in Nairobi Kenya. She grew up in a community where cooking with a lot of fuel was a norm. But when she and her own child started getting sick from the fumes that were emitted by the regular stove, she took it upon herself to improve her life, while at the same time improving the lives of all underprivileged people in Africa.

She put herself through college and used her skills to create a stove that would use less fuel, emit less fumes and reduce the likelihood of getting burnt. Having dropped out of school at 16, it took a lot of commitment and determination to even start on a journey to save the world. Mukuru Stoves have become internationally known and Charlot has won awards for her environmental awareness. Change can come from the humblest of beginnings, but strength comes from some of the harshest. Charlot has made it through both and come out on top.

Linkedin: charlotte-magayi

Instagram: @charlottemagayi

Twitter: @charlottemagayi

Website: http://www.mukurustoves.org

This episode features Melene Rossouw, born and raised in Cape town. She got her start as an activist early in life when she was elected into the Student Council at University. Knowing the struggles of women and girls who grew up in poverty, Melene was motivated to form and develop the Women Lead Movement, an organization whose aim is to educate, empower and inspire women to lead social change in their communities through Human Rights and Leadership training curricula.

Melene is an admitted Attorney by the High Court in South Africa; a 2018 Obama Foundation Leader: Africa; 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow and an internationally recognised Gender Rights activists by ONE Global Campaign. 

She never dreamed, when she was called a backyard dweller as a child, that she should one day be recognized throughout the world as an activist, that she would make a difference, that she would actually possess powers that could change people’s lives.

Linkedin: Melene-Rossouw

Facebook: Melene-Rossouw

Twitter: @MeleneRossouw

Instagram: @MeleneRossouw

Website: http://www.womenleadmovement.org

This episode features Lyrical Mycheal, a vibrant young man from Uganda whose passions for the arts run deep.

From a young age he enjoyed drawing and playing football, but decided to pursue music so as to express his opinions and feelings. His music was very well received throughout Central and East Africa and he received notable awards and nominations. Lyll Mykk then decided to fortify himself and started up his acting career. Because of the fulfillment he was getting through his artistry he started the Wuluguma Art Foundation. The foundation is a charity organisation using the power of performing arts to transform the lives of gifted young people with disadvantaged backgrounds. He started a
clothing line LM Apparels. Because of his passion for fitness and athletics, he opened up a health and fitness centre called Bych Bodys and encourages the community to live healthy.

In this episode we talk about politics in #Uganda, #BobiWine, #GenMuseveni. The conversation will catch you by suprise.
Linkedin: lyrical-mycheal
Facebook: lyricalmycheal
http://www.facebook.com/Wuluguma
Instagram: @lyricalmycheal
Twitter: @lyricalmycheal

This episode features Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa – affectionately named “Mama Cancer” by her own community, she has experienced cancer on a very personal level. Shamim took her experiences as a sign and a push to help others and, hopefully, prevent them from going through what she did. 

Shamim empowered herself and, armed with the technology and information available to the current generation, she incorporated artificial intelligence into medicine. With the inventions from her company she has managed to find ways to improve the livelihood of many Africans. 

She has proven, not only to herself, but to the world that regardless of the number of punches life throws, fighting back can be beneficial to one’s personal self. She has restored hope to Uganda, her home country, and to the world and, more importantly, she has fulfilled her mother’s wish. 

Linkedin: shamim-nabuuma-kaliisa

Twitter: @NKaliisa

Nelson J. Kwaje lives by three words – People; Technology and Transformation. He has made it his life mission to transform Africa using the skills he has acquired over the years. He is Founder of WEB4ALL Limited and Design to Transform; Co-Founder of Alela Technologies; and Social Media Manager of #DefyHateNow.
The teams that that he is a part of in all the companies he works with are focused on making the lives of people easier through the use of technology. To help companies build an online presence; improve people’s livelihood and help youth share skills; transform communities and make the right career choices.
His observations drove him to manage #defyhatenow, which is an urgent community peace building, training and conflict reconciliation project aiming to strengthen the voices and support the actions of peace and youth-oriented civil society organizations in South Sudan.

Facebook: Nelson-Kwaje
Twitter: @nelsonkwaje
Instagram: (@nelsonkwaje
Linkedin: nelson-kwaje

This episode features Kamo Magabane, IT Consultant, Process and Business Analyst and Junior Project Manager and Leroy Tau, Author Speaker; Relationship Coaching; Self-development; Church Edification and Advancement Teen and Youth Coaching; Events MC.

Kamo is a business analyst by profession, an event manager by passion and a business woman by default, but before anything else, she is a mother and a wife. She is thought leader, a social activist and an influencer. Kamo was born, bred and buttered in Pimville, a township in Soweto, South Africa and studied her Bsc Degree in IT at Midrand Graduate Institute, now known as Pearson institute of Higher Education, South Africa. In 2015, she started a self- love, confidence and body positivity movement called Redefining Beauty Organization which all started in celebration of Women’s Month. Kamo is for women empowerment and is not apologetic about it. In this episode, Kamo tells us more about on her journey in the field of IT and her passion for growing and being for Women. Kamo believes if you want to achieve what you want in life and pursue anything, you have to Go Big or Go Home and Sleep.

Twitter: @ThatKamza

Facebook: Kamo Magabane

Instagram: Kamo Magabane

Leroy Tau is a born speaker who discovered his talent in church. He realised how vast his abilities were when he found his path. He co-authored and authored books that brought him into the lime light. Born in Soshanguve, one of the biggest townships in Pretoria-capital of South Africa, Leroy expanded what he was when he decided to focus his energies on helping people build stronger relationships. He realised that only through helping the bonds that people make can he help make the country better. As his own strengths grew he extended the help he provides to coaching youth and teaching people how to develop themselves. Leroy has become a sought after speaker and MC because people have realised the power his words have in helping them. The power his words have in driving them to achieve, and be more in every avenue of their own lives.

Facebook: @sgleroy

Instagram: @lsgleroy

Website: http://www.leroytau.co.za/

Having travelled across the African continent as a cargo pilot, Francois understands the African continent more than most. With friends they embarked on a journey across Africa cutting across 16 different countries until they encountered customs officials in Djibouti in East Africa.

Francois has been travelling the world since 1993 mostly as a pilot on a Boeing 747 freighter. As he travels he takes portraits of people on the streets it provides him and his followers a glimpse into the human soul. Like most travellers, Francois enjoy food and sightseeing. 

In this episode we talk about beauty, why he went into photography, the joys and tribulations of being a pilot and what makes Africa such an alluring tourist destination for travellers. 

On Instagram, which is his preferred platform you can connect with Francois @FrançoisLuxembourg

Amir is an Egyptian citizen who currently lives in Cairo. He lived in South Africa for 6 years where he ended up imprisoned before completing his life long goal of studying geophysics. In 2007, Amir was admitted into an undergraduate degree in geophysics at Ain Shams University in Cairo. He graduated in 2011 and started searching for a job in the oil and gas industry.

In 2012, he received a 30 day Visa to visit South Africa but never left. This episode explores the reasons he decided to break the rules which landed him in prison and why he felt this was worth the risk. Growing up, he always wanted to be a motivational speaker but nothing could have prepared him for the life that he endured in South Africa once his Visa had expired.

Through these trials and tribulations, Amir managed to graduate with both an honours and a masters degree in his chosen field.

Amir Abouelrous is a customer care agent at a telecommunication company in Cairo. He gives motivational talks at an educational centre during his spare time and studies physics for an hour or two every day. His goal remains to continue his research and become a motivational speaker.

He lives by the motto – Never stop moving, even if it’s very slowly, towards your goals and dreams.

Samantha is the founder and CEO of Oryx Desert Salt.

Samantha brings diverse experience from her entrepreneurial career from Aircraft Interior Refurbishment to discovering Mumbo Island on Lake Malawi whilst on a kayaking expedition and starting Kayak Africa. Her story is legendary in the sense that she spent 5 month traversing the deserts of Namibia where her brand originated.

Her desert salt adventure started by packing bags on her dining room table. She has a 12 year old son Kiran. She is passionate about Salt and regards it as an underrated seasoning. Her products have been well received in most restaurants and retailers due to their organic nature.

Before starting Orynx, Samantha ran an NGO for seven years, which used music to spiritually and emotionally uplift children in rural communities. Looking for a business opportunity after the birth of her son, she happened to come across this natural mineral-rich salt from the Kalahari Desert.

While Skyring has broken the retail ceiling, she hasn’t wavered from her personal commitment to run a business built on uplifting lives.

In this episode she talks about her journey to founding her company, things that keep her grounded and why she loves travelling across the different African countries.

Nthabeleng Khabutlane, Accountant, CEO and Founder of Fezi Auditors and Consultants

Lizl Naude is a Social Entrepreneur from Cape Town, South Africa. She is the founder of Lilly Loompa, a company that creates beautiful homeware made by upcycling waste material.

Lizl grew up in the valley-town of Paarl, in the Winelands of the Western Cape.  She was influenced by the natural beauty that surrounded her; the smell of the wet vineyards after a rainstorm, the purple mountains and the wide expanse of the night-sky.  

She is a self taught designer and initially started designing and making furniture because she couldn’t afford to buy new pieces to furnish her home. As an Innovator, she lives by her motto: “Use what you have”, and this philosophy has led her to start a movement of converting junk into beautiful, usable products. She is also a Director of The Chosen Foundation, a Non-profit company focussing on restoring families through facilitated training and travelling.

This episode contains lots of gems of wisdom about environmental care and life in general.

Chrissa is a textile design MA graduate from the world=renowned Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London.

She was born and raised in London, but her roots are very much Ghanaian. This is the country from which she draws her inspiration. Other countries that are of significance in her life include Togo and Benin.

The episode focusses on understanding the duality that describes Chrissa’s life and attempts to understand how she successfully navigates her two worlds. What does it take to be an inspirational designer? What does she describe as art and what is her creative process?

Amuah, who grew up in London’s Brixton neighbourhood, feels a strong connection to her African heritage. An important part of her designs is Adinkra symbology, which stems from a Ghanaian oral history tradition and is a visual way to communicate important values. These symbols are re-interpreted in her designs, from the obvious to the very subtle. In particular, the values of “wellbeing and social harmony” are powerful drivers in Amuah’s use of the symbols.

https://www.instagram.com/amwa_designs/

https://twitter.com/camuah?lang=en

Jackee Budesta Batanda is a creative entrepreneur educating through the power of writing. She is a short story writer, journalist, and Founder and Senior Managing Partner of SuccessSpark Brand Ltd.

Jackee has taught 400 students and 20 students have gone on to publish books. She is completing the construction of, The Blue Marble, the first writers’ house in Uganda, to provide a safe, intellectual space for writers. In 2019, she was named among the top 40 under 40 inspirational Ugandans and was the 2018/2019 continental winner- training and education category at the Women in Business and Government awarded in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a contributor in the New Daughters of Africa anthology, a seminal body of work that captures the voices of 200 women of African descent. She has written for publications including the New York Times, The Boston Globe, Guardian (UK), The Mail & Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Sunday Independent (SA), and Aljazeera Magazine. She was named by the Times (London) in 2012 as one of twenty women shaping the future of Africa. She was named among 39 writers under 40 from Sub-Saharan Africa most likely to shape the future of African literature. She has run writing workshops in the US, UK, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Malawi. She is currently at work on a novel, a short story collection, and is ghost-writing two books.

https://twitter.com/jackeebatanda?lang=en

Azziad Nasenya, Tiktok Queen, is a rising star in the entertainment industry and social media world.

She is an actress, dancer, model and social media personality. She is 20 years old from Kenya. She went to St Cecilia Misikhu Girls Secondary School and is currently a second-year college student at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication where she is studying towards a Mass Media qualification.

She is passionate about acting, content production and aspires to one day have her own radio show. In 2018, Azziad decided to create a YouTube Channel and began publishing content. A year later she created her first Tiktok post and the rest is history.

In this episode, she talks about her journey to social media platform, her aspirations and has some tips and tricks to share with the listeners. You can connect with Azziad on the following social media channel

Twitter – @AzziadNasenya

Nametso Matlhaga, President at African Woman in Leadership and Director of Matthan Jewellery Collection

Nametso Matlhaga is the founder of Matthan Jewellery Collection in Botswana. Her business is passionate about making memories come true, manufacturing jewellery using precious metals like gold and silver, and precious and semi precious stones. The business started in 2010 and today has 5 employees. Her team of craftsmen transform every client’s personal design ideas into bespoke and highly individual pieces of jewellery, making every piece memorable. As a young female entrepreneur with a decade of successful experience in the jewellery manufacturing and retail business, she was selected for, and successfully completed the 2018 Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneur training programme. She is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, women empowerment, mentorship and a believer in positive thinking.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nametso-matlhaga-72484b162?

Gigi Lamayne – African Rap Goddess, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Multiple Award winning Hip Hop Artist

Artist & Speaker, Gigi Lamayne was born Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney. She is a 24-year-old South African award-winning rap artist. Rapper, Singer, song-writer and Poet all describe this multi-facet artist. Her poetic skills were developed at the tender age of 11, having her first poem titled “Valentine’s Day” published at the Poetry Institute of Africa under the Anthology – Fairytale moon. Gigi Lamayne later developed her unique writing skills into rap by the age of 16, drawing inspiration from the likes of Jean Grae, Bob Marley, Brenda Fassie and Tupac Shakur. Gigi Lamayne’s talent was realized at an exchange programme in the UK under the Richard Branson Scholarship programme at Stowe School Buckingham where her performance earned her the runner‐up position, as well as at The DCS showdown East District in 2011 where she scooped an award in the category: Best in Rap.

The quadruple talent has made a magnificent impact on the growth and development of the female MC scene in the African Continent.

Twitter – @Gigi_Lamayne

http://www.gigilamayne.co.za