Black and Borderless

Did Africa become globally relevant because the West finally paid attention—or was the world simply late to recognize what Africa already knew? Itohan Barlow, Senior Vice President of Rolling Stone Africa, joins Black & Borderless for a conversation about culture, creativity, business and the future of Africa. From Afrobeats and fashion to royalties, storytelling and Pan-Africanism, this episo...

What does it take to build a city on an island that most of the world has never heard of? Not a development project. Not a concept. An actual city. Siaka Stevens has spent the last decade trying to answer that question. As the founder of the Sherbro Island City Project, he's navigating government negotiations, diaspora investment, sustainability planning, and a partnership with actor Idris Elb...

Nohemie Mawaka had the tech job, the California life, and a severance package on the way. She used it to move back to the Democratic Republic of Congo and start exporting honey. That's not the inspiring part. The inspiring part is everything that happened after — the failed German deals, the drought that wiped out her Kenyan suppliers, the first US shipment that sailed through tariffs because...

Meryanne Loum-Martin didn’t just build a hotel, she built a new way of experiencing place. From her early days as a lawyer in Paris to creating Jnane Tamsna in Marrakech, her journey is one of intuition, bold decisions, and cultural vision. In this episode, we explore hospitality as more than business, as storytelling, identity, and connection. We also dive into deeper conversations around diaspor...

Benin wasn’t always on the global tourism radar. But today, that’s changing. In this episode, Sinde Chekete shares how Benin is redefining its global image — from cultural storytelling to diaspora engagement and digital visibility. We explore the strategy behind attracting visitors, reconnecting Afro-descendants to their roots, and positioning Benin as a key destination in West Africa. This is a c...

Central Africa is often left out of the global conversation around Africa’s growth. But according to Loïc Mackosso, that’s not because of a lack of opportunity — it’s a narrative problem. In this episode, we speak with the founder of Aries Energies about his journey from advising foreign investors to becoming one himself, building projects in energy and mining across the region. We explore what it...

Ada Osakwe didn’t just want to discuss Africa’s food systems — she wanted to rebuild them. After a career in investment banking, the African Development Bank, and public policy, she founded Nuli Foods — a fast-casual brand rooted in locally sourced ingredients and healthier African food options. What began in Lagos is now expanding into Washington, DC. In this episode, we explore what it means to...

In this episode, Barkue Tubman-Zawolo reflects on her journey from Liberia to the U.S. and back again, her work at Essence, and her mission to bridge the continent and the diaspora through culture and commerce. She shares candid insights on economic inclusion, diaspora tensions, and why Africa’s future depends on ownership, exposure, and cross-border collaboration. Press play and follow Black &amp...

To open a new season of Black & Borderless , we’re joined by Runako Celina , a BBC investigative journalist whose work insists that Black lives are not content—they’re context. From Racism for Sale to Death in Dubai , Runako reflects on investigating injustice from within the community, the emotional cost of this work, and how she maintains humanity while confronting exploitation across border...

From Haiti to Ulta Beauty, Yve-Car Momperousse, CEO & Co-founder of Kreyol Essence, is redefining Caribbean beauty and representation. Together with Stephane Jean- Baptiste, she’s built a sustainable brand that empowers farmers, employs women, and turns Haiti’s natural resources into world-class products. She shares the highs of Shark Tank, the hurdles of being a Black woman founder, and why a...

Born in Jamaica and now based in Florida, David Mullings is reimagining what ownership looks like for the Caribbean and its diaspora. As CEO & Founder of Blue Mahoe Capital, he’s opening access to investments in real estate, energy, and private equity—proving that Caribbean wealth belongs in Caribbean hands. Press play, follow Black & Borderless, and leave a 5-star review to support diaspo...

What started as a simple dinner between friends became a movement. In this episode, Maame and Nina—co-founders of Dine Diaspora—share how they turned their love for food and culture into a global platform celebrating Black food experiences. From connecting chefs and brands to launching Black Women in Food, they’re reshaping how the world sees Black cuisine and the people behind it. Press play, fol...

Coconut waste into value Victoria Ochieng co-founded Koredo Koir to pay farmers for discarded husks and turn them into cocopeat for better crops and coir products for homes, building a circular, community-first business on Kenya’s coast. Co-Host Chris B explores the journey from student idea to real-world impact, how the team designs for farmers, fixes what doesn’t work, and plans to grow responsi...

What does it really mean to be Black in Denmark—and across the Nordics—where community is small but impact can be big? In this Black & Borderless episode, Golda Fania shares her journey from Sierra Leone to Copenhagen and how she’s helping Afro-Danish and Black Nordic communities organize, connect, and be seen. We touch on identity, belonging, and turning visibility into power—policy, partners...

From Lagos to Los Angeles, entertainment-lawyer-turned-founder Dami Kujembola breaks down how a family tragedy led him to law—and how that path sparked Amplify Africa, the media-and-experiences platform he co-founded with Timi Adeyeba to center African creatives and the global Black diaspora. Starting with welcome parties for BET Awards nominees so guests felt seen in L.A., those nights grew into...

In this episode of Black & Borderless, travel-concierge CEO Kea Simmons—raised amid South Carolina’s Gullah Geechee heritage—reveals how Traverze Culture has guided over 300 Black Americans through a 120-day relocation blueprint . From visas and real-estate tours to VIP care at Nairobi Hospital , her team fields three-to-four relocation inquiries every single day while pioneering Afro-centric...

What happens when remittances turn into a movement? In this first episode of Black and Borderless, Kate Endeley chats with Jermaine Craig, the mind behind Kwanda — a digital village pooling diaspora resources to fund bold, Black-led projects across Africa and the Caribbean. They talk growing up between cultures, the search for belonging, and how transparency and trust could reshape the way we give...