1000 African Voices

Nametso Mathlaga, President at African Woman in Leadership and Director of Matthan Jewellery Collection Nametso Matlhaga is the founder of Matthan Jewellery Collection in Botswana. Her business is passionate about making memories come true, manufacturing jewellery using precious metals like gold and silver, and precious and semi precious stones. The business started in 2010 and today has 5 employees. Her team of craftsmen transform every client’s personal design ideas into bespoke and highly individual pieces of jewellery, making every piece memorable. As a young female entrepreneur with a decade of successful experience in the jewellery manufacturing and retail business, she was selected for, and successfully completed the 2018 Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneur training programme. She is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, women empowerment, mentorship and a believer in positive thinking. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nametso-matlhaga-72484b162? Gigi Lamayne - African Rap Goddess, Philanth

Every successful event needs a great Master of Ceremonies to keep things moving according to schedule and importantly to keep audiences engaged. In Malawi, one of the most popular MCs currently is Judith Msonthi, founder of Judie Emcee, bringing her unique style and personality to enliven any event. In just two years she has lent her voice and stage presence to more than 20+ shows and events nationally and has catered to an audience of over 500+. The talented, young Malawian woman adds yet another feather to her cap, as she is an experienced media personality who anchored various television programs including “Check-In” & “Breakfast live”. Her dynamic, energetic personality, and love for the stage, will set your shows standard, A CLASS APART! Facebook- @judiemsonti Twitter- @Judde63

Tumi Morake is a South African comedian, actress, TV personality, and writer. In 2018, she became the first African woman to have her own set on Netflix. She is also known to be the first woman to host Comedy Central Presents in Africa.[5][6] Since beginning her career in smoky clubs in 2006, Tumi Morake has steadily grown into one of South Africa’s most sought after comedians, earning the title of South Africa’s First Lady of Comedy – not bad for a mother of three and wife of one. Named Free State Icon in 2011, Morake’s edgy brand of comedy has earned her a place as a headliner in comedy festivals all over South Africa. She’s bold, she’s sassy and you simply cannot ignore her. The first woman to host Comedy Central Presents on African soil, Morake has become relentless in her quest to maintain her footing as a comedy tour de force. Morake’s continental claim to fame began as the host of The Big Brother Hot Room, a comical round up of Big Brother Africa. In this episode we talk about what it

Yvonne Chaka Chaka – Singer-songwriter, humanitarian and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an internationally recognized and highly respected African singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, Global Health Advocate and Humanitarian. Dubbed the “Princess of Africa” Yvonne has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 30+ years. Born in 1965 in Soweto she released her debut album at 19 “I’m in Love with a DJ,” which sold 35 000 copies in a week and the song “Umqombothi” was featured in the opening scene of the movie Hotel Rwanda. Yvonne is the first African woman to have been awarded the Crystal Award by the WEF World Economic Forum, in Davos in 2012 recognizing her Humanitarian work. Yvonne has shared the stage with megastars such as #Bono, #AngeliqueKidjo, #AnnieLennox, #YoussouN'Dour, the classic rock band #Queen, and South Africans #JohnnyClegg, #MiriamMakeba, and #HughMasekela, to name a few. She has staged a stage with #Beyonce. In the episode we talk about her rea

This episode features Ntombenhle Khathwane, a South African entrepreneur and founder of Afrobotanics and Girl Boss SA. Ntombenhle Khathwane graduated from university in the late 1990s with a mission to rewrite the African narrative. She started as a government employee but her hopes and dreams were always bigger. She wanted to make a bigger contribution and so she ultimately started her own company. Ntombenhle grew up in the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. She wants to contribute to the creation and re-imagining of Africa and the African identity and growing an inclusive economy through creating, manufacturing and retailing African-inspired consumer brands in the beauty and household sectors. Skilled in strategy, brand building, marketing and business development. In 2012 she was in the first cohort of the Goldman Sachs-GIBS 10,000 Women Programme.She was named Destiny Magazine 40 Trailblazers in 2011. In 2014 she was accepted into the Archbishop Tutu-Oxford University Leadership Fellowship. In 2015 s

Edrisah Musuuza (Eddy Kenzo), is a Ugandan singer and music executive who is a member of Big Talent Entertainment.  He has collaborated with #FrenchMontana, #Drake, #Micasa, #Niniola and #ChrisBrown to name but a few. Eddy's type of music is a relentlessly upbeat Ugandan dancehall like Afro-beat. In short, its high energy super infectious music that makes you want to get down. In his life he has overcome tragedy including the death of his mother at his early age. He received international attention after the release of his 2014 single, "Sitya Loss" and an accompanying viral video that featured the kids of his home village Masaka. In total, he has released 4 albums, including most recently, Roots, in 2018. Kenzo has also won numerous national and international awards, including a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award in 2018, a BET Award in 2015, and multiple All Africa Music Awards. He was the first Ugandan artist to win the BET award in 2015. Eddy Kenzo has inspired very many youths out there in Uganda. In thi

Brian Thomas has served in several senior leadership roles, including Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Healthcare Executive in the Fortune 500, Healthcare and public sector spaces. He is known for delivering innovative and user-friendly solutions to the business partners and customers he serves. Prior to his executive roles, he gained experience in and recognition for dependable performance improvement, leadership, program management and solution innovations. Brian has 20 years experience in technology and healthcare. He has been featured in several publications including the Harvard Business Review, and was recently named one of the Top 100 Chief Information Technology Officers by Richtopia.  He is a regular contributor to CIO Online and the greater IDG organization. In this episode we talk about podcasting, the fourth industrial revolution and #Covid-19. You can connect with Brian on  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianethomas1/ DivergentCIO on Twitter

This episode features Danny Tong (Ph.D Candidate, Serial Entreprenuer, Pan-African Activist and Founder at InvesTong Group) and Boma Harrison (Marketing Director) Boma has a strong marketing background of +14 years of proven results across FMCG categories - Laundry, Homecare, Feminine care, Beauty and Beverages. Over the years she has worked across different markets and regions including the Middle East Africa and Europe focusing on established brands as well as launching into whitespace new brands / categories such as Safeguard, Camay and Fairy. She holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool. She is based in Lagos, Nigeria and in this episode she takes us through life in Lagos, the several countries she has visited followed by a general discussion on her views on both her country and the continent. Its a laid back conversation that you will enjoy.  Danny Tong is the Founder of InvesTong Group. He is responsible for driving Business Strategy, New Business Acquisition, Innovation and Capital Raising for I

This episode features Tom Peters, business coach, reader, student, people watcher, researcher, writer and international speaker. Tom is the recipient of the Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award. He virtually invented the modern thought leadership industry. He co-authored In Search of Excellence, which helped create the business book industry – and had a serious impact on how managers managed and how we view organizations. The book changed the way the world does business, and is often tagged as the best business book ever. His blog tompeters.com is ranked #9 among the Top 150 Management and Leadership Blogs.   In this episode, we talk about Africa, his feelings about President Trump and the process that has seen him write 18 books and as always we cover a whole lot more. You can connect with Tom on his favourite platform, Twitter - @tom_peters and for more on his bio visit his website - tompeters.com

In this episode, Tyson takes us on a journey to where it all began. From a call centre agent – to one of Africa’s comedic rising stars. Tyson’s brand of character-driven humour and sharp observations is a distinct addition to Africa’s well of talent.    His is a thrilling blend of stand-up and vocal deftness and he represented his country in Showmax's 'Funny People Africa' - a show curating the continent's rising comedy talents. Tyson speaks fluent Dutch - owing to his first job in a call centre. His subsequent background in media, research and advertising has had a profound impact on his work, which emphasizes story. In 2020, his series of online comedy skits proved a welcome dose of distinctly South African humour amid a grueling lockdown. This thrust him in the spotlight as a notable comedic voice, leading to collaborations with a wider range of artists and brands.   Tyson holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours in drama and Bachelor of Journalism from Rhodes University.   Twitter: @tysonngubeni   Insta

Trend Analyst Dion Chang helps us connect unexpected dots, as he unpacks skills of the future and the importance of Generation Z - the most pronounced age demographic on the African continent.   Dion was fashion editor at Elle Magazine before founding FluxTrends. He tags himself a global citizen who is proudly South African. The observer. Forever curious.   Twitter: @dionchang Instagram: @dionchang www.fluxtrends.com  

In this episode we speak to a multifaceted South African woman, Tidimalo Sehlako. In this era of innovation, she tells us how she balances entrepreneurship, yoga, and her acting career. Tidimalo is a journalism & marketing graduate. She made it as a top 5 finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, 2014. Instagram: Tidimalo_S Facebook: Tidimalo Sehlako Team Africa Cheerleader, Lerato Mbele tells us why she loves being on the other side of the conversation as the host of “Talking Business Africa” on BBC and shares some of the lessons she has learned from the very best of African excellence. Lerato has worked as a journalist for over two decades, starting at the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 1999. She holds a master’s in development studies with the University of London, and a bachelor's degree majoring in politics and international relations from the University of Cape Town. Twitter: @mbele_Inb @BBCWorld

This episode features Faith Makhubele, a change maker and Tobe Okele, a vibrant Data Scientist.   Faith Makhubele, Medical student,Award Winning Activist and Entrepreneur who never shies away from anything. She shares what it takes to achieve all that she has at 22 years and her mindset when tackling life challenges. She is the founder and CEO of a non profit organization (Unforgettable Smiles) aimed at empowering the lives of children through advancing social and academic change, mental health awareness and security. Twitter: @FaithMakhubele_ Instagram: Faith Makhubele Tobe Okele is an MIT Graduate. She holds a Master’s Degree and is an all round energetic soul. In a world that is getting more technological, she shares her journey to becoming a Data Scientist. In this episode we dive deep into what Artificial Intelligence means and the real impact of the Forth-Industrial-Revolution on humanity. What will be replaced, and what won’t! Instagram: Datatechcon www.datatechcon.com

This episode features Sola Amusan, an AI Leader and Philanthropist and Douglas Ogeto, Co-Founder and CEO of LudiqueWorks. Sola Amusan, an Artificial Intelligence Evangelist, is an UNLEASH Alumnus, HIVE Global Leader, the Author of Are You Branded or Stranded (2010, 2020), a global shaper of the World Economic Forum, a member of the Country Support Mechanism (CSM) of the Global Community Engagement & Resilience Fund in Nigeria and the President of the 8th Session of the African Youth and Governance Conference. He is passionate about social entrepreneurship as a key to unlocking Africa's immense potential. Twitter - Olusolamusan www.covenworks.com Douglas Ogeto is Co-Founder and CEO of LudiqueWorks, Africa's fastest growing and award winning video game publishing company, game development accelerator and dedicated game fund, committed to growing the video game development and eSports industry on the continent. They have built the largest community of game developers across 16+ African countries as well

This episode features Angad Singh and Rupesh Mittal from India.  Angad is the founder and CEO of Officialhacker.com, a firm that provides the latest information on hacking news, cyber attacks and tips and tricks to make for a safer cyber experience. He is a successful digital entrepreneur who started his blog, officialhacker.com in 2016. It has since become a leading site in the cyber, technology and blockchain worlds. He is also a motivational speaker having started his second blog, belikebillionaire.com to provide motivational stories of people that have succeeded in their fields. You can find Angad on the following channels www.officialhacker.com Twitter - @rootmalware Rupesh is the founder of Mittal Technologies and a Cyber Security Consultant. He started his foundation in order to help students find their interests and also develop skills required for a better future. Rupesh, in his role as a Cyber Security Consultant for the Police Force in India came across many crimes that involved Cyber attacks a

This episode features Celeste Ntuli and Brendon Peterson, Celeste is a Comedian and Actress on one of South Africa’s most watched soapies. Brendon is a Tech Journalist considered an expert in the Industry. In this episode, one of the funniest women in South African comedy speaks about her transformation over the years and how it changed the manner in which she delivers her material on stage, and lastly she shares the difficulties of being a woman in an otherwise male dominated industry.   Twitter: @celestentuli   Instagram: Celestentuli  Brendon Peterson is an overall Tech Industry expert, having worked for Amazon.com as part of the digital media launch team. He also speaks about his own website Reframed.co and podcast alike ReframedTech.   Podcast & Socials: https://linktr.ee/brendonp  

This episode features the one and only Vusi Thembekwayo, Business Mogul, Author, Speaker and Venture Capitalist.  Vusi is the founder of MyGrowthFund & IC Knowledge Bureau. He is a business tycoon and a renowned global business speaker. Vusi is amongst the most accomplished authors having sold over 50,000 copies of his various books. He has successfully built and transformed business in South Africa and abroad.  In this episode, Vusi reveals a secret to public speaking.  Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/vusithembekwayo/ Twitter – @VusiThembekwayo https://vusithembekwayo.com/ #vusithembekwayo   Episode Co-Producer - Bandile 'C-Moody' Lukhele - bandilelkhl5@gmail.com   If you like what we do, please click the Follow button to help us grow and continue to bring you good content.

This episode features Elisabeth Moreno, Vice President and Managing Director of HP Inc. Africa.   In her role, Elisabeth provides country leadership for South Africa and is tasked with driving profitable growth across the company's printing, personal systems and services business across the Africa region.  Having grown up in the island nation of Cape Verde with just over 500 000 people, she has definitely beaten all odds to find herself heading HP Africa. How exactly did she manage such a feat? She has previously held various senior management positions at Lenovo, Dell and Orange. Before joining HP, Elisabeth was President and General Manager of Lenovo in France. This is a rich, high energy conversation driven by Elisabeth's passion for the African continent, HP and technology in general. You can connect with Elisabeth on the following channels; linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-s-moreno Twitter - @1ElisaMoreno #hpafrica #hp 

Chris is an Emmy award-winning motion designer, director, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur. Dr. Anjali Malik is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast imaging radiologist and women’s health advocate. Chris is the founder of The Futur—an online education platform with the mission of teaching 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love. He currently serves as the chairman of the board for the SPJA, and as an advisor to Saleshood. Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/ Twitter - @theChrisDo YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/chrisdo72 Dr. Malik practices breast imaging and OB/Gyn ultrasound at Washington Radiology. Through her role on the Medical Advisory Committee, she mentors and inspires women to be in charge of their breast and ovarian health. She utilizes her social media platforms as a space for education and empowerment. In addition to her passion for women’s health and education, she is a frequent speaker on health literacy, advocacy

This episode features Ayanda Borotho, Actress, Author, MC, Speaker, MC, Entrepreneur, Mother and Wife. In the episode Ayanda talks about her 400+ page book, Unbecoming to become and the process of writing a book. We cover wide ranging topics from parenting, the death of George Floyd and the meaning thereof. She explains why she has never attended an awards ceremony even though in 2020 she was nominated for this year’s United Nations Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), Under 40, Global 100 awards. What makes Ayanda tick and what does she really care about? How is she as a parent? If you would like to scratch beneath the surface then this episode is for you. Just a warning, this episode contain 'heavy' content. Instagram - ayandaborotho #blacklivesmatter #Icantbreathe #unbecomingtobecome #Isibaya