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	Titre	Date	Durée
	Sofi (The Odditty): Being Yourself Will Cost You Everything (But It’s Worth It)	14 Jan 2026	01:28:06
In this episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Sofi, one of the most compelling African women creators shaping culture across the diaspora, to unpack the real cost of authenticity, freedom, and building a life on your own terms. Known online as The Odditty, Sofi opens up about choosing self expression over approval, walking away from expectations placed on African women, and turning her personality into a powerful platform. From viral moments to $25K brand deals, from being silenced to owning her voice, this is a raw, unfiltered conversation about identity, trauma, money, boundaries, and becoming unapologetically yourself. This is not an influencer highlight reel. This is a survival story. We talk about the African creator economy, monetising authenticity, being underestimated, navigating family pressure, womanhood in public, and why being different is no longer a weakness but an advantage. This episode explores: • Why being yourself often comes with backlash, loss, and resistance • How Sofi turned authenticity into real income and global opportunities • The hidden cost of being a woman online, especially as an African creator • Why African creators are finally winning and what most people missed • Identity, self worth, trauma, healing, and choosing freedom anyway If you are a creator, founder, artist, or anyone trying to live honestly in a world that rewards conformity, this conversation will stay with you. Welcome to The Afropolitan Podcast, where African stories are told with honesty, depth, and pride. Follow Sofi (The Odditty) Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_odditty/ Website https://theodditty.com/ 🔗 Follow The Afropolitan Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Twitter https://x.com/afropolitan LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation Website https://www.afropolitan.io Community https://afropolitan.io/join Newsletter https://afropolitan.io/newsletter Sponsored By VBan The borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce Use code AFROPOLITAN https://vban.com Inverroche Gin South Africa’s premium craft gin https://www.inverroche.com Risevest Invest globally in dollar denominated stocks, real estate, and fixed income https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan Book 1 on 1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers https://convo.vip TIMESTAMPS 00:00: Intro 01:42 Why now is the best time to be an African creator 02:38 Telling African stories beyond suffering 03:06 Monetising being odd instead of fixing yourself 03:35 Blogging, early creation, and finding a voice 04:35 The first brand deals and learning your worth 05:28 How Sofi landed a $7,500 Home Depot deal 06:46 Why representation and visibility matter 07:15 What African parents expect versus reality 08:39 Sexual harassment and leaving Nigeria 10:59 Moving to America and unlearning shame 11:50 Viral moments and the birth of The Odditty 12:47 Choosing creativity over law school 14:16 Family pressure, money, and misunderstanding 15:44 Paying the price for freedom 16:43 Being ostracised for being yourself 18:06 Therapy, healing, and reclaiming power 19:30 Viral videos and what happens after 22:40 Why viral moments are not the goal 24:05 Building community over chasing attention 25:32 Boundaries, friendships, and creator burnout 28:41 Business boundaries and saying no 30:58 Being underestimated and weaponising softness 32:53 “She won’t last long” and proving them wrong 35:13 Creator politics, envy, and extraction 35:39 The business of content creation explained 38:28 Managers, agencies, and skin in the game 40:51 Why representation must work for you 44:00 The New York apartment controversy 45:52 The rat race and redefining success 47:44 Choosing freedom over lifestyle validation 50:43 Turning 30 and rewriting the dream 53:37 Race in America versus class in Nigeria 01:01:20 Why African creators would win faster at home 01:04:33 Lagos creator economy frustrations 01:07:41 Why Sofi started her podcast 01:10:28 Shame, sex, and breaking taboos 01:13:46 Processing trauma and delayed healing 01:16:33 Taking power back 01:19:40 Boundaries and self respect 01:21:34 Rapid fire questions 01:23:43 Who should be on the podcast next
	Austin Avuru: We Were Taught To Leave. But Nobody Taught Us How To Build Back Home	07 Jan 2026	01:05:37
Austin Avuru at Afropolitan Live \| Building Institutions That Last in Africa AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr In this episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Austin Avuru—Nigerian geologist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Seplat Petroleum—to explore what it really takes to build institutions that last in Africa. From his early years at NNPC to co-founding one of Nigeria's most successful indigenous energy companies, Austin shares a rare long-term perspective on discipline, governance, succession, and the hidden cost of success. This is not a hype story. It is a builder's story. We discuss why most African businesses collapse after the founder exits, why managing success is harder than starting from nothing, and why building in Nigeria is difficult but absolutely possible. 🔗 FOLLOW AFROPOLITAN Website – https://www.afropolitan.io Instagram – https://instagram.com/afropolitan Twitter – https://twitter.com/afropolitan Book 1:1 with Eche – https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika – https://convo.vip/chikauwazie SPONSORS VBan – Use code AFROPOLITAN → https://vban.com Inverroche Gin → https://www.inverroche.com Risevest → https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo → https://convo.vip TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:45 What it really takes to build in Nigeria 1:36 Discipline, focus, and one step at a time 2:18 Would he still choose Nigeria today 2:48 Starting his career at NNPC 3:49 Founding Platform Petroleum 4:36 Co-founding Seplat and acquiring Shell assets 5:02 Why Seplat listed on the London Stock Exchange 5:14 "We listed to save the company from ourselves" 5:47 Managing success as the biggest risk 6:27 Why African companies don't survive founders 7:47 Why Platform Petroleum still exists today 8:27 What NNPC represented in the 1980s 10:08 Comparing NNPC to Saudi Aramco 11:06 Losing his father at age six 11:36 His mother's role in shaping resilience 12:59 Returning to his childhood school after 60 years 14:14 The missed opportunity to go abroad 17:49 Acquiring IOC assets with audacity 18:50 Negotiating directly with Shell 19:41 Convincing global investors 20:42 Almost failing the LSE listing 22:06 How trust unlocked approval 24:36 Rebuilding market confidence 25:54 Scaling from 22K to 100K barrels/day 27:00 Why scaling breaks businesses 29:00 Choosing the right partners 30:23 When to walk away 32:04 Why indigenous entrepreneurs must step up 35:47 What a family office really is 36:25 Why he refused to write a will 37:00 Structuring wealth to avoid conflict 40:09 Lessons from the Dangote refinery 44:08 Energy transition and Africa's right to develop 47:49 What a just transition really means 50:35 Wealth discipline and philanthropy 53:23 Advice to Africans in the diaspora 55:35 Why Afropolitan exists 57:30 Rapid fire 59:39 Biggest hiring mistake 1:00:10 Best business advice received 1:01:26 One word for the diaspora: "It's possible" 1:02:05 Leaders he wants to see next 1:03:22 Final reflections on legacy
	How Banke Kuku Built a Global Fashion Brand From Lagos Worn by Gabrielle Union	05 Nov 2025	01:01:49
Banke Kuku, founder and creative director of Banke Kuku Textiles, reveals how she built one of Africa’s most recognizable luxury fashion brands, worn by Gabrielle Union, Lupita Nyong’o, and Beyoncé, from her living room in Lagos to global runways. In this exclusive episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, Banke opens up about the brutal realities of building a “Made in Nigeria” brand, surviving COVID after investing every penny, and redefining African luxury for a global audience. She explains: ◼️ How she pivoted overnight during COVID to save her entire business ◼️ Why she refused to move manufacturing abroad despite the challenges ◼️ The hard truth about funding, quality control, and integrity in African fashion ◼️ What investors actually look for when backing creative entrepreneurs ◼️ Why staying patient, purpose-driven, and ethical is her biggest competitive edge If you’re a designer, founder, or dreamer building something out of Africa, this episode will inspire you to create with courage, resilience, and authenticity. Follow Banke Kuku Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankekuku/ Website: https://www.bankekuku.com Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast For more unfiltered conversations with the world's most insightful Africans. Stay connected with Afropolitan: Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website: https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State: https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter This episode is sponsored by: VBan — The borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce. Use the code AFROPOLITAN to sign up: https://vban.com Inverroche Gin — South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche.com Risevest — A digital wealth-manager connecting you to global, dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income. Use this link to sign up: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan — Book 1-on-1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers. Visit https://convo.vip/ to connect with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:38 The Rise of Nigeria’s Fashion Industry & Creative Economy 02:20 From Home Interiors to Founding a Fashion Label 04:55 Launching Her Brand Right Before the Pandemic 06:50 How She Pivoted to E-Commerce Overnight 09:30 Selling Pajamas Online to Save the Business 11:00 Building a “Made in Nigeria” Luxury Brand 13:40 The Harsh Realities of Manufacturing in Africa 16:30 Balancing Global Quality Standards with Local Talent 18:50 Funding Her Fashion Startup Through GT Bank & Grants 21:00 Lessons on Integrity, Leadership & Hiring the Right Team 23:00 What Global Investors Look for in African Designers 25:45 How “Made in Nigeria” Became Her Global Advantage 27:30 Pricing, Perception & The African Luxury Dilemma 30:00 Behind the Gabrielle Union Collaboration 33:00 Is Nigerian Fashion Overpriced — or Undervalued? 34:45 The Banke Kuku Woman: Confidence, Class & Culture 37:30 Taking Nigerian Fashion to Global Markets 40:00 The Psychology of Patience, Faith & Growth 42:00 The Doha Partnership & Middle East Expansion 43:30 Moving From London to Lagos — Culture Shock & Adaptation 45:00 Inside Her New Collection “Savannah” & Its Story 47:20 The Future of Fashion Investment in Africa 49:45 Protecting African Craftsmanship, Culture & IP 51:00 Building Her New Luxury Flagship Store in Lagos 52:30 Customer Experience, Culture & Patience in Business 54:00 Her Favorite Signature Pieces & What They Represent 55:40 The Strangest Custom Requests From Clients 57:00 The Afropolitan Toast: Creativity, Legacy & Resilience 59:00 Rapid-Fire Questions + Closing Reflections
	Austin Okere (CWG Founder)/ The $35,000 Decision That Built a $90 Million Company!	29 Oct 2025	01:35:35
Austin Okere, the founder of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Nigeria’s first technology company to IPO on the Nigerian Stock Exchange shares the extraordinary 20-year journey of building from $35,000 in seed capital to a $90 million public company. In this powerful conversation, Austin reveals the hard truths about entrepreneurship in Africa: raising capital without structure, surviving the 2008 crash, handling rejection while scaling ethically, and knowing when to step down to make room for the next generation. He explains: ◼️ Why building in Africa is harder and more meaningful than anywhere else ◼️ How to raise money ethically and survive multiple rejections ◼️ What most founders get wrong about succession and legacy ◼️ How to build trust, partnerships & governance investors respect ◼️ Why true wealth is measured by impact, not bank balance 🔗 Follow Austin Okere LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinokere 🔔 Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast for more unfiltered conversations with the world's most insightful Africans. Stay connected with Afropolitan: Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website: https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State – https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter This episode is sponsored by: Vban, short for VIRTUAL BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER is the borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce. Use the code AFROPOLITAN to sign up: https://vban.com Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche Risevest, a digital wealth-manager connecting you to global, dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income. Use this link to sign up: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ 00:00 – The Truth About Building in Africa 02:15 – Opportunities in Africa 04:55 – Starting CWG with $35,000 07:00 – Leaving His Job & Early Struggles 09:30 – Partnering with Dell 13:00 – Building Nigeria’s Maintenance Culture 15:30 – Telecom Expansion and VSAT Networks 18:10 – Managing FX Challenges 19:15 – The Afropolitan Toast Segment 20:00 – Software Beginnings & Banking Opportunity 23:00 – The Infosys Partnership 26:00 – Y2K & Winning Three Banks 28:00 – Scaling CWG Through Banking Consolidation 31:45 – $10M Aureos Investment 34:30 – Closing Tony Elumelu at Midnight 37:45 – Surviving the 2008 Global Meltdown 40:20 – Preparing for IPO 41:10 – Listing CWG at $90M Valuation 42:30 – 2,500x Return for Early Investors 44:00 – Private Equity Due Diligence Process 47:30 – Navigating the Nigerian IPO Process 50:55 – Co-Founders and Partnership Structure 53:50 – The T-Person & H-Person Framework 57:00 – Succession Planning & Letting Go 01:00:45 – Transition to Also Leadership Academy 01:03:00 – Redefining What It Means to Be a Billionaire 01:05:30 – How to Join a Board 01:07:55 – Ethics and Corporate Governance 01:09:30 – When CBN Banned ATMs 01:13:20 – Turning a Crisis Into Opportunity 01:15:30 – Reflections on the Abraaj Collapse 01:17:30 – Staying Grounded After Success 01:19:45 – Building the Also Leadership Academy 01:21:45 – Scaling Through COVID & Online Training 01:25:00 – Legacy, Impact, and Shared Prosperity 01:27:30 – Advice to Young Entrepreneurs 01:29:00 – Defining a Billionaire by Impact 01:31:15 – Lessons From 28-Year-Old Austin 01:34:30 – Closing Reflections & Outro
	Vusi Thembekwayo: The Truth About Money, His Traumas, and Building Africa’s Future	22 Oct 2025	01:52:50
Guest: Vusi Thembekwayo - Investor, Speaker, Founder of MyGrowthFund & Executive Chairman of Thembekwayo Legacy Group In this groundbreaking episode, we sit down with Vusi Thembekwayo for an unfiltered conversation about the brutal realities, psychological costs, and unparalleled opportunities of building in Africa today. Vusi dismantles controversial narratives around Elon Musk and South Africa, reveals the trauma of poverty that holds us back, and delivers the hard truth about why your success is ultimately your responsibility. This is a masterclass in mindset, money, and the future of the continent. 💡 In this episode, we uncover: → Why it's the EASIEST time in history to build in Africa (despite the struggles) → The shocking truth behind Elon Musk's "Starlink Lie" and the white genocide narrative → How the trauma of poverty creates "limiting foundational beliefs" that cost us billions → Vusi's personal cost: Losing his relationship with his mother for 10 years → The moment he saw $1M and his brain "short-circuited" → How to break through the "African pricing" ceiling and demand your worth → The real reason he believes we should build "Zebras," not just "Unicorns" → The one thing that will unlock $50 Billion in institutional capital for Africa → The intellectual dishonesty of Elon Musk and the danger of his influence → The nuanced tension between South Africans and Nigerians (and how to fix it) → Vusi's most controversial opinion: "Your success is 100% your fault." Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast for more unfiltered conversations with the world's most insightful Africans. Where to Find Vusi Thembekwayo: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vthembekwayo?si=IBbm4OY3583DHuIi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vusithembekwayo/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vusithembekwayo?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Website: https://vusithembekwayo.com 📢 Join the conversation: What was the most powerful moment for you? Was it Vusi's take on Elon Musk, the trauma of poverty, or his unwavering stance on personal responsibility? Let us know in the comments! This episode is sponsored by: Vban, is the borderless banking app built for Africa's digital workforce. Use the code AFROPOLITAN to sign up: https://vban.com Inverroche Gin, South Africa's premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche Risevest, a digital wealth-manager connecting you to global, dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income. Use this link to sign up: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Stay connected with Afropolitan: Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website: https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State – https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter CHAPTERS: 0:00 Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa 2:28 Why It's The Easiest Time to Build in Africa 7:00 The Cost of Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship 17:00 How My Father's Business Failure Shaped Me 28:00 From $2 to Top Speaker: Breaking Into The Industry 35:00 Why Speaking Agencies Don't Add Value 43:00 Zebras vs Unicorns: What Africa Really Needs 48:00 The Truth About Elon Musk & Starlink in South Africa 59:10 Why Intellectual Dishonesty Creates Extremists 1:07:00 The South Africa-Nigeria Dynamic Explained 1:19:00 DEI, Reparations & Historical Truth 1:23:00 Building My First Venture Fund With My Own Money 1:28:00 "Simba Is Still Waiting for Mufasa to Die" 1:31:00 Why I'm Converting to Permanent Capital 1:37:00 Rapid Fire Questions 1:42:00 Africa & AI: Still On The Consumption End 1:45:00 What People Get Wrong About Me 1:49:00 Who Should Be on The Podcast Next
	Simi Williams, Ex-Banker: How Burnout at 26 Forced Me to ALL Start Over again	15 Oct 2025	00:56:49
From Burnout To Beyond: The Untold Story Of Building Africa’s Leading Wellness Brand Guest: Simi Williams, Founder of Beyond Fitness At 26, Simi Williams was hospitalised from burnout while working in high finance in London. She lost $1M in funding when investors saw she was pregnant — but that didn’t stop her from returning to Nigeria to build Beyond Fitness, now one of Africa’s most respected wellness brands. In this powerful episode, she opens up about the cost of ambition, postnatal depression, gender bias in fundraising, and the daily fight to build a global business out of Lagos. In this episode: → Burnout and the illusion of success in high finance → Motherhood, postnatal depression, and recovery → Losing $1M in funding because of pregnancy → How gender bias shapes fundraising for women → Building Beyond Fitness into a global brand → Balancing family, faith, and entrepreneurship → Why Lagos taught her control is an illusion → Redefining what success and purpose really mean Follow Afropolitan Website – https://afropolitan.io Instagram – @afropolitan Twitter – @afropolitan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Timestamps 0:00 - The Gym Incident That Started Everything 0:38 - Introduction: Simi Williams - From Banking to Beyond Fitness 1:51 - Trying to Be a Global Wellness Entrepreneur 2:34 - When Success Was Breaking Me: Hospital at 26 4:40 - Childhood Connection to Fitness 6:03 - Losing My Therapy: Three Times Movement Failed Me 8:25 - Double Entrepreneur Household: Managing Two Businesses 13:06 - The Birth of Beyond Fitness 15:28 - Fundraising While Pregnant: Losing Investors 19:06 - Being a Woman in Fundraising 21:02 - Reinventing Myself: From Finance to Fitness 22:56 - Moving Back to Nigeria: The Cultural Shock 25:04 - Did I Make a Mistake Coming Back? 27:12 - Bible App Moment & Beyond Fitness Experience 31:29 - Creating a Culture of Care 33:09 - What Banking Taught Me to Unlearn 35:03 - Every Role Except Security: Building From Scratch 37:20 - Why High-Profile People Drop Their Guard at Beyond 39:20 - The Tender Parts: Bamboo Season 42:11 - What I Want My Daughter to See 43:25 - Global Vision for Beyond Fitness 44:48 - Beyond on Tour: Wellness Retreats 48:46 - When Everything Goes Wrong: The Bus Story 51:13 - What I Want to Be Remembered For 51:30 - Rapid Fire Questions 52:46 - Motherhood: What It Taught Me 54:05 - Birth Center Decision 56:00 - Who Should Be Next on the Podcast
	Founder Who Lost $3.9M Reveals The Hard Truth About Money And Freedom	08 Oct 2025	01:52:51
Yele Bademosi is a founder, investor, and creative thinker at the intersection of culture, capital, and clarity. He’s the Co-creator and CEO of Onboard. He reveals the untold truth behind losing $3.9 million overnight in the FTX collapse and how that moment transformed his relationship with money, purpose, and freedom. A former medical student turned tech founder and investor, Yele has built some of Africa’s most influential startups, including Bundle (incubated within Binance). But after reaching the height of startup success, everything came crashing down. In this deeply personal conversation, Yele shares lessons on resilience, rebuilding from zero, and why he believes private credit, not crypto, is Africa’s biggest untapped opportunity. He also discusses the future of the creator economy, the importance of financial sovereignty, and how Africa’s next billion-dollar companies will be built by creators, not corporations. He explains: - Why he walked away from medicine to pursue freedom - How losing everything in FTX changed his definition of wealth - The truth about Africa’s credit gap and economic opportunity - What “potential capital” really means and how to find yours - Why creators are Africa’s next economic revolution Key Themes The Future of Credit in Africa Surviving the FTX Collapse Rebuilding Purpose & Identity The Creator Economy as Africa’s Next Wave Financial Freedom, Integrity & the Pursuit of Happiness 🔗 Follow Yele X (Twitter) – @YeleBademosi LinkedIn – Yele Bademosi OnboardGlobal – https://www.linkedin.com/company/onboardbynestcoin/ Follow Afropolitan Website – https://afropolitan.io Instagram – @afropolitan X (Twitter) – @afropolitan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan: Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website: https://www.afropolitan.io 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter 00:00 - The Biggest Opportunity in Africa: Private Credit 01:09 - Introduction: What's the Biggest Opportunity in Africa? 03:12 - Why Credit is Africa's Missing Infrastructure 05:06 - South Africa's Credit System vs Rest of Africa 06:28 - Who Was Yele Before Bundle & Nestcoin? 07:55 - Growing Up in Ibadan: Early Entrepreneurial Roots 10:20 - Moving to UK at 14: The Internet Opens New Worlds 12:18 - The Medical School Journey & Father's Blessing 14:12 - "Opting Out" of Medical School 16:55 - Writing the Letter to Mom: Pursuit of Freedom 18:37 - Afropolitan Toast: To African Creativity & Legacy 20:25 - Life Lessons from Parents: Excellence & Integrity 22:24 - Losing Dad: The Impact 15 Years Later 26:04 - Five Types of Wealth: Transforming Priorities 28:05 - Moving to London: Being Closer to Family 30:13 - Financial Sovereignty & Why Crypto Matters 32:38 - Building Digital Infrastructure for Africa 35:02 - The Bundle Story: Right Place, Right Time 38:15 - Leaving Binance to Build Nestcoin 40:22 - Raising the Largest African Crypto Seed Round 44:58 - The FTX Collapse: November 11, 2022 48:51 - Surviving the Crisis: Resilience & Recovery 52:13 - 18 Months of Uncertainty: Getting 95% Back 56:43 - Learning to Forgive Yourself 58:27 - Personal Funds Lost in FTX 01:01:32 - Redefining Wealth: Potential Capital 01:06:34 - Afropolitan's Journey: The Million Dollar Prophecy 01:09:28 - Why Afropolitan Will Succeed: Culture Connectors 01:16:51 - The Creator Economy Thesis: Distribution is Queen 01:19:19 - From BET for Africa to Creator Infrastructure 01:23:29 - The Cost of Creation is Dropping: Distribution Wins 01:27:47 - Leading Through Pivots: Vision Evolution 01:32:09 - African Creators to Watch 01:36:05 - Three Systems Creators Need: Banking, Credit, Management 01:40:06 - Onboard: Freedom to Transact Globally 01:42:26 - Stablecoins: The New Financial Infrastructure 01:46:53 - Rapid Fire: Lagos vs London 01:48:28 - Favorite Nigerian Food: Ofada Rice at Mega Chicken 01:51:51 - Who Should Be on Afropolitan Podcast
	From Losing $1.5M Overnight To Raising Millions The Brutal Reality Of Fundraising With Chika & Eche	01 Oct 2025	01:17:11
From $0 To $2.4M In 3 Weeks The Brutal Truth About Startup Fundraising Guests: Chika & Eche Founders of Afropolitan What does it really take to raise millions as an African founder In this unfiltered episode Chika & Eche break down how they raised $2.4 million in just 21 days and the painful lessons learned along the way From losing $1.5 million in commitments overnight to discovering why 98% of startups fail this is the playbook for anyone dreaming of building something big In this episode: → How Chika & Eche closed $2.4M in 3 weeks → Why $1.5M in commitments disappeared overnight → The difference between idea vs traction when pitching → Why your team matters more than your idea → The pitch deck structure that wins investors → Hard lessons from losing a $1M deal → Why 98% of startups fail but some still thrive → The 5 fundraising stages every founder must master Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: http://afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: 00:00 - Intro 01:37 - How to Fundraise & Pitch: Special Episode Introduction 02:47 - Chika's Fundraising Background: TalentBase & 500 Startups (2015-2016) 04:29 - What Investors Really Care About: Numbers & Audacity 06:09 - Eche's Community Building Journey: From Events to Investment 08:16 - The Power of Long-Term Track Records in Fundraising 10:47 - From Labor to Leverage: Naval's Framework for Building Wealth 13:47 - The Importance of Relationships: 10 Years to First Million 15:42 - The Afropolitan Pitch: 3 Minutes That Changed Everything 18:41 - Phase 1: Events & Year of Return ($2B Economic Impact) 19:17 - Phase 2: COVID Pivot to Clubhouse (200K Community) 20:02 - Phase 3: The 5AM Revelation in Nairobi 22:27 - Phase 4: The Four-Phase Roadmap to Digital Nation 25:14 - Why Team Matters: The Marriage of Co-Founders 28:07 - From Idea to Traction: What VCs Actually Want 31:17 - The Psychology of Fundraising: Creating FOMO 34:09 - When $3.5M Became $2.1M: The Bear Market Reality 37:47 - Due Diligence Goes Both Ways: Choosing Your Investors 40:24 - Creating Momentum: The 3-Week Close 42:22 - Why African Founders Undervalue Themselves 44:47 - The Pitch Deck Breakdown: What Actually Matters 48:41 - Team Dynamics: Why Most Startups Really Fail 51:58 - Chika's TalentBase Story: When Boards Betray Founders 54:27 - The Power of Failure: Your Network is Your Net Worth 56:49 - From Tech-First to Culture-First: The Afropolitan Pivot 59:34 - Building Through Bear Markets: Choosing Gratitude 01:02:11 - Co-Founder Alignment: The Conversations That Save Startups 01:04:36 - Final Thoughts: Your Failed Startups Are Tomorrow's Cap Table
	The Business Behind Afrobeat Festivals And Why "Detty December" Became Africa's Summer Sensation	24 Sep 2025	01:32:47
Darey On LiveSpot, Dirty December, Cardi B, And The Business Of African Entertainment Guest: Darey Art Alade, Founder of LiveSpot 360 What if entertainment wasn’t just about the music, the lights, or the artists but about building the infrastructure of a billion dollar industry in Africa? In this powerful conversation, Darey takes us behind the scenes of Nigeria’s creative economy from pioneering LiveSpot 360 to bringing global stars like Cardi B and Kelly Rowland, and shaping the cultural movement known as Dirty December. He shares how festivals are built from scratch, the financial realities of touring in Nigeria, and the policies that could unlock Africa’s entertainment future. Darey also opens up about working with his wife, balancing creativity with business, and why cultural influence is Africa’s next global export. In this episode: → The untold business of concerts, festivals, and shows in Nigeria → Why Dirty December became “Africa’s summer” → Building LiveSpot 360 out of frustration and problem solving → Behind the scenes of Cardi B’s Lagos show and cultural impact → How forex, inflation, and infrastructure shape African entertainment → The future of Afrobeat, Nollywood, and experiential marketing → What every Nigerian artist needs to break through today → How cultural influence opens doors to politics and global power → Lessons on marriage, business partnerships, and energy management If you’re Afropolitan, drop a YES in the comments and subscribe for more builder-level conversations. This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche.com/ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo (https://convo.vip/) with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ 00:00 - Intro 02:36 - The Business Behind the Show 05:38 - The Myth vs Reality of Nigerian Entertainment Business 06:36 - Breaking Down a 30,000-Person Festival Production 13:43 - Equipment Infrastructure: Why International Artists Don't Tour Nigeria 20:02 - How LiveSpot Was Born from Problems 25:10 - From Artist to Industry Builder: The Transition 29:32 - Bringing Cardi B to Nigeria: Behind the Scenes 32:00 - Cardi B Twerking at Sanuisi Roundabout at 6 AM 34:48 - Foreign Exchange Crisis and Creative Business 39:21 - The Future of Detty December 46:46 - Growing Up in a Musical Dynasty 50:17 - Building Business with Your Spouse 57:37 - Energy Management and Setting Boundaries 01:03:09 - "Your Wife Should Be Your Guy" 01:07:23 - The Evolution of Nigerian Music Industry 01:11:45 - What It Takes to Break Into Music Today 01:16:03 - Meeting Bill Clinton: Breaking Ice with Cultural Knowledge 01:20:46 - Policy Recommendations for Nigeria's Creative Industry 01:26:26 - Rapid Fire: Favorite Artists & Nigerian Food 01:32:10 - Who Should Be on Afropolitan Next
	[DELETED ON YOUTUBE] The Harsh Truth About Nigeria’s Music Industry Fame Betrayal And Building Billion Naira Businesses	16 Sep 2025	01:58:01
The Harsh Truth About Nigeria’s Music Industry Fame Betrayal And Building Billion Naira Businesses Guest: Ubi Franklin, Music Executive & Founder of Made Men Music Group (Triple MG) What does it really take to build stars in Nigeria’s music industry? In this explosive episode, Ubi Franklin opens up on the business of Afrobeat, how he discovered Tekno, built Kukere into a national anthem with Iyanya, and why the music business is more volatile than real estate or oil. From negotiating shows with Davido, to losing money on failed deals, to why “contracts don’t guarantee loyalty,” Ubi shares the unfiltered truth about fame, betrayal, and survival in Africa’s most competitive industry. In this episode: → Why music is the riskiest but most rewarding business in Africa → How Ubi Franklin built Triple MG and discovered Tekno → The untold story of Kukere and Iyanya’s rise → Why Nigerian banks won’t fund entertainment → The danger of one hit songs → Loyalty, betrayal, and why contracts don’t protect you → Ubi’s friendships with Davido, Kiss Daniel, and Tekno → Why friendship is worth more than transactions → His advice for young men navigating fame, women, and relationships Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo (https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Follow Ubi Franklin Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes:* YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ YouTube Chapters – Ubi Franklin on Afropolitan Podcast 00:00 – Intro: Reinvention, Risk & The Cost of Staying Visible 01:30 – The Business of Entertainment in Africa 05:20 – Why Nigerian Banks Don’t Invest in Music 10:00 – Building TripleMG & Afrobeat’s First Global Push 14:00 – Documenting Iyanya’s Historic 31-City Tour 19:30 – Why Banks Still Don’t Understand Music Catalogs 23:00 – The Structure Problem with Nigerian Entertainers 25:00 – Starting Out: From Julius Agwu’s PA to Running a Studio 30:00 – The Making of Kukere: Hustle, Generators & Breakthroughs 33:20 – From Failed Papers to Bitcoin: An Unexpected Pivot 38:00 – Launching Instant Pickup, Instant Apartment & Early Startups 40:15 – When Nigeria Happened: Business Losses & Hard Lessons 44:40 – Walking Away from Debt & Finding Peace 48:30 – Why Artists Can’t Stay Hot Forever 50:30 – The Big 3: Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy & Breaking Into Their League 56:00 – How Music Used to Spread: From Alaba to the Diaspora 58:40 – The Flavor Blueprint: Staying Relevant Without Being ‘Big 3’ 1:03:00 – Understanding Your Market: Flavor, Chike & Small Doctor 1:08:00 – Inside Davido’s Malibu Camp & How Hits Are Born 1:12:00 – Nigeria Will Happen to You: Culture, Corruption & Everyday Chaos 1:18:00 – Why Most Artists Don’t Build Relationships That Matter 1:22:00 – The New Music Economy: Influencers, Distribution & Global Reach 1:27:00 – Why Consistency Beats Hype: Lessons for Young Artists 1:32:00 – Flavor, Chike & Ethnic Markets: The Power of Knowing Your Base 1:38:00 – Building Resilience After Business & Personal Setbacks 1:44:00 – Nigeria vs. Government vs. People: Who Really Holds Us Back? 1:50:00 – Advice on Relationships, Decisions & Longevity 1:55:00 – Who Ubi Wants to See Next on Afropolitan Podcast
	AI Startups Unicorns And The Harsh Truth About Building In Africa	10 Sep 2025	01:40:42
AI Startups Unicorns And The Future Of Africa With Ike Eze 🎙️ Guest: Ike Eze, Venture Capitalist, Author of Founders Fit, and Co-founder of Beta.Ventures From Silicon Valley exits to building venture capital in Africa, Ike Eze shares the unfiltered truth about startups, fundraising, unicorns, and the coming wave of AI in Africa. This episode is packed with insights on how founders can avoid shiny-object syndrome, find the right “founder fit,” raise money realistically, and why the future of Africa’s tech story may be written through AI applications, capital flows, and unstoppable resilience. 💡 In this episode: → What signals show Africa is ready for unicorns → Why diaspora money isn’t always startup money → The hard truth about founders and self-awareness → The bubble era of crazy valuations and down rounds → What AI means for Africa and the opportunities ahead → Why ideas follow capital, not passion alone → How to find your real founder-market fit → Lessons on money, humility, and building wealth ethically Connect with Ike Eze Book a 1:1 on Convo → https://convo.vip/ikeeze Follow Ike on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikeeze/ Buy Ike Eze’s Book: The Founder Fit: Finding the Business Idea that’s Right for You https://www.amazon.com/Founder-Fit-Finding-Business-Thats/dp/B0FD7YBM6Y ✨ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo (https://convo.vip/) with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Join the Afropolitan Community on Whatsapp & Telegram https://www.afropolitan.io/community Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Full Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – From Silicon Valley exits to building in Africa 08:12 – Why founder self-awareness matters more than pitch decks 14:05 – The danger of chasing shiny objects in startups 20:47 – Diaspora money vs. startup money: hard truths 28:55 – How Africa can build its first wave of unicorns 37:42 – What “Founder Fit” really means 46:18 – The bubble era of crazy valuations & down rounds 55:36 – Why ideas follow capital, not passion 01:04:44 – The role of humility & ethics in building wealth 01:12:58 – AI’s potential to reshape Africa’s future 01:22:11 – Capital flows, resilience, and what’s ahead 01:30:24 – Advice for founders: clarity, patience, and self-trust 01:39:30 – Closing reflections & where to find Ike
	The Truth About Nigerian Politics Betrayal Corruption And Fighting For A Better Future	03 Sep 2025	02:11:09
🎙️ Guest: Femi Kuti, Afrobeat Pioneer & Son of Fela Kuti What does it mean to carry a legacy in a country that keeps failing its people? In this explosive conversation, Femi Kuti opens up on life in Nigeria, politics, betrayal, family, and the impossible task of keeping a band together for four decades. From rejecting politicians who jailed his father to speaking about the decay in schools, health care, and infrastructure, Femi shares the painful reality of being an artist in Nigeria. He explains why you can’t wish for a government to fail, why colonialism still lives in our minds, and what it truly takes to fight for integrity, family, and music. 💡 In this episode: → Why Femi refuses to support failed Nigerian leaders → The painful reality of betrayal and band members running away → How colonialism destroyed Africa’s self-belief → The truth about education, health care, and leadership failure → Lessons from Fela Kuti’s legacy and why family unity matters → How social media distorts truth and history → The fight to carry Afrobeat and Nigeria’s voice to the world → Why Nigeria must rebuild from schools to infrastructure to survive ✨ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo (https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes:* YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Frantz Fanon Book Title - The Wretched of the Earth. 📍 Timestamps 00:00 – Rejecting false friends and betrayal in music 01:30 – Why Afrobeat is more than just music 15:36 – Breaking away from Fela and building my own legacy 25:42 – Nigeria’s leaders and the decay of schools and hospitals 36:18 – The impossible challenge of keeping a band together 47:25 – How betrayal broke me on tour and why trust is fragile 53:27 – What Afrobeat really means and the message behind it 01:04:10 – Fame, money and the broken Nigerian music industry 01:09:52 – Nigeria then and now – hospitals, football and leadership 01:26:04 – Violence, fear and deciding to work on myself 01:35:01 – Why I will never support failed Nigerian politicians 01:42:10 – What real laws should look like in Nigeria 01:50:39 – Band betrayals, runaway musicians and survival costs 02:00:15 – Colonialism and how it still controls Africa’s mind 02:06:27 – Why education and music schools can save Nigeria 02:15:26 – The colonial mindset and why thinkers must be in government 02:20:39 – Slavery, Pan-African unity and the lost dream 02:26:21 – TikTok, young people and the danger of forgetting history 02:33:02 – Listening to the next generation and taking their advice 02:40:14 – How my family kept Fela’s legacy alive 02:45:46 – Culture, tradition and the fight for family unity 02:47:00 – Closing reflections on legacy, faith and the future of Nigeria
	This Artist Walked Out of University… Then Built a Global Art Career From Nothing	31 Dec 2025	01:23:42
Aunty’s is a limited sculpture collection by Anthony Azekwoh, released in collaboration with Afropolitan. We are placing 200 sculptures from the collection. Acquisition is by application only. This is not a traditional purchase. Each piece is placed intentionally. Applications can be submitted here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr In this episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Anthony Azekwoh, a Nigerian visual artist and sculptor redefining how African memory, culture, and identity are preserved through art. This conversation introduces Aunty’s, a sculpture collection rooted in reclaiming African history after centuries of cultural theft — beginning with the looting of the Benin Bronzes in 1897. Rather than waiting for restitution, this episode explores what it means to rebuild African memory through ownership, craft, and contemporary creation. Anthony breaks down his creative process, from sketching and digital sculpting to producing physical sculptures in Nigeria using bronze, marble dust, and fiberglass. He reflects on the role of “aunties” as cultural archivists, the importance of joy and celebration in African storytelling, and why African homes can become modern museums. The conversation also goes deeper into Anthony’s personal journey. He speaks candidly about leaving university, navigating religious institutions, financial instability, NFT booms and crashes, payment barriers for African creatives, and what it took to rebuild after hitting financial rock bottom. This is a rare, unfiltered look at what it means to build art, business, and legacy from Africa — without permission. Legal Disclaimer: The opinions, statements, and views expressed by guests appearing on the Afropolitan Podcast are solely their own and do not represent the views, opinions, or positions of Afropolitan, its hosts, affiliates, or employees. Any claims or characterizations made by guests regarding third parties, including institutions or organizations, are the guest's personal opinions and should not be interpreted as statements of fact endorsed by this platform. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro & Teaser: Anthony on making his first million through prints 1:28 - Welcome & Introduction to the Aunties Sculpture Collection 1:47 - The History: 1897 Benin Bronze Looting & Cognitive Colonization 2:39 - Why Aunties Matter to African History 3:15 - Anthony Explains Why He Created the Aunties Collection 4:05 - The Design Philosophy: Circles, Triangles & Making African Shapes Iconic 5:06 - Creative Process: How an Idea Becomes a Sculpture 6:33 - Bringing Production Home to Nigeria (3D Printing & Bronze from Benin) 7:15 - "We Are Our Own Museums Now" - Art Living in Homes Worldwide 9:01 - Disconnection from African Art History & Discovering It Abroad 10:55 - What Anthony Wants People to Feel When They Own an Auntie 12:25 - Connecting the African Diaspora Through Art 13:04 - Playing Eternal Games with Eternal People 16:23 - Anthony's Origin Story: Starting as a Writer Who Taught Himself to Draw 16:50 - Why He Left Covenant University (The Full Story) 19:52 - Peak NFT Boom & Figuring Out How to Make Art a Living 24:28 - Emeka's Story: How He Got Himself Rejected from Faith Academy 31:06 - The Covenant University Experience & Institutional Control 35:39 - Biggest Misconceptions About Monetizing Art 37:16 - The Red Man Painting & First Million Naira Moment 38:45 - "You Can't Game the System" - Why Hit Paintings Can't Be Predicted 39:16 - How NFTs Changed Everything for African Artists 41:38 - Payment Rails Nightmare: PayPal Holding $10K for 6 Months 43:43 - Why Crypto is a Lifeline for African Creators 45:00 - Dad's Reaction to the Art Money Coming In 47:11 - The Sculpture Business Failure: Starting 2024 at -$20K 53:38 - Clearing 100 Million Naira by December 54:49 - Is Web3 Dead? (Anthony's Take) 56:06 - How Anthony Got Into NFTs & First Sale Story 59:57 - The Crypto Crash: Losing $20-30K Overnight 1:02:49 - Business Opportunities in the Art World 1:05:28 - Loneliness in Building an Art Business 1:11:14 - Rapid Fire Questions (Favorite Nigerian Dish, Mythical Figure, Books, Movies) 1:15:22 - "There's No Plan B" - Compounding on One Thing 1:15:48 - 50 Years From Now: "The Greatest Ever" 1:16:20 - Gatekeeping in the Art World 1:17:27 - Tattoo Stories & Parent Reactions 1:23:01 - Who Should Be on the Afropolitan Podcast? (Rema's recommendation)
	From Medicine to Harvard to Building Nigeria’s First $1B Private Equity Firm	27 Aug 2025	01:41:01
From Harvard To MTN: How One Man Built Africa’s First Billion-Dollar Private Equity Firm Okechukwu Okey Enelamah, Founder of African Capital Alliance by Chika Uwazie and Eche Emole What if Africa wasn’t just an investment opportunity but the future of global capital? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Okey Enelamah shares his extraordinary journey from growing up in Eastern Nigeria during the war, to earning an MBA from Harvard, joining Goldman Sachs, and ultimately pioneering private equity in Africa with African Capital Alliance (ACA). From launching Nigeria’s first major private equity ((PE) fund to backing legendary deals like MTN (44X) and ABC Transport, Okey reveals the lessons, leadership principles, and legacy mindset that built one of Africa’s most influential investment firms, scaling from 35 million dollars to over 1.2 billion AUM. 💡 In this episode: → How Africa became a contrarian bet with outsized returns → Behind the scenes of Nigeria’s greatest PE deal MTN → Building during military rule and economic uncertainty → How to raise capital across funds and generations → The real story behind special economic zones and policy reform → Mentorship faith and integrity in business → Why AI and digital infrastructure are Africa’s next big bets → How to think like a long term investor ✨ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo (https://convo.vip/) with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes:* YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 – Private equity explained & Africa’s $10B potential 01:00 – Okey’s background: from medicine to Goldman Sachs 02:20 – Growing up in Enugu & early pull to finance 10:45 – Breaking into South Africa’s market post-apartheid 12:25 – Origin story of ACA: building Nigeria’s first major PE fund 14:40 – Mentorship, Dick Kramer, and launching ACA under military rule 19:20 – The legendary MTN deal: 44x returns and wealth creation 23:40 – Mentorship, relationships, and showing up in Africa 25:45 – ABC Transport story: governance & exits in Nigerian PE 27:40 – Fundraising journey: $35M → $570M → $1.2B AUM 30:00 – PE vs VC explained: growth capital vs early bets 34:30 – Future opportunities: Nigeria’s digital economy surpassing oil 38:20 – Why McDonald’s hasn’t entered Nigeria yet 42:20 – Ethics & walking away from bad deals 46:45 – Writing Apostles of Righteousness in the Marketplace 52:25 – Missing early-stage unicorns? ACA’s view on VC partnerships 56:15 – Currency devaluation & protecting African PE returns 1:03:00 – Special Economic Zones: vision for industrial infrastructure 1:07:10 – How Nigeria can unlock manufacturing competitiveness
	How I Negotiate Multi-Million Dollar Deals Without Giving Up Ownership	20 Aug 2025	00:57:12
“How I Negotiate Multi-Million Dollar Deals Without Giving Up Ownership” Amy Oraefo: The Entertainment Lawyer Rewriting the Rules \| Afropolitan Podcast From Atlanta to Lagos, entertainment attorney Amy Oraefo is helping creatives protect their power, scale their brands, and build businesses that last. In this episode, Amy takes us inside multi-million dollar negotiations, the mistakes artists make with their IP, and what it takes to succeed as a Black woman in entertainment law. She shares her journey from trained dancer to top-tier lawyer, her experiences working across two continents, and why every artist must understand how money flows in their industry. We also break down the cultural differences between doing business in Nigeria vs. America, the future of African music publishing, and get candid about modern dating dynamics. ✨ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Connect with Amy on Convo - https://convo.vip/amyoraefo 🎧 Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube Spotify Apple CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction & Copyright Reality Check 02:12 – Amy’s Journey: From Dance Dreams to Entertainment Law 07:25 – Multi-Million Dollar Negotiations: The 18-Month Battle 11:13 – Biggest Mistakes Creatives Make with Their IP 14:24 – Navigating Africa & America: Cultural Differences 16:40 – Music Publishing Challenges in Nigeria 22:32 – The Power of Niche Markets: Nigeria’s 225 Million Opportunity 25:42 – Protecting the Fort: Working with Earn Your Leisure 28:36 – Entrepreneurship vs. Law: Balancing Risk & Compliance 39:44 – Misconceptions About Entertainment Lawyers 42:08 – Accountability & Copyright Enforcement Differences 42:47 – Rapid Fire: Power Outfits, Emojis & Guilty Pleasures 46:51 – Modern Dating Dynamics: Standards & Accountability 57:52 – Career Impact on Dating: The Double-Edged Sword 01:03:05 – Defining Success: Autonomy & Freedom 01:03:42 – Whose Story We Want to Hear Next #EntertainmentLaw #MusicBusiness #AfropolitanPodcast #Africa #Nigeria #Lagos #Atlanta #Copyright #Negotiation #AmyOraefo
	⁠How I Learned That Passion Alone Will Keep You Broke	13 Aug 2025	01:48:43
Chopstix: The Grammy-Winning Producer Behind Burna Boy’s “Last Last” & Chris Brown’s “Nightmares” \| Afropolitan Podcast From the streets of Jos to the global stage, Nigerian producer Chopstix has built a career rooted in passion, resilience, and pure creativity. In this unfiltered conversation, he reveals the battles he’s fought for ownership, the science behind his sound, and how he turned sampling into global smashes. We talk Grammy wins, the making of Last Last, the politics of credit in African music, and the creative brotherhood that shaped a generation. Whether you’re a music fan, artist, or entrepreneur, this is a rare masterclass on building legacy in a cutthroat industry. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: Why owning your masters is the ultimate game-changer The untold story of “Last Last” and the Tony Braxton sample How a chance encounter in Jos changed Chopstix’s career forever Why many African producers don’t get the credit they deserve The art of making timeless music in a TikTok era ⏱ Chapters (adjusted for 2:10 intro) 00:00 – Intro 02:10 – One truth about the music business that can change your mindset 04:00 – Why you must own your masters (and how to do it) 06:50 – The six-year fight to reclaim his catalog 09:30 – The essential team every artist needs before releasing music 11:10 – Why the Grammy was never the goal – and how he won one anyway 14:00 – The night Chopstix found out he’d won a Grammy 16:00 – How the Grammy changed his career overnight 18:00 – Seeing sound: Chopstix explains his creative superpower 20:30 – Life in the legendary Jos music scene 24:10 – Sampling origins & building a personal sound library 28:50 – Early rejections that fueled his rise 31:50 – The making of Burna Boy’s “Last Last” 36:40 – Why some songs sit unreleased for years 39:20 – Chopstix’s unreleased albums and perfectionist process 41:40 – Are African producers getting their flowers? 45:00 – The credit problem in African music 50:00 – Why scarcity mindsets are holding the industry back 52:10 – Building artist development systems for the future 56:00 – The worst contract he’s ever seen 1:00:00 – Visa struggles and working globally without leaving Nigeria 1:03:40 – How Chopstix connected to the U.S. market 1:06:00 – Closing reflections 🎧 Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/@afropolitan Spotify Link - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 📌 Follow Chopstix: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chopstiiiix/?hl=en 📌 Follow Afropolitan: Instagram: http://instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Website: https://www.afropolitan.io/ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more.
	The Advice That Made Him a Billionaire Chef	06 Aug 2025	01:10:55
From Lagos Kitchens to Hollywood Tables: Chef Tolu Eros on Building Africa’s Culinary Future \| Afropolitan Podcast They don’t call him The Billionaire Chef for nothing. From baking cookies in a shared apartment kitchen to shutting down Coachella with a 325-person jollof dinner, Chef Tolu Eros is building a food empire rooted in memory, movement, and cultural power. In this episode, Eros opens up about his extraordinary journey—losing both parents while building his dream, launching global food brands from scratch, and turning grief into gastronomic greatness. This is more than a conversation about food. It’s about how culture scales—and the boldness required to make Africa the center of the table. Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers?* Book a 15-minute convo on https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. 🎯 What You'll Learn: How Eros built Cookie Jar from pre-orders and prayer The spiritual and emotional cost of building a legacy brand Why Nigerian restaurants must stop trying to please everyone Behind the scenes of the Chase x Michael B. Jordan campaign What it takes to launch Nigeria’s first Fufu Omakase experience Why African cuisine is the next billion-dollar cultural export 📍 Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Opening 01:48 – From Apartment Bakery to Cookie Jar: The Hustle Begins 03:41 – Why Most Nigerian Restaurants Fail 05:39 – The Power of Specialization: Pasta Kings & Purpose 07:54 – A Mother's Dream, A Son's Calling 10:42 – Building Through Grief: Losing Both Parents 13:30 – Leadership at 21: Shouting, Staff & Self-Discovery 15:30 – Letting Go: Loss, Logistics, and Knowing When to Quit 17:36 – The Breakfast Business That Almost Broke Him 19:47 – Food as a Cultural Ambassador 21:25 – The Culinary Industry is Still a Baby 23:34 – Social Media Changed the Game for Chefs 25:12 – Pandemic Pivot: How Fresh Prep Was Born 27:01 – 3 Cities, 1 Dream: How Pop-Ups Became a Movement 31:51 – Coachella Chaos: 325 Guests, No Leftovers 35:22 – The Visa Story That Changed Everything 39:26 – On Set with Michael B. Jordan: A Commercial Goes Global 41:40 – Investing in African Gastronomy: What’s Missing? 43:18 – Solving Farm-to-Table in Nigeria 45:06 – Cookie Jar, Reimagined for the Continent 47:14 – America vs. Nigeria: Where the Future Really Is 49:02 – Apartment 90: Nigeria’s First Fufu Omakase 51:28 – Managing Staff, Mental Health & Money 55:12 – The Real Cost of Doing Business in Nigeria 57:50 – Documentation Over Vibes: How to Stay Consistent 59:22 – The Origin of “The Billionaire Chef” 61:16 – What’s Next: Fashion, Furniture, and Expansion 🔗 Follow the Journey Chef Tolu Eros: @thebillionairechef Updates: @ile.eros \| @apartment90 \| @cookiejarng 🎧 Listen & Subscribe YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts About Chef Tolu Eros: Known as The Billionaire Chef, Tolu Eros has redefined how African cuisine shows up in the world. Whether it’s luxury dining in Los Angeles, street food reimagined in Lagos, or starring alongside Michael B. Jordan, Eros is turning flavor into legacy. About the Afropolitan Podcast: Global Black culture isn’t a trend. It’s a frequency. Each week, we sit with the architects of modern African influence—from food to fashion, tech to television—to explore what it means to live beyond borders.
	How the Creative Industry Became the Hardest Hustle No One Talks About	30 Jul 2025	02:19:10
The Man Who Built Afrobeats' Visual Empire Just Revealed How Africa Can Own Its Future 🎬 Clarence Peters didn't just direct music videos—he architected the visual language that made Nigerian culture irresistible to the world. In this masterclass conversation, the legendary director behind Wizkid's "Holla at Your Boy," Davido's breakout hits, and Burna Boy's global ascension breaks down the real economics of cultural dominance. This isn't just another interview. It's a blueprint. From surviving the "lost decade" of the 90s that nearly killed Nigerian creativity, to building billion-dollar brands with zero government support, to walking away from music at his peak—Clarence reveals the strategic thinking behind every frame that helped Afrobeats conquer the world. 🔥 The insights that will change how you think about African creativity: Why Nigeria's 40 million diaspora is the world's most powerful marketing network How the creative industry achieved 100% growth for 17 consecutive years The fatal mistake of throwing away institutional knowledge during rapid change Why "I don't shoot music videos, I shoot brands" became his million-dollar philosophy The real reason Nollywood's golden era ended (and how to bring it back) Why film is the only art form that can export the complete African experience The quote that broke the internet: "We have 40 million people in the diaspora. What international do you want to give me? I have a virus in every single country. The moment I create something that they can be proud of, there is no better marketing than that." This conversation reveals the untold economics of how disadvantage becomes dominance, why authenticity is strategy, and what it really takes to build cultural empires that last. Whether you're a creative professional, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to understand how African culture conquered the world, this is your roadmap. 🤝 Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on convo.vip with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with the architects of African excellence 📱 Follow us: @afropolitanpodcast 🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts \| Spotify 📩 Partnerships: info@afropolitan.io 📍CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 01:17 – The truth about Nigeria’s creative industry 03:04 – Clarence’s childhood, legacy, and early rejection of the industry 06:17 – Building his own name away from his parents’ fame 09:19 – Working 3 film sets daily: Clarence’s production bootcamp 13:45 – What really happened to Nigeria’s artistic golden age 17:00 – How the 1990s created a generation of distrust 20:00 – From 419 to Afrobeats: Our cultural rebirth 26:40 – Why Nigeria never found balance after the 1970s 31:24 – Clarence on how Afrobeats really scaled globally 35:21 – Music vs structure: The cost of lack of infrastructure 40:33 – How SA & the West outmaneuvered Nigeria on rights 44:19 – “The international market is not your friend” 48:53 – What ruined Nollywood’s golden era? 51:38 – The elitist mindset that discarded home video culture 55:09 – The real cultural reset we need 59:27 – Why the West will always try to remix what we build 1:02:25 – Only film can export the full Nigerian experience 1:05:36 – Clarence on studios, real estate, and true film power 1:10:02 – Why he had to shed music to rebuild film 1:13:44 – His bonds with Davido, Wizkid & Burna Boy 1:16:53 – Why music videos lost to content creators 1:25:16 – The future of music video production & brand alignment 1:29:00 – “If I don’t build it, I don’t eat”: The burden of being a builder 1:33:47 – The danger of ignoring domestic platforms 1:35:00 – Final reflections on legacy and Nigerian innovation
	The Business Expert: How I Made Millions By Investing in People	23 Jul 2025	01:56:21
The Future of African Investment: Olu Oyinsan on Betting Early & Building Bold \| Afropolitan Podcast What does it take to spot a billion-dollar company before anyone else does? In this must-watch episode, we sit down with Olu Oyinsan, Managing Partner at Oui Capital and one of the most respected minds in African venture capital. From backing unicorns like Paystack and Moneypoint to pioneering a thesis around cultural exports as the next tech, Olu shares the blueprint for investing in Africa before it becomes obvious. 🎯 In this episode: Why AI has democratized creation—but not attention—and how that shifts the game for African founders How Moneypoint beat OPay, even when outfunded 18:1 The $1B Afrobeats economy hiding in plain sight Why Olu invests in underdogs before the world sees their value What VCs still get wrong about the continent The soft skills and storytelling edge founders need to win 💡 Olu doesn’t just fund businesses—he backs belief. This conversation blends tactical insight with emotional clarity and should be required viewing for anyone building or investing in Africa. 🔗 Resources: Download the full Oui Capital x TAG Afrobeats Economy Report: https://tagafrica.com.ng/assets/documents/Uncharted_Waters_Nigerias_Afrobeats_Economy.pdf Connect with Olu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluoyinsan/ 📢 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Afropolitan Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 📺 Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:43 – Why Africa is the world’s final investment frontier 06:27 – Olu’s journey: From Nigerian banking to Silicon Valley 16:20 – Leading with empathy: How Olu shows up for founders 22:05 – The Moneypoint story: Betting on overlooked talent 32:10 – VC vs. Private Equity: What African founders must understand 39:59 – The $1B Afrobeats report & why cultural exports are the next tech 54:53 – Infrastructure gaps no one is talking about 1:17:59 – Storytelling and data: Africa’s missing link 1:28:23 – The future of AI in African startups 1:34:10 – New moats: Influence, infrastructure, and IP 1:40:10 – Lessons from building the Moneypoint playbook 1:51:27 – Rapid fire: Olu’s wisdom in 90 seconds 🎙️ About Olu Oyinsan: Managing Partner at Oui Capital, Olu has backed some of Africa’s most important companies, including Paystack, Tizeti, and Moneypoint. Before launching Oui, he built a global career at Forrester, Silicon Valley Bank, and other firms, before returning to invest in Africa’s future—on its own terms. 🌍 About the Afropolitan Podcast: Each week, we explore the people, power, and ideas shaping the future of Africa and its diaspora. From cultural icons to venture capitalists, we tell the stories of who we are—and who we’re becoming. 🧠 Want to connect 1:1 with Africa’s boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more.
	What Every Young Creator Needs to Know	16 Jul 2025	01:00:06
Falz—artist, actor, lawyer, and cultural force—sits down with us for one of his most honest and vulnerable conversations yet. From being raised in a family of legal legends to becoming a voice for Nigeria’s youth, Falz has used humor, music, and radical truth-telling to challenge power and reimagine what freedom looks like. In this episode, we go beyond the “Bad Guy” persona to explore the real man behind the bars—his sacrifices, spiritual evolution, and the emotional cost of speaking truth in a country that demands silence. This is not just an artist interview—it’s a blueprint for courage, creativity, and community in an age of chaos. 🔔 Subscribe to Afropolitan for more stories from African creators shaping global culture. 🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify & more. 📌 Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Falz, the rapper-lawyer-activist 01:30 - What it really takes to build a lasting brand 04:20 - Falz on purpose, legacy, and evolution 06:00 - The family influence: Growing up Falana 08:10 - Choosing music over law: The internal war 10:30 - Lawyer by day, rapper by night 12:00 - How Falz stays soft in a hard country 14:00 - On prophetic loneliness and staying ahead of the curve 16:00 - Radical honesty and the cost of integrity 18:00 - Falz’s complex relationship with religion 21:00 - Witnessing his father get arrested for activism 23:00 - Redefining sacrifice through family legacy 25:00 - Staying grounded through fame 27:00 - The making of “The Feast” and its hidden messages 30:00 - Humor as a blade: Building the Falz character 33:00 - Why Nigerians must reclaim economic and cultural dignity 36:00 - Reflections on #EndSARS, five years later 39:00 - Can we organize again? Falz’s answer 41:00 - Why community is the only path forward — 🔥 Let’s Stay Connected: Instagram: [@afropolitanpodcast] Twitter: [@afropolitan] TikTok: [@afropolitan] Website: afropolitan.io #AfropolitanPodcast #FalzInterview #EndSARS #TheFeastAlbum #NigeriaActivism #AfricanVoices #FalzTheBahdGuy #CreativeCourage #CulturalReinvention #Afrobeats
	⁠How Fearless Personal Style Is the Ultimate Business Strategy	09 Jul 2025	01:32:58
Ugo Mozie: The African Stylist Redefining Global Fashion \| Afropolitan Podcast In this powerful, intimate conversation, global fashion innovator Ugo Mozie opens up like never before. From surviving a family massacre in Nigeria to styling icons like Chris Brown and Justin Bieber, Ugo shares the spiritual clarity, cultural pride, and emotional depth behind his extraordinary journey. We unpack the cost of fame, the hidden racism in high fashion, the power of African craftsmanship, and how Ugo’s brand Eleven Sixteen is building legacy through storytelling. This is not just an interview—it’s a blueprint for creative sovereignty. — 📍 CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – Fashion in Africa is not a trend 02:44 – Growing up in Nigeria & escaping political violence 06:12 – The tragic event that changed everything 08:30 – Processing trauma, finding purpose 10:30 – Returning to Nigeria despite the past 12:59 – Racism in Texas, assimilation, and identity 15:59 – Moving to New York at 17: the dream vs. the hustle 19:30 – Getting kicked out of housing for being Black 23:30 – Interning at Virgin, faking college, and rising fast 27:10 – From intern to celebrity stylist at 18 28:50 – Paris as a turning point: learning the industry 31:40 – Building trust in fashion, even in racist systems 36:10 – The story behind Justin Bieber’s Met Gala look 40:14 – Chris Brown as first pivotal client 42:00 – Why African creatives need unity & team trust 44:30 – Quality control and training in Nigeria 48:30 – Why he built his atelier in Lagos 50:30 – Making the Benin bronze cowboy belt 52:30 – Staying authentic in an industry of expectations 56:20 – Building Eleven Sixteen : A fashion house for the world 58:20 – Dressing Diana Ross for the Met Gala (cut per note) 60:00 – Losing a client, gaining divine redirection 63:00 – Why gratitude speeds up your blessing 65:10 – Unlearning the open-door policy, protecting peace 68:00 – What’s next for African fashion 70:30 – Clients expecting culture from Ugo 73:00 – AMVCA vs Met Gala: our fashion is world-class 76:00 – Ugo’s vision for African Fashion Awards 78:00 – What Eleven Sixteen will become: global, educational, rooted 80:00 – Why African fashion isn’t rooted in slavery 82:00 – Most meaningful gift: permission to be himself 84:00 – Dream Met Gala theme: African Royalty 85:30 – Ritual before big moments: prayer & fasting 86:30 – What keeps Ugo grounded: purpose > moments 90:30 – Ugo’s graduation: stepping into full purpose 92:00 – Who Ugo wants next: artist Kehinde Wiley
	How Companies That Built Community Before Product Are Now Worth Millions	02 Jul 2025	01:29:36
What does it take to shape culture from behind the scenes, without chasing the spotlight? In this powerful episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Asa Asika—longtime manager to Davido, co-founder of The Plug, and one of the key architects behind Afrobeats' global rise. Asa opens up like never before about the emotional cost of success, what it really takes to build legacy in the music business, and the blueprint for sustaining relevance after 20 years in the game. From CKay’s viral breakout to the behind-the-scenes drama of Davido’s 2017 run to navigating fame, friendship, and the future of Afrobeats—this is a masterclass in long-term impact. 🎧 If you're a builder, a visionary, or anyone navigating high-stakes culture work—this episode is for you. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Looking Back at 16-Year-Old Asa 01:00 – What Makes an Artist Worth the Risk 04:20 – CKay & the Unplanned TikTok Breakthrough 05:30 – Legacy, Impact & Building Behind the Scenes 07:45 – Lessons from the Sony Deal & Afrobeats Missteps 09:50 – The Birth of The Plug: Partnership as a Superpower 12:00 – Covid, Introversion & Growing as a People Person 14:00 – Business Roles & Knowing When to Step Back 18:40 – Real Friendship in the Industry 23:30 – Tour Life: When the Body Breaks Down 27:50 – Management as Emotional Labor 31:00 – Storm Records Lessons: It’s Never About Just You 35:45 – Intuition vs. Data in Afrobeats 44:50 – Are Nigerian Artists Pricing Themselves Out of Nigeria? 50:50 – The Break, the Reunion, the Evolution 53:00 – 2017’s Run of Hits: If, Fall, Fire, Like Dat 59:25 – Sitting on Hits & Timing Releases 1:02:10 – The Wedding Speech: A Full-Circle Moment 1:10:50 – Marriage, Maturity & Merging Lives 1:13:00 – Advice to the Next Generation 1:15:30 – Success, Decline & Knowing When to Pivot 1:17:30 – Rapid Fire: Rituals, Venues, and Unexpected Contacts 1:24:25 – Selling Out the O2 & Core Memories 1:26:20 – Missed Opportunities & Celebrating Each Other 🔔 Subscribe to the Afropolitan Podcast for unfiltered conversations with the architects of global Black culture: https://www.youtube.com/@afropolitan 📲 Follow us for more: Instagram: http://instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Website: https://afropolitan.io
	The Power of Porn: Why Men Can’t Stop Going Back	25 Jun 2025	01:22:40
What happens when we stop centering shame in conversations about sex? In this deeply vulnerable and transformational episode, we sit down with Olawunmi Esan—one of Nigeria’s leading certified sex therapists and educators—to unpack the emotional, cultural, and psychological layers of sexuality that society rarely names. From her personal story of surviving sexual trauma to helping thousands heal their relationship with pleasure, Olawunmi brings science, soul, and softness to the conversation. We discuss porn addiction, performance anxiety in men, desire discrepancies in marriages, and what it truly means to create safety in intimacy—for yourself and with others. Whether you're single, dating, married, or healing, this episode will shift how you think about sex, connection, and emotional honesty. 🔗 Explore More from Olawunmi Esan: Sexcapades: Erotic Intimacy Exercises https://learning.olawunmiesan.com/sexcapades Book a One-on-One Session with Olawunmi www.olawunmiesan.com/myservices Take a Course on Pleasure & Healing https://learning.olawunmiesan.com/products/ Chapters: 00:00 - Redefining Sex Beyond Intercourse 01:43 - Why Ola Became a Sex Therapist 03:46 - The Link Between Shame, Pleasure & Pain 05:31 - When to Start Teaching Children About Sex 10:53 - The Problem with Porn Education 18:32 - Faith, Masturbation & Porn: Complex Conversations 24:36 - Sexual History, Marriage & Performance Anxiety 34:48 - Not All Men Cheat: Reframing Intimacy Norms 42:29 - Lagos and the Epidemic of Desire Discrepancy 46:14 - Olawunmi’s Personal Story of Rape & Healing 53:07 - How Parents Can Create Safe Spaces for Kids 57:02 - Reclaiming Your Body After Sexual Trauma 1:00:00 - Advice for Partners of Trauma Survivors 1:03:24 - Sexual Discipline & the Diddy Allegory 1:08:23 - Why Erectile Issues Are Often About Anxiety 1:12:23 - Men, Intimacy & Emotional Healing 1:14:06 - Rapid Fire: What Men Should Stop Doing in Bed 1:15:22 - Why Planned Sex Isn’t Boring 1:17:17 - The True Definition of Sex 1:20:09 - Final Question: Who Should Sit in This Seat Next? 1:20:23 - Breaking Hypersexual Habits Before Marriage The Afropolitan Podcast is your passport to conversations at the intersection of legacy, liberation, and global Black excellence. Subscribe and turn on notifications to never miss an episode.
	The Man Behind “No Turning Back” How a Gospel Song Went VIRAL Before Release	24 Dec 2025	01:39:35
Gaise Baba How a Gospel Song Went Viral Before Release Faith Discipline and the Untold Story of “No Turning Back” In this episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Gaise Baba, one of the most important voices shaping Afro Gospel, to unpack the real story behind how his song “No Turning Back” became a global movement before it was ever officially released. From organizing free concerts while broke, to navigating criticism from the church, personal grief, and long seasons of obscurity, Gaise Baba shares a raw and honest journey built on faith, discipline, and conviction. This conversation explores how preparation meets purpose when nobody is watching. We dive into: How “No Turning Back” went viral on TikTok and Instagram before release, and why timing mattered more than strategy The real economics of gospel music in Nigeria, and why African artists are quietly out earning Western counterparts Faith versus logic in creativity, business, and decision making The backlash around modern gospel music and how Gaise Baba stayed rooted through criticism What it really means to build while broke, unseen, and underestimated This episode goes beyond music. It is about identity, discipline, legacy, grief, and cultural influence. If you are a creator, artist, founder, or someone navigating purpose in a noisy world, this conversation will stay with you. Welcome to The Afropolitan Podcast, where African stories are told with honesty, depth, and pride. Follow Gaise Baba Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaisebaba/ Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast For more unfiltered conversations with Africa’s boldest builders and storytellers. Twitter – https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website – https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State – https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Community – afropolitan.io/community Newsletter – afropolitan.io/newsletter Sponsored by: VBan: The borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce. Use code AFROPOLITAN to sign up → https://vban.com Inverroche Gin: South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more → https://www.inverroche.com Risevest — Invest globally in dollar-denominated stocks, real estate & fixed income. Sign up → https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan — Book 1-on-1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers. Visit https://convo.vip/ Listen Everywhere: YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by: Eche – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ 0:00 - Intro & Teaser 2:09 - How Gaise Baba Got Into Gospel Music 4:24 - Personal Faith Journey & Encounter at 18 5:57 - Navigating Criticism of Modern Gospel Sound 9:08 - The Light Up Movement: Free School Concerts 15:42 - Advice for Creators Building in Obscurity 18:27 - No Turning Back: The Viral Rollout Strategy 22:51 - The Song Blew Before It Was Released 25:00 - The Unlikely Collaboration with Lawrence Oyor 29:02 - Shooting the Music Video with 1,000+ Church Members 36:24 - How the Lawrence Oyor Collaboration Happened 41:02 - Understanding the Gospel Music Industry Economics 44:29 - Nigeria as the New Frontier for Worship Music 52:06 - Moving by Faith: Organizing Events with Nothing 57:05 - Lessons from Berklee College of Music 1:03:06 - Why Light Must Operate in Darkness 1:09:05 - Christians Need to Be at the Table 1:17:17 - Losing His Mom & Releasing No Turning Back 1:25:01 - The Spiritual Regiment That Prepared Him 1:26:12 - Advice for Young Men Finding Their Way Back to God 1:34:48 - Rapid Fire: Favorite Food, Gospel Song & Artists 1:38:28 - Who Should Be on the Podcast Next: Soji Labby
	How To Build a Success Mindset Through the Power of Belief	18 Jun 2025	01:33:34
From Ikorodu to Times Square: Tunde Onakoya on Pain, Purpose & Breaking World Records Twice \| Afropolitan Podcast What does it mean to turn pain into purpose—and purpose into global impact? In this unforgettable episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Tunde Onakoya, the Nigerian chess master, movement builder, and two-time Guinness World Record breaker. From growing up in poverty in Lagos to leading a cultural revolution through Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde shares the full, raw story behind his meteoric rise—from the streets of Ikorodu to the bright lights of Times Square. This isn’t just about chess. It’s about: The emotional cost of reinvention when the world wants you to stay who you were Fame, friendships, failure, and finding purpose in pain Building global influence without losing your soul What it takes to be an outlier—and why greatness always starts in small places Whether you're a dreamer, builder, or just someone navigating your own season of becoming, this conversation will meet you where you are. 00:00 - Intro 02:09 - Grit, Purpose & Outliers 12:09 - Growing Up in Ikorodu 22:09 - Chess as a Tool for Reinvention 37:09 - The Crisis of Fame 47:09 - Breaking the World Record (Twice) 1:07:09 - Ferdinand’s Story 1:17:09 - Dating, Desires, and Private Love 1:27:09 - Rapid Fire: Books, Suya, and Legacy 🎥 Watch the full episode and let us know what part hit you the most. 📍 Subscribe to The Afropolitan Podcast for more conversations that redefine legacy and soft power across the diaspora. #AfropolitanPodcast #TundeOnakoya #ChessInSlums #AfricanExcellence #GuinnessWorldRecord #Reinvention #FameAndPurpose #NigerianCreatives #LegacyMakers 🎧 This is one of the most powerful episodes we've ever recorded.
	How Breaking a World Record Led to a Million Dollar Business	11 Jun 2025	02:27:06
How Breaking a World Record Led to a Million-Dollar Business In this powerful episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, DJ Obi opens up about the highs and lows of his journey through Nigeria’s entertainment scene—from breaking world records to battling personal loss. We explore: * The emotional cost of chasing dreams * His transition from DJ to cultural brand * Navigating grief, celibacy, and healing * Setting boundaries in love, life, and industry * Reflections on turning 40, fatherhood, and redefining success * The evolution of Afrobeats and building cultural equity DJ Obi speaks candidly about the mental and physical endurance it takes to sustain an entertainment career, while also unpacking the softer, often hidden, side of ambition: vulnerability, accountability, and the journey back to self. This is more than a music story. It’s a life story. Watch now and join the conversation.
	How This Chef is Building a Multi-Million Dollar Nigerian Empire	04 Jun 2025	01:11:24
What does it take to build a culinary empire in Nigeria, from scratch? In this powerful episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Chef Fregz, one of Nigeria’s most beloved chefs and creative entrepreneurs, as he pulls back the curtain on his journey from a passion project to building a group of thriving food and lifestyle brands. From shutting down his business at the peak of success to launching four new ventures and a creative agency, Chef Fregz shares the real story behind his reinvention—what it cost, what it taught him, and how he's now building a purpose-driven, multi-million dollar empire rooted in culture, storytelling, and vision. Subscribe for more conversations with culture-makers, builders, and Black visionaries across the diaspora. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share
	How Gen Z Will Build the Next Billion Dollar Companies	02 Jun 2025	01:48:24
How Gen Z Will Build the Next Billion-Dollar Companies Dayo Ayoade has quietly shaped the products, platforms, and cultural movements that define a generation. From leading WeChat’s West African expansion to producing 60,000+ capacity concerts for Burna Boy, Asake, and Rema, Dayo has lived at the intersection of tech, entertainment, and behavioral insight. In this powerful episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, Dayo reveals what most people get wrong about African markets and what Gen Z is getting right. In this episode, we explore: • Why WeChat failed in Nigeria and what it teaches us about product market fit • How "gist" became the most powerful form of currency in Nigerian culture • The rise of Detty December and his role in co-creating it with Mr. Eazi • The unseen science behind virality, consumer behavior, and Gen Z's intuition • Why legacy isn’t built in public but in patterns only a few can see Dayo is more than a builder. He’s a cultural alchemist who understands what moves people and why. Whether you're a founder, product thinker, or creative shaping tomorrow's Africa, this episode is for you. Subscribe and turn on notifications for more transformative conversations with African visionaries.
	How He Built a $350 Million Real Estate Empire Before 35	21 May 2025	01:36:24
How He Built a $350 Million Real Estate Empire Before 35 In this powerful episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, Olawale Ayilara founder of Landwey and the visionary behind Isimi Lagos—shares the untold story behind one of Africa’s most remarkable real estate empires. From walking away from a U.S. visa and marriage plan to betting everything on Lagos, Wale takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to build wealth, legacy, and trust in Nigeria’s chaotic market. In this episode, we explore: – How he lost ₦14B and still chose to refund his clients – Why land, not houses, is the smartest investment in Nigeria – The truth about diaspora disillusionment, devaluation, and coming back home – What the future of sustainable cities looks like on the continent – And the mindset it takes to lead with integrity and long-term vision This isn’t just a real estate story—it’s a lesson in resilience, innovation, and what it means to build for and from Africa. Subscribe and turn on notifications for more transformative conversations with African visionaries. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
	How to Rebrand Your Life, Building Confidence, and the Cost of Success	15 May 2025	00:56:33
On this episode of @Afropolitan Podcast, media personality and filmmaker Bolanle Olukanni opens up like never before. She talks about how to rebrand your life You know her from Moments with Mo, red carpets, and some of Nigeria’s most beloved media projects, but this time, Bolanle gets deeply personal. She shares how she turned down her first acting gig (Before 30), why the Nigerian film industry is in survival mode, and what it truly means to carve out space as a woman in media, film, and advocacy. We discuss: • The emotional cost of public visibility • How Nollywood’s cinema culture is broken behind the scenes • Why she chose to pivot into documentary filmmaking and rebuild her life • The tension between influence and purpose • What most people don’t understand about reinvention This is a conversation about courage, timing, and choosing alignment over applause. Watch now and discover the side of Bolanle you’ve never seen. Chapters 00:00 The Challenges of Protecting Art in Nigeria 01:08 Exploring Legacy and Intention 02:54 Cultural Influences and Personal Growth 07:10 Transitioning from Hosting to Acting 12:30 Misconceptions About Nollywood 20:13 Representation of Women in Nollywood 24:04 Balancing Content Creation and Social Causes 27:07 The Impact of Social Media on Perception 29:42 The Reality of Social Media Work 36:01 Navigating Identity and Perception 42:15 The Journey of Self-Discovery 49:06 Changing the Narrative for African Influencers
	From 0 to Millions: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Change Everything	07 May 2025	00:50:39
In this conversation, Arresa Ugwu, the bestselling author of 'The Smart Money Woman', shares her journey from writing a book to creating a successful TV series. She discusses the challenges of filmmaking in Nigeria, the importance of resilience in the face of rejection, and the dynamics of financial conversations among women. Arresa emphasizes the need for vulnerability in discussing money and the impact of social pressures on economic decisions. She also reflects on her experiences with mistakes and the lessons learned along the way, advocating for a balance between financial independence and relationships. In this engaging conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of social comparisons, self-worth, and the importance of authentic relationships among women. They discuss the challenges faced in the Nollywood film industry, the nuances of female friendships, and a filmmaker's journey. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, the value of long-term relationships, and the aspirations for future projects in the creative space. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Arresa Udhla and Her Journey 03:07 The Chaos of Filmmaking in Nigeria 06:12 The Smart Money Woman: From Book to Screen 08:57 Facing Rejection and Finding New Opportunities 12:11 Building a Media Empire and Future Projects 14:51 Conversations Around Money and Gender Dynamics 17:55 Caution in Investing: A Gender Perspective 21:07 The Importance of Vulnerability in Financial Conversations 24:01 Learning from Mistakes and Resilience 27:10 Balancing Financial Independence with Relationships 30:11 Navigating Social Pressures and Economic Realities 31:28 Building Authentic Relationships Among Women 35:44 The Complexity of Female Friendships 36:50 Insights on Nollywood and the Streaming Landscape 39:55 Challenges and Triumphs in Filmmaking 42:52 The Journey of a Filmmaker 48:19 Future Aspirations and New Ventures
	The Wire Star Reveals Hollywood's Dark Secret: Only 3% of Actors Can Pay Their Bills	30 Apr 2025	00:53:06
Subscribe to @Afropolitan In this powerful episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, Gbenga Akinnagbe —best known as Chris Partlow from The Wire pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to survive Hollywood. From surviving the streets of D.C. to earning a wrestling scholarship that rerouted his life, Gbenga shares the raw truth about his journey: the odds of "making it," how only 3% of actors earn a livable income, and the emotional toll behind the spotlight. He opens up about: - Turning down roles to protect his integrity - Why he believes no state should have the power to take a life - The role therapy played in his healing as a Black man - His dream to play Black Panther—and his reaction when Chadwick Boseman was cast - Why The Wire never won awards, but won the people This is more than an actor’s story it’s a lesson in power, purpose, and reclaiming your narrative. Tap in if you care about - The business of acting - Legacy over fame - Criminal justice reform - Black storytelling on a global stage
	How To Build The Afrobeats Industry from Nothing	29 Apr 2025	01:26:30
Subscribe to @afropolitan for more powerful conversations on identity, legacy What if we told you that Afrobeats, Big Brother Nigeria, and one of the most powerful creative revolutions in Africa were all connected by one man? In this episode, we sit down with Obi Asika—media mogul, cultural architect, and one of the founding forces behind Nigeria’s rise as a global soft power. From launching game-changing music labels in the ‘90s to embedding Nigerian music into reality TV, Obi has always seen the vision before the world caught on. We talk about: How Nigeria became a global cultural superpower The real story behind Afrobeats (and who really started it) The truth about soft power, IP, and why Africa must control its narrative What every young creator must understand about value and legacy How Big Brother Nigeria helped launch a media revolution Jay-Z, Fela, Flavor, and the mindset behind long-term greatness This isn’t just an interview—it’s a masterclass in cultural strategy, legacy-building, and African excellence. If you’re a creative, entrepreneur, or diasporan looking to understand the future of African influence—this episode is for you. Drop your thoughts in the comments. Who should we interview next?
	How He Built Two Billion Dollar Companies Before Turning 30	18 Apr 2025	01:35:35
What does it really mean to build a legacy—from billion-dollar companies to your own home? In this episode, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji opens up like never before. We talk about: Surviving the Sosoliso crash that claimed 60 of his classmates The pressure and cost of building billion-dollar companies Marriage, masculinity, and why “the feminists are shouting” Fatherhood, faith, and what legacy really means to him now This is the side of Iyin the internet rarely sees. Want to go deeper? You can now book a 1-on-1 video call with Iyinoluwa Aboyeji to ask your biggest questions on building, leadership, and legacy via Convo: https://convo.vip/iyinoluwaaboyeji
	TRACY NWAPA: The Money Risk That Defined Her Nightlife Business Career	17 Dec 2025	01:33:20
In this episode of Afropolitan Podcast, we sit with Tracy Nwapa, Nigerian entrepreneur, interior designer, and founder of Interior Culture by Obiageli, Slice Lagos, Pavilion a as she opens up about building culture, losing everything, and starting again in Lagos. From dominating Lagos nightlife during Detty December to navigating betrayal, co-founder conflict, and walking away from a business she built from the ground up, Tracy shares the unfiltered realities of hospitality, ownership, and resilience in Nigeria. We explore how Tracy went from media and broadcast journalism to interior design, restaurants, and nightlife, why hospitality is one of the hardest businesses in Lagos, and what it truly takes to build experiences that people remember. This conversation goes beyond nightlife. It’s about purpose, feminine leadership in male-dominated industries, building with integrity in broken systems, and why Nigeria still feels like home despite the chaos. If you’re an entrepreneur, creative, builder, or part of the African diaspora thinking about coming back home, this episode will challenge how you think about success, ownership, and resilience. Welcome to The Afropolitan Podcast where African stories are told with honesty, depth, and pride. 🔗 FOLLOW THE GUEST Tracy Nwapa Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ 🔗 FOLLOW AFROPOLITAN Website – https://www.afropolitan.io Instagram – https://instagram.com/afropolitan Twitter – https://twitter.com/afropolitan Community – https://afropolitan.io/community Newsletter – https://afropolitan.io/newsletter SPONSORED BY VBan – Borderless banking for Africa’s digital workforce Use code AFROPOLITAN → https://vban.com Inverroche Gin – South Africa’s premium craft gin blending heritage botanicals with innovation https://www.inverroche.com Risevest – Invest globally in dollar-denominated stocks, real estate & fixed income https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan – Book 1-on-1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers https://convo.vip 0:00 - Introduction 2:00 - What People Get Wrong About Hospitality in Lagos 4:07 - How Tracy Dominated Lagos Last December 7:00 - Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry 8:00 - How Tracy Stumbled Into Hospitality 11:28 - Advice for Diaspora Entrepreneurs Moving Back to Nigeria 15:04 - What Nigeria Offers That Nowhere Else Does 19:29 - Getting Into Interior Design Business 25:55 - The Interior Design Business Model in Nigeria 32:04 - Parents' Reaction to Her Success 33:37 - Co-Founder Conflict & Walking Away from Slice 42:57 - The Moment She Decided to Build Again 48:00 - The Role of Rage in Rebuilding 52:46 - Dealing with Betrayal from Staff 57:01 - The Fundraising Journey 1:00:32 - Introducing CUSP: Luxury West African Fine Dining 1:05:02 - Introducing FOMO: The Future of Nightlife 1:08:51 - Retirement Plans from the Nightlife Business 1:21:36 - Rapid Fire Questions 1:29:06 - Meeting FOMO Prime (The Robot) 1:33:00 - Closing & Who Should Be Next
	How To Build Unshakable Confidence And Self Esteem Today With Nicole Chikwe	18 Apr 2025	01:04:42
We know Nicole Chikwe as the confident beauty entrepreneur, influencer, and founder of The Mummy Summit. But in this deeply honest conversation, she opens up like never before. Nicole shares: What it really felt like to be married to a celebrity while quietly battling insecurity How she rebuilt her confidence as a wife, a mother, and a woman in her own right The truth about the influencer industry in Nigeria—and the parts no one talks about Why motherhood broke her open and how it also made her whole What she wants other women to know about self-worth, softness, and starting over This is the real story behind the highlight reel. Want to go deeper? You can now book a 1-on-1 video call with Nicole Chikwe to ask your biggest questions on identity, influence, and soft power via Convo: https://convo.vip/nicolechikwe
	What WOMEN Don't Understand About the Modern Man	18 Apr 2025	00:55:25
In this solo episode, Chika and Eche dive into one of the most uncomfortable but necessary conversations: Is masculinity dying and what’s really going on with modern womanhood? They unpack why dating content is dominated by figures like Andrew Tate and Kevin Samuels, how male dating coaches often pander to women, and the growing disconnect between men and women today. They also reflect on the life and legacy of Herbert Wigwe, and the deeper questions we should be asking about impact, ambition, and how we’re remembered. Plus, thoughts on Babangida’s new book** and what it reveals about Nigerian leadership, silence, and selective memory. This is an episode that blends culture, critique, and clarity. Want to go deeper? Book a 1-on-1 video call with Chika or Eche on Convo by Afropolitan • Chika Uwazie - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie • Eche Emole - https://convo.vip/echeemole Ready to meet your match? Apply to join Legacy, our private dating club for high-achieving Africans across the diaspora: https://legacy.rsvp/
	How To Reinvent Your Life Starting Today With MI Abaga	16 Apr 2025	01:18:55
Subscribe to @Afropolitan for more podcasts like this What does it really take to reinvent your life especially when the world already thinks it knows who you are? In this raw and robust conversation, legendary Nigerian rapper and music executive M.I Abaga sits down with us to unpack his journey of reinvention—from rap icon to record label head, husband, and purpose-driven leader. We talk about: Walking away from fame to find freedom Regret, controversy, and how he made peace with past decisions The mental battles that come with being a public figure How marriage, and turning 40 changed everything Behind-the-scenes stories from his biggest songs and collaborations The hardest seasons of his career—and why he didn’t quit His vision for Africa’s creative economy and how TASCK is reshaping the game Whether you're navigating a career pivot, healing from failure, or just trying to figure out your next chapter—this episode will shift something in you.
	Shaping the Future of African Commerce Through Vertical Integration With Daniel Yu (Founder & CEO of Wasoko)	17 May 2023	00:27:44
Quote - “The spirit of Afropolitan, and why I'm so excited about the community that's being built, is to connect one of the most powerful forces in the world, which is human communities, to the fastest growing place in the world, which is the African continent.” The Afropolitan Podcast highlights Afropolitans who embrace the unknown and walk with purpose. Through this podcast, we aim to empower Africans in the Diaspora to maximize their potential and contribute to the development of a vibrant and progressive black community. In this episode, we chat with Daniel Yu, Founder & CEO of Wasoko, a technology company that is transforming the $600 billion market for essential goods sold through mom-and-pop stores in Africa. Wasoko provides on-demand ordering, delivery, and financing services to these small retailers. Wasoko's platform enables shop owners to place orders at any time via SMS or a mobile app, and offers free same-day delivery of goods directly to their stores. Additionally, Wasoko provides "Pay Later" financing options to support the growth of these shops. The company operates in several African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, and collaborates with major companies such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble. Wasoko has raised over $145 million in equity financing from investors like Tiger Global and Avenir Growth Capital, making it one of the largest tech companies in Africa. Daniel Yu is an entrepreneur and software developer with extensive experience working and traveling in over 65 countries, primarily in emerging economies such as Africa, the Middle East, Central America, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and China. He is skilled at exploring markets and building networks to effectively launch technology-driven businesses. Daniel is conversational or fluent in eight languages: English (native), Mandarin, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, Cantonese, Portuguese, and French. Daniel is passionate about leveraging technology and innovation to transform the retail landscape in emerging economies, empowering small businesses, and making a positive social impact across Africa. Join us as Daniel discusses his journey with Wasoko and the importance of digital technology and services to solve Africa’s supply chain problems. Daniel’s Reading List: 1. Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back by William MacAskill - https://amzn.to/41EnFJj 2. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - https://amzn.to/3IkPMq2 3. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - https://amzn.to/455COGn Show Notes 2:00 Daniel breaks down his background and what led him to Africa as an entrepreneur 3:27 Daniel, as the founder and CEO of Wasako, has been working to transform commerce in Africa and tells us the problem it aims to solve 4:49 Daniel details the monetization model of Wasoko 5:16 Daniel talks about some of the assumptions he had of this commerce model and what challenges he faced going to market 6:54 Daniel talks about the importance of startups to vertical integrate in Africa to ensure successful delivery of their chosen offerings and how the process of building in Africa differs from being in California, where certain aspects are already taken care of, and the focus is primarily on software development 8:20 Daniel explains why he started in certain African countries compared to others and the cultural differences experienced in each country 10:09 Daniel paints the customer onboarding process early on 11:16 Daniel details the early stages of a startup and the struggles you have to go through 12:37 Daniel talks about his educational background and how It informed the work he does today
	Scaling Impact with Obinna Ukwuani (Chief Digital Officer, Bank of Kigali Plc)	22 Mar 2023	00:51:58
Quote: "Don't approach entrepreneurship from a position of desperation; instead, build and have leverage." The Afropolitan Podcast highlights Afropolitans who embrace the unknown and walk with purpose. Through this podcast, we aim to empower Africans in the Diaspora to maximize their potential and contribute to the development of a vibrant and progressive black community. In this episode, we chat with Obinna Ukwuani, Chief Digital Officer at the Bank of Kigali Plc, where he drives digital product development to achieve digital financial services objectives. Obinna, born in America with Nigerian roots, studied Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He founded and directed the Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda and NESA by Makers, and now serves as the Founder and Director of Bruk Oil Mills in Enugu. Obinna previously worked at Paystack and shares his entrepreneurship insights in this episode. Obinna is passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and the transformative power of Web3/Blockchain technologies for people worldwide. Join us as Obinna discusses his journey to the Bank of Kigali and the importance of digital technology and services in solving Africa's challenges. Obinna's Reading List: 1. Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson - https://amzn.to/3kD1fbO 2. The Biafra Story: The Making of an African Legend by Frederick Forsyth - https://amzn.to/3Zt7vBN 3. The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis - https://amzn.to/3ICWJlD Show Notes: 1:22 Introduction to the Afropolitan Podcast 1:42 Obinna's background and journey to MIT, earning a BSc in Economics 7:28 Obinna's decision to return to Nigeria and his role in nation-building and creating opportunities 12:09 Obinna's work with the Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda and its impact on the local community 14:14 Obinna shares his first significant encounter with failure and the lessons learned 20:46 Obinna discusses insights from working with Paystack and Bank of Kigali on technology's potential for Africans 24:19 Obinna talks about his experience raising funds for startups and offers advice for first-time founders navigating the fundraising process 28:35 The importance of managing desperation and balance when dealing with investors 31:20 Sam Altman's New Yorker profile and the need for Africa to leapfrog - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny 38:12 Obinna shares his thoughts on Web3 and Blockchain, addressing skepticism and guiding principles 42:53 Books that have profoundly impacted Obinna's life 50:27 Hypothetical title of a book about Obinna's life 51:35 Obinna's perspective on what it means to be Afropolitan The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Connect with Afropolitan: Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https:
	Being A Conduit For Resources and Information With Kyle Maloney (Co-Founder of Tech Beach)	22 Feb 2023	00:37:29
Quote - “Founders need to realise that investors love founders that have failed before because it is in your failings, you learn the most.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Kyle Maloney, Co-Founder of Tech Beach; a startup with an active community designed to connect the Caribbean with the Global Technology Ecosystem. Klye studied Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and was exposed to entrepreneurship early on which culminated in Co-founding Tech Beach to offer a much needed service in the region. He is passionate about empowering people and companies in the Caribbean through technology to scale and solve pertinent issues. Listen and enjoy as Kyle talks to us about his journey with Tech Beach, his background and plans for the future. Kyle’s Reading List Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Arthur R. Pell https://amzn.to/3XzOzzZ The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan https://amzn.to/3lFdS6a Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear https://amzn.to/2P8LAvI Show Notes 2:30 Impact of covid and background of Tech Beach 5:58 Context of the Caribbean for startups 7:52 Expansion in the Caribbean compared to Africa 9:07 Fundraising process, challenges and advice 11:32 Recruiting and retaining talent 13:31 Kyle’s background and influences 19:49 Lessons from failure 24:00 Process to find the right mentor within the ecosystem 28:15 Title of the book about your life 30:53 Reading list 32:44 Being Afropolitan 35:03 Future plans The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Breaking Boundaries Beyond Africa With Hanu Agbodje (Founder & CEO of PATRICIA)	15 Feb 2023	00:34:27
Quote - “There is no joy to be found in playing small and dimming your lights.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Hanu Agbodje, Founder & CEO of PATRICIA; a fintech company founded in 2017 using Blockchain technology to process cryptocurrency transactions in Africa and beyond. Hanu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from University of Port Harcourt and founded PATRICIA after 13 other unsuccessful businesses. He is passionate about crypto and how the technology can solve Africa’s biggest problems and synergise payments. Listen and enjoy as Hanu talks to us about his journey with PATRICIA and ambition to transform alternative payments solutions in Africa. Hanu’s Reading List The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason https://amzn.to/3E3l8iW Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters https://amzn.to/3lt34Iq How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell https://amzn.to/2VzobXM Show Notes 1:23 Patricia's mission and vision for the world 1:58 Recruiting and retaining talent 3:30 The journey to Patricia 9:39 African founders competing anywhere in the world 12:25 What promise cryptocurrency holds for Africa? 15:02 Advice for founders dealing with government regulation 16:25 Dealing with failure and lessons learnt 19:23 Balance between creativity and objectives 20:38 Title of the book about your life 22:07 Other passions aside from Patricia 24:08 Self-care and avoiding burnout 25:07 Reading list 30:41 Being Afropolitan 32:38 Future of Patricia The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Changing Lives Through Chess With Tunde Onakoya (Founder of Chess In Slums Africa)	08 Feb 2023	00:30:10
Quote - “This frail body will house the greatest spirit humanity will ever know.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Tunde Onakoya, Founder of Chess In Slums Africa; a non-profit organisation that utilises the game of chess to educate and empower underprivileged children to achieve far more than their circumstances. Tunde holds a National Diploma in Computer Science from Yaba College of Technology and created Chess in Slums Africa to use chess as a tool to educate and propel the destiny of children out of poverty. He is passionate about equaling the playing field and has a goal to educate 1 million children in slum communities in 5 years. Listen and enjoy as Tunde talks to us about his journey with Chess In Slums Africa and redressing the imbalance in society. Tunde’s Reading List Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations: Ancient Philosophy for Modern Problems by Jules Evans https://amzn.to/3DMbVLF The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty by Clayton M. Christensen, Efosa Ojomo, Karen Dillon https://amzn.to/3DNoFBO Self-Discipline through Ikigai and Kaizen (Longevity and Happiness at Hand) by Mark Morimoto https://amzn.to/3lnLVQb Manifesto for a Moral Revolution Paperback – May 4, 2021 by Jacqueline Novogratz https://amzn.to/3RGYd2i Show Notes 1:29 Background and discovery of chess 4:31 Creation and mission of Chess In Slums Africa 9:07 Impact on children/slums 11:28 Ferdinand with cerebral palsy winning the chess tournament in Makoko 14:17 Partnership with chess.com 16:10 Finding purpose with Chess In Slums Africa 19:42 Fulfilling potential linked to mission of Chess In Slums Africa 22:43 Reading list 25:24 Future plans and how to get involved/support 27:28 Title of the book about your life 28:13 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Venture Capitalist Investing Insights With Yida Gao (Managing General Partner of Shima Capital)	01 Feb 2023	00:31:56
Yida Gao Quote - “Talent is everything for an early stage company and the people they hire early on define the trajectory of the company.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Yida Gao, Managing General Partner of Shima Capital; an early stage crypto and Web3 investment firm. Yida holds a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He previously worked in Wall Street for Morgan Stanley in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. He is passionate about investing in crypto and Web3 companies that chart new territory. Listen and enjoy as Yida Gao talks to us about his journey with Shima Capital and insights on the venture capitalist environment. Yida’s Reading List Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, Kevin Maney https://amzn.to/3jfIPx0 Show Notes 2:02 Journey into crypto 4:10 Shima’s investment thesis and approach to funding startups 6:09 Main criteria to invest in a founder 8:34 Fundraising process for Shima Capital 10:50 Misconceptions about venture capitalists 12:13 VCs inspired by 13:09 Recruiting and retaining talent 14:48 Navigating the fundraising environment 17:25 Process of capital calls 20:20 Best guidance that Shima offers for portfolio companies 23:47 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt 26:25 Reading list 28:14 Title of the book about your life 29:28 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Delivering Data-Driven Insights On Africa With Fadekemi Abiru (Head Of Insights at Stears)	24 Nov 2022	00:22:59
Fadekemi Abiru Quote - “Afropolitan is daring to be yourself in a rapidly changing world and not having to ask for permission.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Fadekemi Abiru, Head Of Insights at Stears; a financial data/intelligence company providing subscription-based data/insight to professionals/businesses. Fadekemi holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics. She previously worked as an economist for the UK government and provided analysis on various projects. She is passionate about ensuring that decisions whether in business or government in Africa are driven by real time data and insights to drive critical economic developments. Listen and enjoy as Fadekemi Abiru talks to us about her journey with Stears and the importance of data-driven insights on Africa. Fadekemi’s Reading List All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks https://amzn.to/3EiIoZj Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) by J. K. Rowling https://amzn.to/3OlqtG7 Economics Rules by Dani Rodrik https://amzn.to/3As5j3w Show Notes 1:55 Founding of Stears and its mission 3:10 Plans to cover the 2023 Nigerian elections 8:03 Data-driven insights/expectations on the Nigeria 2023 elections 10:22 How has technology enabled the Stears Elections product 11:12 Significance and likely impact of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022 on the upcoming elections 12:29 Conducting polls in the future 14:08 Data trends that make this upcoming election different from the last election 15:58 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt 16:02 Title of the book about your life 18:45 Reading list 21:09 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	TAYO AINA's Passive Money Blueprint: A Business Career That Funds World Travel	10 Dec 2025	01:42:06
In this episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit with one of Africa’s biggest creators, Tayo Aina, to unpack the truth behind building a global creative career from Lagos. From driving Uber without knowing how to drive, to teaching himself filmmaking, to fighting immigration systems across Africa, Tayo’s journey is the blueprint for the next generation of African storytellers. We discuss the moment J. Cole’s visit to Lagos changed his life, how MrBeast discovering his videos shifted his global visibility, and the hidden mechanics behind building a world-class YouTube career from Africa. We break down the real challenges African creators face brutal CPM disparities, visa walls, platform discrimination, and the hidden costs of chasing a dream in a system not designed for you. But we also explore the beauty, the innovation, the hunger, and the global ambition that make African creators unstoppable. This conversation goes beyond content. It’s about identity, economic mobility, purpose, migration, belonging, and the future of Africa’s attention economy. If you’re a creator, builder, founder, or diaspora kid navigating your own journey, this episode will speak to you. Welcome to the Afropolitan era where Africans tell their stories with power, pride, and global influence. Follow Tayo Aina Tayo Aina YouTube – https://youtube.com/@TayoAinaFilms Instagram – https://instagram.com/tayoainafilms Twitter – https://twitter.com/tayoainafilms Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast For more unfiltered conversations with Africa’s boldest builders, thinkers, and creators: Twitter – https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website – https://www.afropolitan.io Community – https://afropolitan.io/community Newsletter – https://afropolitan.io/newsletter Sponsored by VBan – Borderless banking for Africa’s digital workforce. Use code AFROPOLITAN → https://vban.com Inverroche Gin – South Africa’s premium craft gin blending heritage botanicals with innovation. https://www.inverroche.com Risevest – Invest globally in dollar-denominated stocks, real estate & fixed income. Sign up → https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan – Book 1-on-1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers. Visit https://convo.vip 0:00 - Airport strip search story 2:01 - What people misunderstand about being a creative 3:27 - Origin story: Uber driver days (2017) 4:39 - Learning to drive on the job 6:58 - First YouTube videos documenting Lagos 9:40 - Income from Uber driving 11:00 - The breakthrough moment decision 12:04 - Security issues and leaving Lagos for Abuja 13:05 - First wedding shoot and transition to video production 13:28 - Jékýllí concert video that got 1M views 15:07 - First monetized video (real estate content) 15:56 - The YouTube PIN verification problem (couldn't access money until 2020) 18:06 - Wema Bank sponsor ad 19:03 - Content creation as a business 21:00 - The attention economy explained 22:29 - Translating the world as an African creator 25:23 - San Francisco experience and observations 27:10 - First country visited: Russia (2018 World Cup) 29:02 - Starting full-time YouTube (August 2019) 32:27 - Advice for starting a YouTube channel 36:00 - Discovering CPM rate disparities 39:23 - Monetization challenges in Nigeria vs. US 42:20 - Making videos for US audiences 47:27 - Ethiopian airport discrimination experience 50:03 - South African visa issues 51:45 - Getting St. Kitts passport decision 56:27 - Moving to Portugal (2 years ago) 1:01:26 - Quality of life comparison: US vs Europe 1:04:02 - Why creators should build products not just views 1:09:00 - Baroche sponsor ad 1:09:56 - Rise Vest sponsor ad 1:11:38 - Convo sponsor ad 1:11:52 - Rapid fire questions begin 1:15:07 - Moving back to Nigeria conversation 1:27:00 - YouTube Creator Academy (training 3000+ people) 1:30:00 - Future plans: real estate and production studio 1:42:00 - Final question: Who should be on the podcast next
	Improving Financial Literacy in Africa With Arese Ugwu (Founder of Smart Money Africa)	16 Nov 2022	00:27:15
Arese Ugwu Quote - “Afropolitan means showcasing the brilliance of Africa on a global stage.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Arese Ugwu, Founder of Smart Money Africa; an edutainment platform providing financial literacy and education for the African millennial. Arese is a graduate from Aston Business School and University College London and has previous experience with leading African financial services brands before transitioning to Smart Money Africa. She is passionate about creating content and avenues that break down financial barriers for African youths especially women. Listen and enjoy as Arese Ugwu talks to us about Smart Money tribe and her thoughts on financial literacy for the African millennial. Arese’s Reading List The Smart Money Woman: An African girl's journey to financial freedom by Arese Ugwu https://amzn.to/3UAVTdJ The Rich Are Different: A Priceless Treasury of Quotations and Anecdotes About the Affluent, the Posh, and the Just Plain Loaded by Jon Winokur https://amzn.to/3AbZSpd Sex and Vanity: A Novel by Kevin Kwan https://amzn.to/3trG6lD Show Notes 1:30 Upbringing and background 2:59 Start of Smart Money Africa 6:35 Challenges/process of self-publishing a book 12:24 Netflix picking up the The Smart Money Woman series 16:26 Balancing multiple roles professionally and personally 17:50 Financial advice for young people 19:11 Season Two of The Smart Money Woman 19:57 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt 20:45 Title of the book about your life 21:45 Reading list 23:20 What does being Afropolitan mean to you 24:00 Beauty of South Africa The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Transforming Home Management With Nadayar Enegesi (CEO and Co-Founder of Eden Life Inc.)	09 Nov 2022	00:37:17
Quote - “What I like the most about building in Africa and building for Africa is that everything is so greenfield.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Nadayar Enegesi, CEO and Co-Founder of Eden Life Inc.; a tech-driven home management platform in Africa providing services such as food, laundry and cleaning. Nadayar is a graduate from University of Waterloo in Canada and has previous experience at Fora Inc. and Andela before transitioning to Eden Life Inc.. He is passionate about upgrading the home lifestyle and bridging the gap between service providers and service demanders through tech. Listen and enjoy as Nadayar Enegesi talks to us about entrepreneurship, Eden Life Inc. and his guiding life principles. Nadayar’s Reading List Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness by Frederic Laloux https://amzn.to/2Jb3qME Bushido: The Way of the Samurai by Tsunetomo Yamamoto https://amzn.to/3FSr4gg Show Notes 1:32 Journey as an entrepreneur 4:56 Time at Andela 6:49 Transition into the role as CEO and Co-Founder of Eden life Inc. 10:35 Process of assembling the founding team 15:48 Fundraising process and advice 19:03 Founders who have influenced you in the tech space 21:42 Reading list 25:12 Recruiting and maintaining talent 30:27 Title of the book about your life 32:49 What does being Afropolitan mean to you 34:38 Impact of Covid-19 The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Changing The Fashion Industry Through Tech With Ibi Cookey (Co-Founder of Fitted)	02 Nov 2022	00:24:40
Quote - “Afropolitan means remembering who we were in the last thousand years at scale” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Ibi Cookey, Co-Founder of Fitted; a fashion-tech company revolutionising scalable custom fashion. Ibi is an international business management graduate and a former investment banker. He is passionate about simplifying the custom fashion supply chain for all stakeholders. Listen and enjoy as Ibi Cookey talks to us about entrepreneurship, Fitted and transitioning from investment banking to tech. Show Notes 1:10 Background and transition from investment banking to tech 3:33 Insights gained from private equity 4:46 Transition to Fitted 6:22 What does Fitted solve 8:18 Utilising data from Fitted to solve international measurement challenges at scale 11:11 Fitted’s role in the supply chain ecosystem 13:47 Fundraising challenges and insights 18:11 First encounter with failure and experience learnt 19:56 Title of the book about your life 21:53 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/
	Building a Media Empire With Morgan DeBaun (Founder/CEO of Blavity Inc.)	26 Oct 2022	00:41:31
Quote - “As a founder of a startup, we have to get to the end goal - to liquidity and huge wealth gains for ourselves, employees and early investors.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Morgan DeBaun, Founder/CEO of Blavity Inc.; a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials with over 100 million readers per month. Morgan is a serial entrepreneur, executive, corporate advisor, and angel investor. She is passionate about building companies and communities. Listen and enjoy as Morgan DeBaun talks to us about entrepreneurship and Blavity’s incredible journey. Morgan’s Website https://bit.ly/3Tj1TaH Morgan’s Reading List Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki https://amzn.to/2NIasgG The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell https://amzn.to/3VICqJb The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries https://amzn.to/3CQouV0 Show Notes 1:17 Investing in the stock market at 13 years old 2:27 Misconceptions of being a founder 4:16 Advice/strategies for founders in recruiting/retaining talent 7:16 Fundraising as a black woman founder 10:08 Managing boundaries 12:56 Impact of the pandemic professionally/personally 17:40 Remote work vs office work 21:25 Dealing with letting people go 26:56 First encounter with failure and experience learnt 30:42 Reading list 31:57 Title of the book about your life 33:29 Transition from Intuit to Blavity 35:16 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

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