Not Your African Cliché

NYAC S4 E14: Presidential Aspirations

We chat with Chike Ukaegbu, a 2019 Nigerian presidential candidate, about his path to running a political campaign, his motivations, the challenges of running a campaign while out of the country, as well as his next steps. http://www.chikeukaegbu.com

NYAC S4 E 13: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Reports Our Stories?

On this episode we speak with Oluwatosin Adeshokan, a freelance journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria, about his career trajectory and the current state of journalism in the country. We explore the circumstances that have resulted in big Nigerian/African stories being primarily broken by global, western news orgs like the New York Times, The Guardian UK, CNN, and the implications of this trend. We examine the role of journalism in holding power to account in Nigeria and wonder why local investigative journalism exposés do not often result in change (hint: shameless authoritarian governments and apathetic general public). Lastly, we discuss ideas for how journalism on the continent might evolve in a way that is engaging, speaks truth to power, and is better funded. ------------------ Resources: Explore the now defunct 234Next Website on Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20100701000000*/234next.com Oluwatosin's article on learning Mandarin in Nigeria - https://popula.com/2018/09/10/learning-chinese-in-nigeria/ Oluwatosin's article in the LA Times about dreams of Biafra in the East - https://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-nigeria-war-legacy-20190430-story.html Perspective on the implications of foreign media orgs telling African stories https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/01/african-journalism-stifled-lack-resources https://africasacountry.com/2019/02/whos-reporting-africa-now Zikoko’s This Naira Life reporting https://www.zikoko.com/naira-life/tough-hustling-in-nigeria/ ------------------ Episode was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode, theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

NYAC S4 E12: A Basket Full of Social Impact

On this episode, we chat with Coretta Owusu about Design Dua, her Ghana-based company that makes functional handwoven basketry. She shares the nitty gritty details of her company’s capital- and time-intensive operations, the social impact of employing local artisans in Northern Ghana, her transition from law to founding a business with a social reach, the woes of import tax, and the not-so-glamorous side of being featured on big store website. website: www.designdua.com instagram: @shoplovedua Episode mixed by Ifeyinwa Arinze. Theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

NYAC S4 E11: Empathy, What is it Good for?

NYAC S4 E11: Empathy, What is it Good for? On this episode we speak with literature buff, writer and embodiment of Pan-Africanism, Clarisse Baleja Saidi about her Rwandese, Ugandan, Congolese and Ivorian roots, and her journey to becoming a writer. We examine the clarifying power of writing; discuss the challenge of truthful, authentic storytelling while trying to avoid pandering; and ask, what is the role of empathy in literature ? ------------------ Resources https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/03/02/the-banality-of-empathy/ https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/bloody-image-double-standard https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/03/ethiopian-airlines-302/584533/ https://wereherelove.com/podcastguests/#ClarisseBalejaSaïdi --------------------- Reading - John Carryrou’s Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - Claire Adam’s Golden Child - Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird - Peter Kreeft’s Practical Theology: Spiritual Direction from Saint Thomas Aquinas Listening - PJ Morton and Yebba’s How Deep is Your Love - P J Morton’s Christmas with PJ Morton ------------------ Episode was mixed by Ifeoluwa Olokode, theme song is Ayo by Femi Leye

NYAC S4 E10: The Boy Who Harnessed Drones

We talk with Dumi Kaliati, the founder and CEO of a Malawian based health and hardware start up called MicroMek. MicroMek specializes in creating low cost drones for the delivery of drugs to remote areas in Malawi. In addition, the aerial vehicles provide assessments of the environmental landscape eg monitoring floods. He shared with us the motivation behind his startup, the challenges he has faced as a young African entrepreneur, and his vision for his company. As our first Malawian guest, Dumi also enlightened us on his country's history and what he loves about Malawi. Website: https://www.micromek.net FB: MicroMek Twitter: @MicroMek_LTD Dumi's Twitter: @dumikaliati