Banana Island Living Podcasts

Sade Doherty works hard - at being a business lawyer,  family court assessor, school governor, Musical Society of Nigeria trustee, Centre for Contemporary Arts trustee, and at that most social of High Church communities, The Pink Ladies of the Cathedral Church of Christ. In this episode, we talk about:  wearing many hats  being 'se kari' or in English - strategic hard work Obama Nigerian...

'The diet starts tomorrow!' Yeah, sure.  We've all been there, said that, got the oversized tee shirt.  Olamide Balogun, the 'awakening lifestyles' guru and certified wellness coach, puts us through our paces and tells us a few home truths about those healthy choices.  We discuss: losing weight  veganism on a Nigerian diet what not to eat or drink fasting Downton Abbey (wh...

Children have a voice, they should be encouraged to use it and people should be encouraged to listen (with apologies to the Duchess of Sussex).  Tsemaye, Kwezi, Alicia and Tom from Nigeria, South Africa, France and the United Kingdom share their thoughts.  We talk about: the war in Ukraine what makes them happy what they would like for the world  the environment Movies - Encanto, Star Wars, Books,...

Special Educational Needs (SEN) has become rather a ‘thing’ but was it ever thus and we are just more aware now? What do we mean by SEN? You know that feeling when you think something is not quite right? The worry, the angst, who do you call? What do you do? Apparently, “1 in 5 of us has dyslexia” - Dyslexia Nigeria, so yes, it is a ‘thing’. In the post-Covid world, what have practitioners in the...

You get the degrees, plan for the business, find the ideal one at the right price - what could possibly go wrong?  Well, plenty as it turns out.  Tope Egoh takes us through her adventures in the education space in the UK and now in Nigeria. The highs and lows, agony and ecstasy. She tells us, knowing what she knows now, would she do it all again?  In this episode, Tope discusses resilience, passio...

This Women’s Month we demystify money, wealth creation and preservation and who better to do this than a woman who does all these and does them well. Bimpe Nkontchou, legal practitioner, family office manager, wealth advisor, art patron extraordinaire  and now fintechpreneur! In this episode, we chat about: Advising the Uber wealthy; Succession planning versus ‘Apres moi, le deluge’; Bimpe’s thoug...

‘Niyi Coker, Jr. is currently Professor & Director of the School of Theatre, Television and Film at San Diego State University in California.  Prior to which for 14 years, he was the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Chair & Distinguished Professor in African-American Studies at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis.  Despite formidable opposition, he created the first and only degree granting pr...

Educated and intrepid with the world as their oyster, the African millennial is young and restless. Fearlesss, ambitious, fiercely afro-centric, secure in their own skin and ready to try new dating options.  Kemi Afun-Ogido (or Dolly to the chosen few) is a policy analyst with the AfDB. She has her finger on the pulse of African agribusiness and worked and/or visited over 25 African countries. She...

We have discussed with artists, masters and collectors about this topic, but what does it mean to the maven of the arts who is also a chief from the Benin Kingdom, the original home of some of these looted works? Do note the use of the word ‘works’, not just ‘artworks’. Our guest, Chief Charles Uwesunyi-Edosomwan, is a mega lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has represented both sides of the...

2021 was quite the year: a roller coaster of highs and lows, peaks and troughs, agonies and nearly-there ecstasy.  In our new year episode, guests and listeners of our podcast share their reflections on 2021 and their hopes for 2022. In spite of (or perhaps because of) 2021, they look forward with optimism and positivity.  This is the tonic you didn’t know you needed. Contributors to the episode:...

For a guilt free Christmas, we give you the perfect present - a worthy edition with just the right amount of fun. Nkoyo Rapu shows what is possible and how far our dreams can go in reshaping  our communities and building a mega social enterprise. Her organization, Bethesda Child Support Agency and what is now termed ‘the Bethesda Model’ has well over 900 children over 4 schools, a Skills Acquisiti...

Femi Akinsanya - investment banker, broker, educationist and foremost art collector, is no art dilettante.  His passion for collecting transcends that plaything of the idle HNI hour, minute or even year - it began with his distinctive upbringing by a woke Yoruba grandmother ahead of her time, a public librarian.  We discuss selling a business you started from scratch, finding a buyer, succession p...

The Nigerian Central Bank Digital Currency, e-Naira, has finally launched, and Oluwaseun Odeku, Associate Director, Forensic Services, KPMG, walks us through. In this episode, we look at  What exactly is the e-Naira? Why do we need the e-Naira? Step by step process for e-Naira wallet The security/privacy concerns The future for TelCos, Banks, Fintechs and the PSB Approvals The opportunity for ForE...

The Diaspora Millennial Podcaster Episode. With now over 7,000 downloads and a million thanks to our fantastic listeners, in this episode, we look at the Nigerian podcasting landscape. The Diaspora Millennial is one demographic that has taken to podcasting with real passion. We sit down with diaspora millennial podcaster, Matilda Bakare, producer and co-host of the Africalypso podcast. Matilda and...

This week's edition features Nigerian printmaker, painter and all round maestro, Bruce Onabrakpeya. His candour, complex personality and sharp wit made for a truly intriguing conversation.  We discussed Zaria Rebels, return of stolen art, his Harmattan Workshop, his die-hard love for Nigeria; oh, and his intriguing answer to the question ‘who do you admire most?’ Yes, the maestro does have a...

Mention of the Niger Delta of Nigeria and good (okay, goodish) news in the same sentence is not a song that’s often heard.  Our guest, Dr Dara Akala who runs an NGO in the heart of the Niger Delta,  has a soothing narrative, one well worth sharing.  Dr Akala, a development economist and Executive Director of the corporate social enterprise PIND, has a plan, a plan that seems to be working and, one...

In the rather concerning landscape of the current Nigerian economy, and in spite of COVID-19(or perhaps because of), one segment of the economy seems to be doing exceptionally well - Fintech. The numbers are head turning -Flutterwave valued at $1 billion (that is $200 million more than the highest value bank in Nigeria); Paga and Andela now with a $1.5 billion valuation. Is Fintech the new oil? Bi...

In this episode, two young Nigerians, Leonard and Daniel - millenial software developer and a Gen Z photographer - share their thoughts on the Nigeria project. One optimistic, and the other, not so much! We talk about: Finding love in the digital world #ENDSARS Black Lives Matter The Commonwealth/Empire Religion Hope! Fascinating and yes, even weirdly touching. Links: Daniel's works are on Be...

Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola is THE novel of the season. Femi Babalola,  Bolu's father and diaspora dad extraordinaire, discusses the very intentional way you raise children to keep them connected with their roots and achieving at the highest level in the adopted country.  Bi-coastal living, raising diaspora children, religion, taking bold business risks in an unpredictable  Nigeria - no t...

Our bonuse episode and Season 1 wrap up with teasers for Season 2! Banana Island Living Podcast started on the 1st of April with the Crypto episode and what a ride it's been. We skip through the different episodes and reveal the most popular.   Season 2 starts on the 1st of September and here we give you heads up on what to look forward to on Banana Island Living - happier, healthier and even...

When you eat, breathe and live art and you are also an engineer, a lawyer and a stock broker. Definitions and categorisations become superfluous.  We present Prince Yemisi Shyllon. When you are arguably the biggest collector of African Art on the continent, you have a unique voice and earned an authentic platform to talk about art in Africa. Prince Shyllon has a unique and truly innovative positio...

The second in our Art series, we talk to Hannah O'Leary of Sotheby's   about the contemporary African art scene.   The explosion of the African art scene, how to start collecting, the accessibility, the investment opportunities and the influence of African art on the European artists. Fascinating, educational and, above everything else, the passion for African art shines through. Definit...

The first in our special art series.  We speak to two mega artists at the top of the contemporary Nigerian art scene. Alimi Adewale and Ayoola Gbolahan. Two artists, similar in age, similar in success but with different routes to art. We talk about how it all started, what inspires them, the pandemic and the isolation.  We laugh - a lot! We get really close and personal and, next to buying their a...

This week we speak to the hosts of Tesse Leads and Chatting With the Experts podcasts - Tesse Akpeki and Paula Okoneh.  The word 'journey' has become rather hackneyed but these two really have had 'a journey'. The peaks, the troughs, the agony and the ecstasy - loss to triumph and everything in between.   No holds barred and nothing off the table.   This was a jam session, and...

In this episode we discuss mental health in Nigeria - the myths, the realities and where/how to get help.  But how do you talk about such a heavy subject in a light hearted way? Dr. Edebi (the singing physician) educates us and - yes, it is very real. No - it isn't limited to a particular demographic.   Yes, we laugh, a lot, but always, always being respectful of the topic and the challenges....