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Afropolitan

Afropolitan

A Entrepreneurship , Business and Investing podcast

#1 in Entrepreneurship · 🇳🇬 #3 in Business · 🇳🇬
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About the show

The Afropolitan Podcast Hosted by Chika Uwazie & Eche Emole This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a mirror to the soul of the African diaspora. Each week, co-hosts Chika & Eche sit down with founders, culture-shapers, and bold thinkers to explore the truth behind the highlights, shedding light on grief, growth, legacy, power, identity, and everything in between. You’ll hear the stories you won’t find on panels. The questions most people are too afraid to ask. The answers that stay with you long after the episode ends. From billion-dollar builders to first-gen visionaries, we go there. About Afropolitan: Afropolitan is building a digital nation for Africans and the diaspora—powered by culture, capital, and code. The podcast is one piece of a global movement to create infrastructure for Black and African ambition at scale. This is the sound of a new era. Raw. Soulful. Unapologetically Afropolitan. Watch on Youtube as well https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan?sub_confirmation=1

Newest episodes

Nigerian Creator Exposes the Dark Side of the American Dream — Ling and Lamb’s Lamboginny

1 hr 30 min

His first official job in America was the night shift at Lowe's. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., $15 an hour. One night he locked himself in the bathroom, crying, and asked God where the American dream was. A few years later he was on the Forbes Top Creators red carpet in Cannes, interviewing the CMO of Lowe's, standing next to the same woman who used to drive him to those shifts. "I had a very quiet voice. I said, this is the American dream. This is it." Yinka Lawanson is Lamb of Ling and Lamb (Lamboginny back home in Lagos). He and his wife Ling have passed 4 billion views, been signed by CAA and Gersh, and run campaigns with Walmart, Crocs and Lowe's. Long before any of that, he was a musician who started going into prisons at 22 and paid fines courthouse by courthouse until 32 inmates walked free. In this episode we get into the okra video that changed their lives, the friends who called him goofy online and now post content themselves, why you can go viral and still be broke, checking your money down to the last cent, losing his mother at 14 after carrying her from church to church, the one-car rule, and why he says your value is your currency. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https...

The Real Reason Nigerian Politicians Change After Winning — Chude Jideonwo

2 hr 49 min

Chude Jideonwo has worked on political campaigns as a job for years. The 2015 Buhari campaign was the one he believed in. "Even me, I drank from my own supply." After the win, one of his dearest friends called and said, "Today, I think we've created a monster." Before the campaigns and the Villa, he was a kid in a Lagos private school, flogged in front of the whole assembly because his parents couldn't pay school fees. By 15 he was working full time. "I shall not be poor. It will never happen." Chude co-founded RED with Adebola Williams, the company behind The Future Awards Africa and YNaija, and his teams ran communications for Buhari in 2015 and Nana Akufo-Addo in Ghana in 2016. He hosts #WithChude, one of Africa's most watched talk shows, and has put $500,000 of his own money into the Fourth Mainland Fund for African creators. In this episode we get into the night Goodluck Jonathan learned the 2011 election was postponed (Chude was in the room), why Peter Obi has done more interviews than every Nigerian president since Babangida combined, why Dangote's survival was never guaranteed, the $1,000 month that put #WithChude behind a paywall, and why "it's the local taste that scales." Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book...

The Dark Truth About Podcasting Nobody Wants To Talk About — Les Alfred

1 hr 10 min

Eight years. A chart-topping podcast. A deal with one of the biggest podcast networks in America. And Les Alfred still asks herself what it was all for. Her words: "I've worked so hard and I've sacrificed so much and it didn't get me what I thought it would." She expected more money and a bigger platform by now. When Chika asked if being a Black woman had anything to do with it, she answered in one word: "Probably." Les started Balanced Black Girl in 2018 while still working a corporate job, recording in her bedroom in Seattle. It grew into a chart-topping, NAACP Image Award-nominated show, signed with Dear Media in 2023, and was rebranded last year as She's So Lucky. In this episode we get into the Monday thought that turned into a Dear Media offer by Thursday, why she calls naming her brand after balance a mistake, the $2,500 check that made her an angel investor, the three wishes her mom kept from first grade, the most expensive lesson she's learned, and what to look for in year three when the work is working but the money isn't moving. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND LES ALFRED Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesalfred SHE'S SO LUCK...

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All episodes

Nigerian Creator Exposes the Dark Side of the American Dream — Ling and Lamb’s Lamboginny

1 hr 30 min

His first official job in America was the night shift at Lowe's. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., $15 an hour. One night he locked himself in the bathroom, crying, and asked God where the American dream was. A few years later he was on the Forbes Top Creators red carpet in Cannes, interviewing the CMO of Lowe's, standing next to the same woman who used to drive him to those shifts. "I had a very quiet voice. I said, this is the American dream. This is it." Yinka Lawanson is Lamb of Ling and Lamb (Lamboginny back home in Lagos). He and his wife Ling have passed 4 billion views, been signed by CAA and Gersh, and run campaigns with Walmart, Crocs and Lowe's. Long before any of that, he was a musician who started going into prisons at 22 and paid fines courthouse by courthouse until 32 inmates walked free. In this episode we get into the okra video that changed their lives, the friends who called him goofy online and now post content themselves, why you can go viral and still be broke, checking your money down to the last cent, losing his mother at 14 after carrying her from church to church, the one-car rule, and why he says your value is your currency. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https...

The Real Reason Nigerian Politicians Change After Winning — Chude Jideonwo

2 hr 49 min

Chude Jideonwo has worked on political campaigns as a job for years. The 2015 Buhari campaign was the one he believed in. "Even me, I drank from my own supply." After the win, one of his dearest friends called and said, "Today, I think we've created a monster." Before the campaigns and the Villa, he was a kid in a Lagos private school, flogged in front of the whole assembly because his parents couldn't pay school fees. By 15 he was working full time. "I shall not be poor. It will never happen." Chude co-founded RED with Adebola Williams, the company behind The Future Awards Africa and YNaija, and his teams ran communications for Buhari in 2015 and Nana Akufo-Addo in Ghana in 2016. He hosts #WithChude, one of Africa's most watched talk shows, and has put $500,000 of his own money into the Fourth Mainland Fund for African creators. In this episode we get into the night Goodluck Jonathan learned the 2011 election was postponed (Chude was in the room), why Peter Obi has done more interviews than every Nigerian president since Babangida combined, why Dangote's survival was never guaranteed, the $1,000 month that put #WithChude behind a paywall, and why "it's the local taste that scales." Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book...

The Dark Truth About Podcasting Nobody Wants To Talk About — Les Alfred

1 hr 10 min

Eight years. A chart-topping podcast. A deal with one of the biggest podcast networks in America. And Les Alfred still asks herself what it was all for. Her words: "I've worked so hard and I've sacrificed so much and it didn't get me what I thought it would." She expected more money and a bigger platform by now. When Chika asked if being a Black woman had anything to do with it, she answered in one word: "Probably." Les started Balanced Black Girl in 2018 while still working a corporate job, recording in her bedroom in Seattle. It grew into a chart-topping, NAACP Image Award-nominated show, signed with Dear Media in 2023, and was rebranded last year as She's So Lucky. In this episode we get into the Monday thought that turned into a Dear Media offer by Thursday, why she calls naming her brand after balance a mistake, the $2,500 check that made her an angel investor, the three wishes her mom kept from first grade, the most expensive lesson she's learned, and what to look for in year three when the work is working but the money isn't moving. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND LES ALFRED Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesalfred SHE'S SO LUCK...

Nigerian Musician Reveals Why He Couldn’t Leave America — Mannywellz

1 hr 20 min

At 16, Mannywellz went to get his learner's permit. His mom sat him down and told him he couldn't. He didn't have papers. A few years later the college bills came in at $20,000 to $50,000 and there was no way to pay them. So he told his family to put his younger sister through school instead. He would sing. Mannywellz (Emmanuel Ajomale) moved from Nigeria to Maryland at 9, taught himself to produce on Fruity Loops, and built a sound that sits between Afrobeats, R&B, soul and gospel. He made "Peace" with Tems before most of the world knew her name, has records with Wale, toured with Jidenna, and is one of the DACA artists on the Grammy-winning album American Dreamers. He's fully independent, and his catalog pays his bills. In this episode we get into what one independent song really costs (from $2,500 to $30,000), paying producers in ownership when you can't pay in cash, why "nothing is usually as organic as it seems," quitting a bank job over a record deal that didn't exist, how "Peace" with Tems came together, getting dropped by his distributor right before his biggest run, and what therapy told him about carrying too much. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip...

Banker-Turned-Afrobeats Star Exposes the Dark Side of Fame — Mayorkun

1 hr 14 min

Mayorkun was two months from being homeless when Mama dropped. The first check from that song went straight to rent. A year earlier he was in a bank's marketing department, opening accounts. He posted a short piano cover only because his phone was out of storage and he planned to delete it. Davido saw it and sent a DM: send me your number. Then two weeks of silence. The message that changed his life landed on WhatsApp as he walked back to his seat after leading praise and worship in church: pack your load and come. Ten years later, Mayorkun is the Mayor of Lagos. Albums including The Mayor of Lagos and Back in Office, hits from Eleko and Mama to Of Lagos and Betty Butter, and B4 B4 with Davido and FOLA on Davido's 2026 album Oriadé. In this episode we get into the lawyer Davido paid for so Mayorkun wouldn't sign his deal blind, why blowing up is "light work" compared to staying, the 2 years he stopped writing clever lyrics because it felt like no one was listening, why he says most streaming numbers are doctored, the bank that later paid him more for one show than he'd have earned there in 5 years, and the 18 hours he lasted in London before wanting to come home. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Afric...

Building Wealth in Nigeria Is Not What You Think It Is — Bankhead

2 hr 2 min

He had 4 hours to empty a beach club with 5 swimming pools. The bulldozers were already working down the shore. He puts the loss at over ₦2 billion, and says compensation didn't cover 2% of it. Ten years earlier, Uber's launch lead walked into his club and asked for 3,000 cars. There were no cars. Just an app on a Lenovo laptop. "I can make you t-shirts. I can make you face caps. I didn't think about equity." Adewunmi Adebesin, better known as Bankhead, has spent 21 years in hospitality and entertainment. He was running Rehab at 20, turned Sunday into a party day with Grill at the Pent, and built Truth Beach Club. Now he's building FanVault, a subscription platform that pays African creators in their own currencies. In this episode we get into the hostesses who made ₦10 million in 2 months reselling his wristbands, the ₦60,000 weekly yam bill for 9 tubers, why he runs nightlife like a cartel, the day he passed on signing Davido, and why he thinks a ₦200 subscription beats a million views. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND BANKHEAD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatbankheadboy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adebesin-adewunmi-92299...

Nigeria's Banking Problem Is Not What You Think It Is - Olu Akanmu

1 hr 35 min

40 million people have a government ID and no bank account. Olu Akanmu's fix: lock the regulators, the banks and the fintechs in one room and give them 3 months to go and find them. During the cashless crunch, a bank that needed more server capacity had to write a board paper, get approval, source dollars, import the server, clear it through customs and install it. 3 to 4 months. OPay could look at capacity at 9pm, see 70%, and add 40% by morning. Traders in Balogun started telling customers to get OPay so they could be paid. Olu was President and Co-CEO of OPay Nigeria from 2021 to 2023. Before that he was the third Nigerian hired for MTN's commercial launch, ran retail banking at Bank PHB and FCMB, and was CMO at Airtel. He started out as a pharmacist at Glaxo. Today he's academic director of the Lagos Business School Tech-Leap Initiative. In this episode we get into the POS machine that costs 5% of a bank branch, why MTN sent its South African team home one month after launch, Airtel's 3G towers in places with no smartphones, the ₦10 million he'd put in a dollar bond at 30, and why digital payments grew from 22% to 56% while access to credit went from 2% to 6%. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls wi...

The Dark Side of Being Afrobeats’ Most Wanted Director — TG Omori

1 hr 56 min

For six months he lay in a hospital bed while the internet decided he had fallen off. "He doesn't shoot no more." "Nobody rocks with him anymore." "He has outpriced himself out of the market." He was fighting for his life. The first kidney came from his brother. After a seven-hour surgery, the doctors came back with the news: no flow, his body wouldn't take it, and it had to come out. Before they wheeled him back into theatre he posted online and said what he believed was his last prayer. "God, let your will be done." TG Omori is the Headies-winning director behind some of the defining videos of modern Afrobeats, from the Marlian era with Naira Marley to Asake's run of Terminator, Bandana and Organise. He started out making whole videos on ₦2 million budgets. Today a single video can run past $100,000. In this episode we get into why a director can take a big budget and still go home with nothing, the year he and Asake worked like "two people in one body" with no treatments and no revisions, why he dropped his public fight for 10% of music video streams, what dialysis really costs in Nigeria (about ₦31 million a year), the "pull me on" texts from friends still in the hood, and why every day is a good day for greatness. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commis...

The Dark Side Of Being A Female Afrobeats Artist Nobody Talks About - Fave

1 hr 6 min

A major label signed her, handed her enough money to go buy a car, and then let her music sit. So she asked to leave. Less than a month after she got out, "Intentions" took off and it hasn't slowed down since. Fave doesn't dance around why she walked. "What I want as an artist from my label is the money to market my music," she says. "I don't think they truly understand how things work here in Africa." Two years into a deal with Atlantic, she decided she would rather bet on herself than keep fighting to be somebody's priority. She started as a law student posting one-minute freestyles to Twitter. Within 24 hours the internet couldn't look away. Since then she's been named Rookie of the Year, tapped as an Apple Music Africa Rising act and a Spotify EQUAL Africa ambassador, and pulled onto tracks by some of the biggest names in the game. This is the artist behind Baby Riddim, Kante and Intentions. In this episode we get into the double standard female artists face across Africa, the "Afrobeats Queen" label and why crowning one woman for 200 million people makes no sense, rebelling against a strict Pentecostal home to chase music, getting stranded at a Kenyan airport by a promoter who cancelled the flights home, why she left Atlantic, and how Kante with Davido actually came together. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS O...

Dangote Refinery’s IPO Is Not What You Think It Is

1 hr 9 min

The entire stock market of Africa's biggest economy is worth about $114 billion. One refinery just outside Lagos is asking investors to value it at $50 billion. On day one. That is one company reaching for almost half of a whole national exchange, and it just opened its doors to outside money through a private placement that raised billions. So we brought in someone who actually builds the rails for this. Eke Urum walks through what the Dangote Refinery IPO really is, why he calls it "anchor infrastructure," and why he thinks it joins the short list of Nigerian companies you can almost never go wrong buying. He also names his own reservations, from the crude supply risk to the way the business has leaned on the Nigerian system. Eke Urum is the founder and CEO of Risevest, the dollar investment platform that acquired Chaka and now runs Hisa, the app letting everyday people own Nigerian and US stocks in minutes. He has spent years tearing down the paperwork that kept regular people out of the market. Sign up for Hisa - https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN In this episode we get into where a Nigerian in the diaspora should actually put money right now, why refineries make money from far more than fuel, the $80 to $100 billion number Eke puts on Dangote over the next decade, how private placements work and who really gets in first, the 600,000 trading accounts in a country of 200 million people, and a step by step plan to get ready for the September IPO. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more...

Nigeria's Minister Exposes Why The World Makes Us Look Worse Than We Are - Tunji Alausa

1 hr 48 min

For over 40 years, one problem broke every education minister who walked in before him. Strikes that shut universities for months at a time. Students who started a four-year degree with no idea when they would actually graduate. He says it took one president and a handful of honest meetings to end it. When his team asked the president to approve a 40% salary increase for academic staff, he thought the number was too much to ask for. The president looked up and said yes. "It was as if I won a jackpot," he says. "I was about to run out of his office before he called me back." Dr. Tunji Alausa is a physician and nephrologist who built a career across Nigeria, the UK and the US, and served as chief resident at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He came home to serve as Minister of State for Health, and today he runs education for a country of 220 million people, roughly 70% of them under the age of 30. In this episode we get into the real number of out-of-school children and why he says UNICEF and UNESCO have it wrong, flipping classrooms from 70% theory to 80% practice, taking nursing enrollment from 28,000 to over 140,000 a year, why he tore up the idea that a plumber ranks below a doctor, bringing Nigerian history and a new national anthem back into the classroom, and a blunt message to the diaspora: come back home before the opportunity is gone. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Follow Chika on Snapchat https://snapchat.com/t/c1ercPU6 WHERE TO FIND DR. TUNJI ALAUSA X: http...

Beauty Founder Exposes What It Takes For A Woman To Build In Africa - Diiadem

1 hr 19 min

She landed in China with $1,500 in her pocket. That money had to cover the flight she had already booked, somewhere to sleep, and the products she came to manufacture. The factory told her the minimum order was 12,000 pieces. She stayed anyway. She paid a $1,000 deposit on a $6,000 order, called her cousin and her father from a hotel room until they sent what they could, and flew back to Lagos still owing the balance. Then she signed her car papers over to a loan company. "Collect the car. Just give me the loan." Ten years later Beauty by AD makes 37 shades of foundation and sold out a three day London pop up on the first afternoon. Adeola Adeyemi, known everywhere as Diiadem, is the founder and CEO of Beauty by AD, one of the few Nigerian cosmetics brands that manufactures its own base products from scratch instead of buying and stamping. She joined The Real Housewives of Lagos in season 3, represented the Nigerian beauty industry at the UK House of Lords in 2025, and was one of the first Nigerian creators Snapchat ever paid. In this episode we get into the manufacturer who told her her money could not do anything for her, why 15 shades of foundation were not enough and 37 are, the blogger who accused her of sleeping with a sitting governor and what she did about it, the mother she only met once before a stroke took the answers away, the empty refill palette she designed while sitting on a toilet seat, why she hands every new product to working makeup artists before it ships, and the $3,000 to $5,000 she pulls off Snapchat every two weeks. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code...

The Dark Side of Afrobeats Nobody Talks About - WurlD

1 hr 2 min

WurlD went digging through his own royalty data and found somebody else's name sitting where his publisher should be. Three, four years of money had already moved. He only caught it because he knew what to look for. Back in 2015 he started showing Nigerian producers how to register their records properly. IPI numbers, publishing splits, performing rights organizations, all of it. "I made some enemies in the process," he says, because he was walking into rooms telling people the person handling their paperwork was putting the records under their own name. WurlD is Sadiq Onifade. Born in Lagos, studied computer science at Georgia State while sneaking into Atlanta studios at night, wrote records for Akon and B.o.B before anyone would sign him as an artist, co-wrote Davido and Chris Brown's Blow My Mind, and made I Love Girls With Trobul with Sarz. His new album Born To Win is on the way. In this episode we get into the EP he pulled off every streaming platform, the two years he sat on a finished hit, the night he almost got stuck in Berlin filming COLORS as the world shut down, why he left clothes behind to fit his recording rig in a suitcase, and why he gave Blow My Mind away. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND WURLD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisiswurld TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisiswurld Twitter/X: https://x.com/thisisWurlD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/us...

Nigerian Fragrance Founder Reveals How She Got into Sephora and Raised $500,000

1 hr 27 min

She spent $225,000 of her own money on a brand that hadn't sold a single bottle yet. Before that, she priced her first fragrance at $250 and the internet came for her. "Who do you think you are? You're not Gucci. You're not Creed." Her team told her the price is the price. She sold out, did over a million dollars in six months, and people started reselling the bottles on eBay for $600. Funmi Monet is the founder and CEO of Influxious, the fragrance brand that launched exclusively at Sephora. She was a licensed therapist first. Then she trained at ISIPCA in Versailles, joined the Sephora Squad, and built an audience of more than 500,000 people who trust her nose. In this episode we get into where the $225,000 went and why she doesn't regret a cent, the standard founder advice she ignored on purpose, the VC who told her a million dollars was too small a check to write, how she studied the Ami Colé shutdown so she wouldn't repeat it, why niche fragrance brands don't pay creators, and the de-auntie era that started with one rude comment about her wig. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND FUNMI MONET Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funmimonet/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@funmimonet Threads: https://www.threads.com/@funmimonet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/funmi-monet-68613363/ INFLUXIOUS Website: https://influxious.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/influxious.c...

Lagos Governorship Candidate Exposes Why He Turned Down MILLIONS!

1 hr 58 min

Everyone believes power in Lagos belongs to one man, that he holds it, transfers it at his pleasure, and there's nothing anybody can do about that. GRV has spent three years trying to prove that's a myth. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) is an architect, activist, and the ADC's gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State, one of the most recognizable political figures of his generation. He took his 2023 election petition all the way to the Supreme Court, and he's back with a harder, more organized run at 2027. In this episode, we get into how Lagos government actually works from the ward level up, the ₦160 million generator hidden in the state budget, carrying a five-generation Lagos family legacy, the Funsho Williams murder that still shapes Lagos politics today, the diaspora land scam that still haunts him, why he calls integrity "expensive," and his unfiltered message to Nigerians abroad thinking about coming home. WHERE TO FIND GBADEBO RHODES-VIVOUR (GRV) Campaign Website: https://grvlagos.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/GRVlagos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grvlagos/ X/Twitter (Media): https://x.com/grvlagosmedia Instagram (Media): https://www.instagram.com/grvlagosmedia/ Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.pat...

Billionaire Ex-Gubernatorial Candidate Exposes Why Nigerian Politics Is Rigged

1 hr 38 min

Tonye Cole co-founder of Sahara sit down with Eche Emole and Chika Uwazie, one of Africa's largest energy conglomerates, and a Nigerian politician who walked away from the comfort of the private sector to run for office. An architect by training who started out making models for cash in his university years, he went bankrupt overnight when a new administration cancelled every contract his young company had and rebuilt. In this episode we get into why power trumps money every single time, the trick he and his partners used to get around Nigeria's expatriate bias in the '90s, why politics in Nigeria functions like a lottery ticket, what he learned processing the 2023 election, the three reasons business partnerships collapse, 43 years of compounding and why he says he can't go broke, the difference between outward humility and inward pride, and how his wife's housemanship salary kept the family alive while he built the company. Also: mental health, grief, and the year his mother died. A long, unhurried conversation about power, faith, and building something that outlasts you. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast

Preston Ideh: Why Data is the Most Valuable Asset in Africa

1 hr 14 min

Preston Ideh is the co-founder and CEO of Stears, the company building the data infrastructure for African markets (think Crunchbase meets the Bloomberg Terminal, built for Africa). A UK-qualified lawyer who walked away from big law, moved back to Nigeria, and bet everything on one idea: information is power, and Africa is dangerously under-documented. In this episode we get into why data is "structured history," how investors quietly hold the edge over founders, the real difference between PE and VC money, why the next wave of African wealth is hiding in boring businesses, what the AI shift means for builders, and a rare, personal story about learning grief far too young. One of our sharpest conversations yet on money, power, and what it actually takes to build. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND PRESTON IDEH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-timeyin-ideh-06484775 X/Twitter: https://x.com/TimeyinPI Stears (website): https://www.stears.co Stears on X/Twitter: https://x.com/StearsInsights Stears on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stearsco Stears on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stears AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Cold open 0:41 – The #1 thing you need...

Eni Aluko: How Suing The FA Made Her More Money Than Playing For England

1 hr 43 min

She went from a Birmingham estate to 104 caps for England, qualified as a lawyer at one of the most elite firms in the world, and wrote a six-figure check to prove women's football is an investable asset. But Eni Aluko's story was never just about sport. In this episode, Eche and Chika sit down with Eni Aluko — former England and Chelsea striker, qualified solicitor, sporting director, and investor — for a conversation about identity, money, and what it costs to stand alone. Eni breaks down why she put her own money into women's football, what she learned taking on the FA and winning a landmark case against Joey Barton, and how Blackness feels different living between the US and the UK. She gets honest about the friendships she lost, the version of herself she had to grieve, and why she'd rather be respected than liked. This is a conversation about legacy, power, and who gets to control the narrative — and it's our first-ever sit-down with a sports figure on the couch. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast — EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Borderless investments for Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ — WHERE TO FIND ENI ALUKO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enialuko X/Twitter: https://x.com/Eni_Aluko LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/eniola-aluko-mbe-4922032a — AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitan...

We Are A Generation Of Influencers, Not Builders

2 hr 5 min

Iyinoluwa "Iyin" Aboyeji helped build two of Africa's most important tech companies — Andela and Flutterwave. Now he's after something bigger: making sure every African can earn at least $10,000 a year by leveraging AI. In this episode, Iyin sits down with Eche and Chika to break down why "investing is for lazy people," the two competing visions of the future (America vs. China), why the real origins of AI trace back to Africa, and why anyone in the diaspora who doesn't come home in the next two years may regret it. A conversation about power, capital, energy, and who you actually choose to build for. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Borderless investments for Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND IYIN ABOYEJI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iaboyeji X/Twitter: https://x.com/iaboyeji LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eaboyeji Future Africa: https://www.future.africa/ Accelerate Africa: https://acceler8.africa/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – "Investing is for lazy people" 2:27 – Two visions of the future: America vs. China 7:11 – How China engineered 70 years of growth 9:43 – A message to the diaspora 14:13 – Breaking down the Dangote blueprint 19:01 – The mis...

Nelson Mandela's Widow Has One Warning for the Diaspora

1 hr 27 min

Join us for a historic fireside chat with Her Excellency Graça Machel—liberation fighter, former Education Minister of Mozambique, global humanitarian, and the only woman in modern history to serve as First Lady of two nations. Three days before the first G20 Summit ever held on African soil, this conversation couldn't be more timely. As world leaders gather in Johannesburg, we're asking the uncomfortable questions about partnership, investment, and what authentic solidarity looks like between Canada and Africa. WHO IS GRAÇA MACHEL? At 80, Graça Machel has spent six decades transforming institutions and challenging power structures. As Mozambique's first Education Minister (1975-1989), she increased enrollment from 40% to over 90% and reduced illiteracy from 93% to 72%—with limited resources but unlimited determination. Through the Graça Machel Trust, she's enrolled 5,200+ women entrepreneurs across seven countries, created 30,000+ jobs, and unlocked $5 million in funding pipelines. She's Deputy Chair of The Elders, Chancellor of African Leadership University, and has the credibility to tell uncomfortable truths that others won't. WHAT WE'LL DISCUSS: ✅ Why Canada's Africa Strategy launched with zero new funding—and what needs to change ✅ Can extractive industries ever be true development partners? ✅ How Africa's $4 trillion in mobilizable capital could transform the continent ✅ The AfCFTA opportunity: 1.3 billion people, $6.7 trillion market by 2030 ✅ What gender-lens investing gets wrong—and what it should look like ✅ From aid dependency to investment-driven prosperity: the paradigm shift Africa demands ✅ What Canada's Prime Minister should say at the G20 in three days WHY THIS MATTERS NOW: This isn't a retrospective celebration. It's a strategic intervention. With the G20 in Johannesburg, Canada holding the G7 presidency, and Africa at a critical inflection point, this conversation will hold comfortable assumptions accountable. Machel has earned the right t...

These AI Stocks Could Print Millionaires You're Investing in AI Wrong

1 hr 13 min

She turned $30,000 and one stubborn goal into an eight-figure fortune — then almost lost herself building it. Teri Ijeoma quit her job as an assistant principal, put $30,000 of trading education on a credit card, and went on to make her first million dollars in a single day. In this episode she breaks down the number one myth about trading options, the $26,000 loss that taught her everything, how to actually invest $1,000 right now, her three-layer framework for investing in AI, and the wound that made her rich but still hasn't healed. WHERE TO FIND TERI IJEOMA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teriijeoma TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teriijeoma Twitter/X: https://x.com/teriijeoma Teri's Latest Book The Risk Worth Taking: https://www.theriskworthtaking.com Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Borderless investments for Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast 0:00 The $26,000 loss in a single trade 1:08 Quick subscribe break 1:24 Afropolitan goes global (recording in the US) 1:48 The #1 myth people believe about trading options 2:30 Do you have to be glued to your screen to trade? 3:28 From assistant principal to multimillionaire trader 5:18 Betting half her salary on...

The Hidden Truth About Streaming Money (No One Says This)

1 hr 16 min

YCee disappeared for four years. The story behind why is heavier than anyone knew. In 2020, at the peak of his run — Jagaban everywhere, Juice on every aux, sold-out shows, a sound that helped define Afrobeats — he got diagnosed with bipolar disorder. What followed was six years of meds that fogged his creativity, hospitalizations, a Nigerian mental health system not built for it, and the strange reality of being one of the biggest songs in the country playing while he tried to put himself back together. He sits down with Eche and Chika to talk about all of it — and goes further than he's gone publicly. The hundreds of millions of streams he never got paid for. The Tiny Entertainment fallout he couldn't shake. Why he repeated SS2 and accidentally fell into music. What it actually takes to disappear for four years and not start tweeting a GoFundMe link. And his unflinching read on where Afrobeats and Nigerian rap are right now — the missed naming opportunity, the foreign players running the industry from outside the continent, the "Olodo Uprising," and why "beef is necessary for the culture" is a lie that gets people killed. Plus: the new album Out of Sight, Out of Mind, why Odumodublvck gets rap right, and a take on J. Cole pulling out of the battle that you've not heard anywhere else. This one moves. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast WHERE TO FIND YCEE Instagram: http://instagram.com/iam_ycee TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yceeanbt Twitter: https://x.com/iam_ycee Ycee's Latest Album Out of Sight Out of Mind: onerpm.link/oosoomycee EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you s...

Seven-Figure Founder: Social Media Has Changed. Here's What's Working Now

1 hr 22 min

She built a soft life on purpose — and made it look easy. In this episode, Chi Adogu (the real Chi) breaks down the 10-year journey behind the aesthetic: how she went from $7 declined chai lattes and parental allowance to running her own hair brand, why "followers" are dead in 2026, what brands actually pay (and how PR agencies lowball you), the heartbreak that built her confidence, and the friendship lessons that nearly broke her. We get into the creator economy in Nigeria vs. America, why her agent told her to "come back" from Lagos, the Hanifa discourse, lifestyle creep, and what timeline grief looks like when you're 30, soft, and unmarried by choice. If you strip away the followers, the brand deals, the aesthetic — who's cheering when nobody's watching? — Become a Member of The Room Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Borderless investments for Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ — WHERE TO FIND CHI ADOGU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_real_chi?igsh=MWsxaWEwaGZoOHk2Zw== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_real_chi_?_r=1&_t=ZP-97HwXrFb0e7 YouTube: AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast — TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — "If your life looks soft, people assume you're shallow" 1:28 — The biggest misconception about influencers 2:58 — Are influencers still allowed to grow?...

Boris Kodjoe Opens Up About His Absent Father, Therapy & Breaking Generational Cycles

1 hr 54 min

Boris Kodjoe sits down with Eche and Chika for one of the most layered conversations we've ever had on the Afropolitan Podcast - about ownership, ancestry, Black manhood, marriage, nervous-system regulation, and what it really takes to build a life that's yours. He breaks down why he doesn't see himself as "an actor who became an investor" (he sees it as a mindset shift from consumer to owner), how a broken back led to his TheraBody investment, and how Full Circle and the Year of Return quietly created what he now calls "investment tourism" - billions in capital and a brand-new narrative for the continent. We get into the harder stuff too: his father's existential grief, the childhood pain that became self-worth issues, why "peace is expensive," the difference between meaningful suffering and modern fragility, and why Black men have to give each other permission to just be. He goes deep on his almost-21-year marriage to Nicole, why you can't enter a relationship trying to fill a void, and the one line every parent (and every diaspora kid) needs to hear: "You're the star of your own movie. Everyone else is an extra." Plus: telling authentic African stories, owning your IP, AI as the great equalizer, "we're not a minority - we're 76% of the world," and why the West doesn't get to validate our sovereignty. Become a Member of The Room: Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: The Room https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money - Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus. Hisa - Borderless investments For Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND Boris Kodjoe Instagram: https://www.in...

Africa Spends $22B on Diesel Every Year. One Man is Ending It.

1 hr 25 min

Nigeria's economy cannot be built on the back of diesel generators. It's too stressful and way too expensive. In this episode, Eche and Chika sit down with Victor Tobenna Ezenwoko, Country Head at Daystar Power (acquired by Shell in 2022), to break down the real economics of Africa's energy crisis. Africa spends $22 billion a year on diesel. Nigeria is in the global top five for diesel consumption, and unlike the US and China, ours is mostly going into power generation, not transportation. Victor walks us through the math behind energy poverty, why Nigerian businesses pay nearly 2x what American factories pay per kilowatt-hour, how Daystar built a model that slashed energy costs by 44% for industrial clients, and why the future of power in Africa has to be decentralized, a patchwork of solar, gas, and grid. We also get into the AI boom and Africa's data center problem, the EV market quietly taking off in Lagos, the BD playbook Victor used to grow from associate to Country CEO in under 8 years, what investors keep getting wrong about African energy infrastructure, and why "the future of solar" is actually now. If you're an investor, a founder, or just someone tired of generator noise, this is the episode. Become a Member of The Room: Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: The Room https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Hisa - Borderless investments For Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND Victor Tobenna Ezenwoko LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-tobenna-ezenwoko-3b660a113/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://...

$80 To His Name: How He Became Davido’s Lead Director

1 hr 16 min

JOIN THE ROOM — Our Private Member Community Weekly Sunday Signal, monthly Live Rooms, quarterly gatherings in Lagos, London & beyond. https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast Dammy Twitch has directed music videos across 30+ countries, built his career from an unpaid behind-the-scenes role on a Nigerian TV show, and the night he met Rihanna outside Selfridges  she already knew his name. In this episode, he breaks down what it actually takes to build a creative career from nothing in Lagos, why the naira collapse changed the economics of Afrobeats visuals forever, and what his debut feature film Color of My Life cost him to make. We unpack why big-budget music video culture died in Nigeria, what a 10-minute scene at a Lagos restaurant actually costs a filmmaker, and why the directors who collaborate are the ones winning. Plus — AI micro dramas, the distribution problem no one has solved, and why he's still here while everyone else japa'd. Dammy breaks down: • Why the naira collapse killed the big-budget music video era • What a 10-minute scene at a Lagos location actually costs • How he got selected out of four videographers on Davido's tour • Why he refuses to japa — and who he thinks should stay home • The night Rihanna shouted his name outside Selfridges • AI micro dramas and where Nigerian film is actually heading • The real cost of making Color of My Life and getting it into cinemas EPISODE SPONSORS VBAN — Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Risevest — Invest in US stocks, crypto, ETFs and the Nigerian market. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://risevest.com AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND DAMMY TWITCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dammytwitch Twitter/X: https://x.com/dammytwitch...

We Made Millions Selling Candles. We Were Still Broke.

1 hr 22 min

JOIN THE ROOM — Our Private Member Community Weekly Sunday Signal, monthly Live Rooms, quarterly gatherings in Lagos, London & beyond. → https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast Dennis Asamoah built Forever Mood alongside his wife Jackie Aina, turning a candle business into a full fragrance brand that sold 20,000 units in 4 hours on launch day. Six years later, he has navigated warehouse disasters, partnership breakdowns, and the brutal economics of CPG — all while operating as the behind-the-scenes CEO in one of the most visible creator-brand partnerships in the beauty space. We unpack why making millions doesn't mean you're rich, what it really takes to run a business with your spouse, and why most creators overestimate how much their followers will actually buy. EPISODE SPONSORS 💳 VBAN — Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com 📈 Hisa — Borderless investments for Africa. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION 🎨 A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. → https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN 📞 Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND DENNIS ASAMOAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisasamoah Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forvrmood Website: https://forvrmood.com/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro: The myth of having it all figured out 2:29 – The uncomfortable truth about building a CPG business 3:21 – Selling 20,000 candles in 4 hours (and freaking out) 6:04 – Why they chose candles over perfume 9:23 – Understanding the creator economy from the inside 13:13 – Do followers actually convert to customers? 15:38 – Making millions doesn't mean you're rich 18:10 – The 70%+ gross margin rule...

Chaos is Profitable: The Governor of Lagos on Why Money is Hiding in Plain Sight

23 min

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu governs Lagos — a city of over 20 million people. From banking halls to public service, his journey reflects a larger question: What does it take to govern ambition at this scale? This conversation was hosted at the National Theater in collaboration with Lens for Good — empowering creatives to transform the Nigerian narrative, one story at a time. In this episode, the Governor opens up about what the world gets wrong about Lagos, why creatives are the city's first pitch to the world, and what keeps him up at night leading Africa's most chaotic, creative, and resilient city. "You know Burna Boy, you know Wizkid, you know Davido — I tell you, there are a thousand other Burna Boys and Wizkids somewhere waiting to be discovered. And they are there in Lagos." AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND MAI ATAFO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maiatafo Atafo Brand: https://www.instagram.com/atafo__ EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: Patreon.com/AfropolitanPodcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro: What images come to mind when you think of Lagos? 1:29 – The two sides of Lagos: chaos and creativity 3:07 – The energy you can feel on every street 4:25 – The next Wizkid might be working in the same studio as you 5:27 – Governing through a burst of creativity (Wizkid concert, E1, Lagos Fashion Week) 6:35 – The E1 race: "They never believed we could put on the best" 7:57 – Breaking records is in Lagos' DNA 9:44 – What story does Lagos tell international investors? 10:02 – "Creatives open the conversatio...

I Quit Medical School to Build a Startup My Dad Disowned Me

1 hr 11 min

Eghosa Nehikhare walked away from medicine to build Multigate a treasury and trade operating system now serving enterprises across Africa. Eight years later, he's helped companies manage hundreds of bank accounts, navigated a $27M crisis that would have broken most founders, and learned every brutal lesson about building financial infrastructure on the continent. But this conversation goes far beyond fintech. We unpack why African payments still route through New York, what it really costs to build enterprise trust in emerging markets, and why most founders underestimate the compliance game until it's too late. Eghosa breaks down: • Why now is the best time for diaspora to move back: "All the components are aligned" • The pain point hiding in plain sight: enterprises manually logging into 300-400 bank accounts daily • Treasury and trade operating system explained: the iOS moment for African corporate finance • The medicine-to-tech pivot: how a food delivery startup grew from $300K to $6.5M in six months • The one-year disownment: "I don't want to see any of my properties" • Swift demystified: it's a messaging layer, not a payment infrastructure • The $27M PR crisis: "First is shock. This is not true. It's painful, it was humbling." • What saved them: documentation, governance, and transparency • Why he'd say no if he knew what he knows now: "Let me look for something easier" • Living life in parallel lanes: "You can't put all other lanes on hold" • The 5-point market entry framework: political, regulatory, legal, taxation, media • GLIPH values: Generosity, Loyalty, Integrity, Perseverance, Humility • How he chose his wife using a checklist — and she did the same • Why he never considered Japa: "I just fell in love with Nigeria" This isn't just about fintech. It's about building something that lasts in a region that tests you at every turn. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply he...

The Mistake African Parents Make in America (Why I’m Raising My Kids Differently)

1 hr 4 min

Beverly Adaeze turned African auntie impressions into a full-blown media career. From running a hair salon in Houston to landing five-figure brand deals with Princess Cruises and Capital One, she's proof that authenticity scales. She's the creator behind Mama Agnes, the character that made millions of Africans in the diaspora feel seen. This conversation goes far beyond content creation. We unpack what it actually takes to monetize a personal brand, why African creators are underpricing themselves, and how to build multiple revenue streams without burning out. Beverly breaks down: • Why she refuses to stay in the "African creator" box • The pricing learning curve and finding the right manager • How she became an MC by putting hashtags in her videos • Her first wedding: doing bridal hair AND hosting the reception • Why YouTube is the platform for long-term income • Managing creator burnout: "I also have to live life" • The stock fish story every African kid in America understands • Why she wants to move back to Lagos AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND BEVERLY ADAEZE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beverlyadaeze Twitter/X: https://x.com/beverlyadaez249 EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code: AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Hisa - Borderless investments For Africa. Use code: AFROPOLITAN: https://hisa.co/ CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: Patreon.com/AfropolitanPodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction 2:12 - The opportunity of being an African creative 3:06 - When Beverly realized she could make money from content 5:01 - Biggest brand deals: Princess Cruises & Capital One...

The Asake Myth: Why Most Artists Going Global Are Actually Going Broke

1 hr 23 min

Tobi Mohammed left a career in tech and engineering to build one of West Africa's most influential entertainment companies. With two master's degrees and early success closing billion-naira deals with the federal government, he could have stayed comfortable. Instead, he followed his passion into an industry with no rulebook. Six years later, he's co-founded The Plug, sold more tickets than any festival in West Africa, managed Grammy-nominated artists like Bella Shmurda and Odumodublvck, and built Mainland Block Party into a cultural movement that spans Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ghana, and New York. He's sold 38,000 tickets in a single December. He's worked with everyone from King Promise to Wale. And he's learned every brutal lesson the Nigerian entertainment industry has to teach. But this conversation goes far beyond events. We unpack why venues are Africa's biggest missed opportunity, what it really costs to throw a block party in Lagos, why most promoters are quietly bleeding money while chasing clout, and what it takes to build something that actually lasts in Nigerian entertainment. We also talk about ampiano artist and Afrobeats star. The Room is now open. 200 founding seats at $42/month — price locked permanently for everyone who joins now. We’re in the first 20. When it’s full, it’s full. Join at https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-inner-156114670 WHERE TO FIND TOBI MOHAMMED Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alhajipopping Twitter/X: https://x.com/alhajipopping EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-inner-156114670 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction & Patreon Announcement 0:53 The Biggest Missed Opportunity: Venues 2:22 Third Spaces & Why Nigeria Needs Them 4:42 The New H...

The Central Banker Who Rigged The System: How To Build Africa's Richest Man

1 hr 33 min

Ayobami Adekojo walked away from corporate life to dive headfirst into one of the most brutal arenas in the world: Nigerian politics. As a political strategist, polling firm founder, and policy advisor, he's worked on presidential campaigns, sat in governors' strategy rooms, and watched history get decided in hallways most people never see. But this conversation goes far beyond elections. We unpack why the Nigerian diaspora fundamentally misunderstands how political power works at home, what actually moves a voter, and why the 2027 election is already decided before most people have even tuned in. Ayobami breaks down: The biggest misconception about Nigerian politicians: "They're some of the smartest people in the country" The real mechanics of power: wards, delegates, governors, and the machine The flat rate: what every presidential candidate quietly pays delegates Why the average Nigerian voter wants something elites would never expect How social media has quietly made politicians more accountable than ever The EndSARS autopsy: the vacuum, the bad actors, the moment it slipped The 90 minutes inside the PDP primary that handed Atiku the ticket How Tinubu outplayed Osinbajo, Amaechi, and Buhari to win APC The Emefiele playbook: hubris, dollars, and why he didn't flee The 2027 prediction: "The easiest reelection in 19 years" The honest autopsy of 2023: why Peter Obi split the vote and couldn't win Why Atiku and Obi on the same ticket was the only path to beating Tinubu What the diaspora must understand before running for office back home This isn't just about Nigerian politics. It's a masterclass on how power actually moves in a country that punishes naïveté at every turn. Become a member of the Afropolitan Inner Circle. https://www.patreon.com/posts/welcome-to-inner-156114670?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link WHERE TO FIND AYOBAMI ADEBAYO Twitter/X: https://x.com/dondekojo EPISODE...

The Fashion Industry Crisis: Why Chasing the Runway Means Going Broke

3 hr 5 min

The podcast is free. The room is on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/cw/Afropolitanpodcast Mai Atafo told me something I can't unhear: "95% of luxury goods are made in China. They just put an Italian label on it." Made in Guangzhou. Blessed in Florence. Priced like a miracle. Mai could have played the same game. Source cheap. Label expensive. Collect the margin. He refused. Sixteen years ago, he walked away from a senior brand manager role at Guinness to build one of Nigeria's most recognized fashion houses. His mother called his wife: "Are you sure about this man?" She believed before the evidence existed. Today, Mai has dressed grooms across the continent, built a brand synonymous with Nigerian luxury, and learned every brutal lesson the fashion industry has to teach. He chose to manufacture in Nigeria when everyone told him he was crazy. He chose time over a house in Banana Island. This conversation goes far beyond fashion. It's about what it really costs to build something authentic in a country that fights you at every turn. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND MAI ATAFO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maiatafo Atafo Brand: https://www.instagram.com/atafo__ EPISODE SPONSORS Vban: Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: Patreon.com/AfropolitanPodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 The runway is only 1% of the fashion industry 3:32 A common myth about building a business in Nigeria 5:50 What people don't see about the fashion industry 7:46 Kaftan tailors in Abuja outearning runway designers 10:14 Why fabric quality collapsed when the dollar misb...

From Columbia Law To A Times Square Billboard: Her Scaling Blueprint

1 hr 36 min

Eni Popoola went from Harvard undergrad to Columbia Law to Big Law then walked away five months in to become a full-time content creator. But this conversation goes far beyond influencing. We unpack why the creator economy is harder than it looks, what it really takes to build boundaries as a public figure, and why Black women creators still aren't getting paid what they're worth. Eni breaks down: • The biggest misconception about being an influencer: it's not easy • The hardest part: finding separation between content and life • Why she purposely doesn't give her audience "all of her" • Being first gen corporate: "No one in my family had worked a corporate job" • The meeting that changed everything: "You have to stop doing content" • Why she quit immediately: "This is my opportunity to leave" • The $700 to $7,000 brand deal story that opened her eyes • Why Black women creators are not getting paid what they're worth • The algorithm problem: same faces, smaller pool • Immigrant guilt and reframing sacrifice for the next generation • Unlearning toxic corporate culture through coaching and therapy • Why her dating pool is smaller and why she's fine with it • Therapy as a non negotiable for public figures • America's literacy crisis: "People cannot comprehend what's happening" • The intentional TikTok strategy that grew her audience • Lagos Fashion Week vs. New York and Paris: "Influencers here are celebrities" This isn't just about content creation. It's about building a life on your own terms. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND Eni Popoola Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enigivensunday?igsh=eTJmN25ybW5mODY5 Website: https://enigivensunday.com/ EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https...

Investing In Africa Is A Different Game. Here Are The Rules

1 hr 19 min

Private equity in Africa has returned less than 10% IRR over the last decade. The target? 20%. Andrew Alli has spent 30 years figuring out why. He led infrastructure investments at the IFC, then became CEO of Africa Finance Corporation—where he secured an A-minus credit rating and led a Euro bond that was 5-6x oversubscribed. But this conversation goes far beyond finance. We unpack why private equity has underperformed across Africa, what's really blocking development, and why the diaspora's most valuable asset isn't money—it's know-how. Andrew breaks down: • Why African PE returns less than 10% IRR when firms target 20% • The 30% ownership trap: why PE firms can't turn companies around • Dutch Disease: how oil destroyed Nigeria's manufacturing base • Why 54 African countries is "way too many" • Energy and productivity: the two dimensions that drive development • 95% of AFC's troubled investments shared one flaw: governance (not corruption—culture) • China in Africa: "When Europeans visit, I get a lecture. When the Chinese visit, I get a stadium." • The diaspora's real value: know-how, not cash • John Rawls and why justice is the foundation of national unity This isn't just about investing. It's about understanding the game you're playing. Essential viewing for founders, investors, and diaspora professionals building in or with Africa. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND ANDREW ALLI Twitter: https://x.com/afalli LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andrew-alli-a5029a1 EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro...

Tech Investor: The Trillion-Dollar Market Everyone Is Afraid To Touch

1 hr 19 min

Marlon Nichols spotted the opportunity in Africa before most of Silicon Valley was paying attention. Now managing $600 million across three funds at Mac Ventures, he's built a reputation for seeing cultural shifts 18-24 months before they hit mainstream. In this conversation, we unpack how he thinks about deals, why he bets on culture as a leading indicator, and what he's learned from backing companies like Gimlet Media and Pipe. Marlon breaks down: • Why he flew to Nairobi for a board seat and how it changed everything • The cultural investing thesis: how behavior becomes business • Gimlet Media: investing in podcasts before podcasts were a thing • "You can have the biggest market, phenomenal product, and a crappy team — it's going to fail every time" • The four non-negotiables he looks for in founding teams • Solo founders: why being an "attractor" is essential • How Mac Ventures survived the ZIRP era without chasing crypto • Why energy is his biggest focus right now — and what AI has to do with it • The real difference between being a good investor and running a fund • Culture House: how a brunch turned into a global community • Skin in the game: why he left consulting and never looked back • Shackle Mobility: the Nigerian startup he wants you to know about This is a masterclass in pattern recognition, fund discipline, and building in markets others overlook. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND MARLON NICHOLS Mac Ventures: https://macventurecapital.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marloncnichols?igsh=MWRrM2hhcTYweHF4Mg== Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/macventurecap?igsh=MTNodWFpYTZ3cWFwdQ%3D%3D EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Convo - Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: ht...

Why Spotify & Apple Own Afrobeats ( And How We Lose) Audu Maikori

1 hr 54 min

Audu Maikori built Chocolate City into Africa's most enduring record label — the only one from its generation still standing and profitable after 20 years. But this conversation goes far beyond music. We unpack the intellectual property crisis quietly stripping Africans of ownership over their own culture, why Nigerian artists are generating billions of streams while losing the rights internationally, and the distribution bottleneck holding back every sector of the Nigerian economy. Audu breaks down: • Why Chocolate City survived when every other label from its era collapsed • The copyright trap: why your music isn't yours if it's not registered in the US • "We built an industry on someone else's infrastructure. We own nothing." • Linda Ikeji vs. BellaNaija: the difference between a hustle and an institution • Why hip-hop has been "trapped" for 15 years — and what Afrobeats can learn • The $22 billion catalog acquisition wave and what it means for African artists • Jay-Z vs. Diddy: the brutal lesson on community, legacy, and co-ownership • His "wilderness moment" — broke, in debt, and one prayer away from giving up • Why destabilizing Nigeria is a geopolitical project, not just a governance failure This isn't just about entertainment. It's about ownership, infrastructure, and who controls the future of African culture. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND AUDU MAIKORI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audumaikori Twitter: https://x.com/audumaikori Chocolate City: https://www.chocolatecitymusic.com EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Quill - AI meeting notes that live on your device, not in your cloud. No bots on your call, no copy-pasting transcripts. Try free → https://www.quillmeetings.com/partners/afropolitan CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Convo - Book 1:1 calls...

Why Your Tech Degree Won't Make You Rich Anymore

1 hr 36 min

This episode is sponsored by Quill. Quill is how we run every meeting — it records on your device (no bot joining the call), and then you just talk to the agent to turn the conversation into proposals, action items, tasks, whatever you need. No downloading transcripts. No pasting into ChatGPT. I used it to close a deal last month. If you're still doing the copy-paste workflow, switch. Try Quill free → https://www.quillmeetings.com/partners/afropolitan He walked away from a six-figure investment banking salary to build in Africa. His grandfather was one of the first Africans at Harvard Law in the 1960s, then was assassinated during Eritrea's civil war. His father fled as a political refugee. Now, Yacob Berhane is building the infrastructure for Africa's next generation of founders. We unpack: • Why good African startups "died on the vine" during the funding winter • The real reason African founders struggle to raise Series A • How AI will create millions of jobs in Africa • Building Quill: an agentic AI note-taker that's quietly raised $5M+ • Why taste and discernment matter more than technical skills in the AI era • The 48-month countdown to a "step function change" in AI • Why builders need to stop being silent while "noise makers" fill the void 📍 YACOB BERHANE Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/y_berhane?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Twitter:https://x.com/YacobBerhane Linkedin:https://ke.linkedin.com/in/yacob-berhane-38981541 👥 Afropolitan Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter 🎨 AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr Sponsors Sponsored by Quill — AI meeting notes that live on your device, not in your cloud. No bots on your call, no copy-pasting transcripts. Try free → https://www.quillmeetings.com/partners/afropolitan Vban - Op...

The Nollywood Crisis: Why Being a Star Means Going Broke

1 hr 43 min

🎨 AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr She lost her father at 12. Became a mother figure at 15. Got married at 18. Won Best Actress the same year—nine months pregnant on stage. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde isn't just a Nollywood legend. She's a case study in resilience, reinvention, and refusing to compromise. We unpack: • Why Nollywood still can't compete with Afrobeats globally • The 2005 industry ban and why she refused to apologize for 2 years • 30 years of marriage in the spotlight • Why she relocated to LA after COVID • The difference between Nollywood vs. Hollywood • Her take on the "dance to promote your movie" debate This isn't just about entertainment. It's about legacy over money. It's about what it really takes to last 30 years at the top. MOTHER'S LOVE - Omotola's directorial debut. Lagos Premiere: March 1st | Cinemas: March 6th 📍 WHERE TO FIND DR OMOTOLA Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/realomosexy?igsh=MTV1OWdiOWs4MzBmMA= (https://www.instagram.com/realomosexy?igsh=MTV1OWdiOWs4MzBmMA==)Twitter: https://x.com/realomosexy?s=21 EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Risevest - Dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo - Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ 🎧 LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 👥 YOUR HOSTS Eche Emole — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika Uwazie — 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 Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn...

Sarz: The Brutal Truth About Making It in Afrobeats

1 hr 31 min

"In Nigeria, I haven't received any residual income from my music. From Nigeria." Sarz, the architect behind two decades of African sound, joins us for a raw conversation about what it really takes to build a career in music from this side of the world. From producing "One Dance" to "Beat of Life" to his latest album, Sarz has shaped the sonic identity of Afrobeats—but the journey has been anything but glamorous. In this episode, he breaks down the brutal economics of being a producer in Nigeria, why "One Dance" going global actually made him feel unreachable to the Afrobeats community, and the moment he realized his destiny couldn't be tied to anyone else's decisions. We go deep on the business politics that kill collaborations, why black music globally is at a crossroads, and the personal cost of two decades of relentless ambition. This is a masterclass for anyone in the creative industry—and a wake-up call about the infrastructure gaps holding African music back. 🎵 WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS • Why Nigerian producers earn nothing from local streams while their music dominates • The politics behind why hit songs never get released • How "One Dance" changed everything—and nothing • The real reason Afrobeats artists are leaving Nigeria • Timeline grief, burnout, and reconnecting with family after years of grinding • AI in music: threat or tool? • Building the Sarz Academy to change the game for the next generation 📍 WHERE TO FIND SARZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/only1sarz/ Sarz New Album: https://sarz.lnk.to/PSAAC? 💰 EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Risevest - Dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afrop Convo - Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ 🎧 LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkS Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast 👥 YOUR HOST...

Africans vs. Black Americans: The Toxic Truth About Our Divide

1 hr 18 min

AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr We are told that the American Dream is a linear path: go to school, climb the ladder, and retire at 65. But for many, that path is becoming a hollow promise that drains your health and your soul. In an era of global connectivity, the most successful people are no longer following the old rules and they are reinventing what it means to be a professional, a mother, and a citizen of the world. Tenicka Boyd, an Emmy-nominated host and media strategist, joined us for a deep, vulnerable conversation on the "speed of life." From breastfeeding on the Obama campaign trail to becoming a top-tier digital creator, Tenicka has navigated the highest halls of power in Washington D.C. only to realize that true freedom looks very different than a title in the White House. This episode is a masterclass for anyone feeling "timeline grief", the pain of outgrowing a life you thought you wanted and a roadmap for those ready to embrace their identity as a global citizen. 🧠 WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  This conversation explores the shifting dynamics of the African Diaspora and the "whitelash" against diversity in modern America. Tenicka breaks down the historical context of Black American identity, the systemic realities of the US credit system, and why Lagos Fashion Week is currently the "soul" of the global creative economy. We dive into the controversial "Foundational Black American" discourse, the psychological cost of hyper-capitalism, and why "by-continental" living is the ultimate ultimate flex for the next generation. 📍 WHERE TO FIND TENICKA Instagram: instagram.com/tenickab?igsh=MXN1a29yNnd5a3pyNg== Threads: https://www.threads.com/@tenickab?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Risevest - Dollar-denominated investments in US...

The $1 MILLION Retirement Trap: Why Inflation Destroys Your Wealth in 5 Years

1 hr 29 min

🎨 AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr Most people believe that building wealth is about how much you save. In reality, in a volatile economy, traditional saving is often the fastest way to lose your purchasing power. We have been conditioned to trust institutions that were never designed to outpace inflation, leaving an entire generation of Africans working harder for money that buys less every year. Eke Urum Eke, the founder of Risevest, joined us to dismantle the "learned helplessness" of the African financial experience. After moving from high-level consulting to the brutal reality of the tech trenches, Eke has spent the last decade building systems that allow everyday people to bypass local currency instability. This isn't just a conversation about an app; it is a masterclass on the mechanics of trust, the reality of "Pan-African" wealth, and why the current cultural approach to inheritance is a recipe for legacy failure. 📍 WHERE TO FIND EKE & RISEVEST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rise.vest Website: https://risevest.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekeurum Sign up: click.risevest.com/gb0g/ig 🙏 EPISODE SPONSORS Vban - Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com Risevest - Dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo - Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ 🎧 LISTEN ON OTHER PLATFORMS Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 👥 YOUR HOSTS Eche Emole — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika Uwazie — 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 Twitter/X: https://x.com/afro...

THE GREAT EXIT: Why Top Engineers are DUMPING Fintech for Hard Tech Startups

1 hr 25 min

AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr Africa is frequently framed as a land of "potential," but what if the foundation of its security is fundamentally broken? In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Nwachukwu, the 22-year-old founder of Terra, who recently raised $11.75M from Silicon Valley giants like 8VC and Palantir's Joe Lonsdale. Nathan isn't just building drones — he's reframing the entire geopolitical future of the continent through Sovereign Intelligence. From surviving a near-death experience at 15 to building a multi-million dollar defense prime, Nathan breaks down why Africa must stop relying on foreign intelligence handouts, why the smartest minds are "wasting their time" on SaaS, and how first-principles thinking is the only way to spark a true African Industrial Revolution. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro: Africa's $55B security market 1:17 - Does age matter when you've raised $11.75M? 2:11 - Biggest misconception about African defense 4:50 - What is sovereign intelligence? 6:55 - Why Africans should build hardware 9:43 - Why physics matters for Africa's future 11:33 - Security as the foundation — first principles 15:05 - Fundraising: African vs. Silicon Valley investors 17:15 - Why Silicon Valley understood first 20:16 - The $11.75M round — Joe Lonsdale leads 24:01 - US retrenchment & Africa's opportunity 28:33 - What happens when infrastructure is attacked 34:15 - Why engineers shouldn't waste time on apps 37:57 - Energy, communications, food — what needs builders 41:49 - Globalization vs. sovereign capability 48:51 - The near-death experience at 15 52:05 - "I'm scared of dying a nobody" 55:45 - What kind of person thrives at Terra 1:00:04 - Nathan's goal: Industrialize Nigeria 1:03:37 - Why Terra manufactures in Africa 1:07:45 - "Biggest company or biggest failure" 1:10:35 - Closing government contracts in Africa 1:16:30 - Rapid...

The Afrobeats Legend: I Had A Premonition & Saved My Team From A Plane Crash!

1 hr 24 min

Iyanya sat down with The Afropolitan Podcast for one of the most raw, unfiltered conversations we've ever had. 17 years in the music industry. Project Fame winner. The man behind Kukere. And still here — still evolving. This episode covers longevity, reinvention, faith, fame, loss, addiction, therapy, and the real business behind building a lasting career in African music. Iyanya opens up about staying authentic, navigating superstardom, the moment Kukere almost didn't happen, financial mistakes during his peak years, and healing after losing his father, mother, and brother in two years. A masterclass on resilience, growth, and what it truly takes to survive and evolve while protecting your peace. Subscribe for more conversations documenting Black brilliance, culture, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. 🔗 Follow Iyanya IG: https://www.instagram.com/iyanya X: https://x.com/iyanya 🔗 Follow Afropolitan IG: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast X: https://x.com/afropolitan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation Web: https://www.afropolitan.io Community: https://afropolitan.io/join 🎧 Listen Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU 💼 Sponsors VBan (use code AFROPOLITAN): https://vban.com Inverroche Gin: https://www.inverroche.com Risevest: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan: https://convo.vip 🎨 AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro: Talk-singing vs. real singing 00:38 – Loss, betrayal, and rebirth 02:18 – Welcome 02:40 – Being original and authentic 03:52 – First US tour (2013) 05:17 – American vs. Nigerian fans 06:30 – Advice to younger artists on fame 07:53 – The business of music 08:24 – The importance of guidance 10:05 – Falling out and reconciling with Ubi 11:04 – Creative freedom vs. busines...

Africa Is Not “Potential: Here’s Why Investors Are Already Winning

1 hr 34 min

AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 200 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr $750,000 became $40 million in six years. That's what happens when you stop betting on Africa's "potential" — and start betting on what's already working. Ibrahim Sagna managed $37 billion at Africa Eximbank. Then he left to build Silverbacks Holdings. 10 exits since 2019. Flutterwave at 24x. Lemfi at 29x. Moov at 5.1x. His thesis? Possible → Probable → Inevitable. In this episode, we break down why Africa has been profitable for centuries, why capital has always known it, and why founders and investors are finally structuring exits that prove it. From colonial extraction to modern venture capital. From seven cars to forty thousand. From early-stage angels to billion-dollar platforms. We cover how African startups move from possible to inevitable, why distribution beats raw talent, and why storytelling is one of the most undervalued assets on the continent. For founders, operators, investors, and anyone tired of hearing that Africa is still "loading." It's not. About Ibrahim Sagna Ibrahim Sagna is Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, a private investment firm allocating capital across tech, entertainment, and sports. Since 2019, the firm has delivered 10 profitable exits. Before Silverbacks, Ibrahim spent 26 years at Africa Eximbank running the investment banking division. He also hosts the In The Valley podcast. Landmark investments include Moove — a global mobility fintech backed by Uber, operating in 29+ cities across five continents — and Wave Mobile Money, backed by Stripe. FOLLOW THE GUEST Ibrahim Sagna Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibrahimsagna?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ibrahimsagna?igsh=em56c2pzZmlreWhx Twitter -  https://x.com/ibrahimsagna?s=21&t=g8hW-h3DHs2_PEEsZXCnvw Silverbacks Ho...

Sofi (The Odditty): Being Yourself Will Cost You Everything (But It’s Worth It)

1 hr 28 min

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 bu...

Austin Avuru: We Were Taught To Leave. But Nobody Taught Us How To Build Back Home

1 hr 5 min

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 mot...

This Artist Walked Out of University… Then Built a Global Art Career From Nothing

1 hr 23 min

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 p...

The Man Behind “No Turning Back” How a Gospel Song Went VIRAL Before Release

1 hr 39 min

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: T...

TRACY NWAPA: The Money Risk That Defined Her Nightlife Business Career

1 hr 33 min

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...

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