Cafe Curiosity

We have all been feeling the pinch lately as the cost of living has gone up! Add to that the pressure of approaching midlife and feeling as though you are not saving enough for retirement or prepared for the unexpected. My guest is financial advisor Babalwa Nonkenge, who is breaking down barriers created by complex financial lingo and products through her work on Epokothweni, a Xhosa language fina...

Growing up tales of that once in a lifetime love led us to believe that our lives would be perfect once Prince Charming swept us off our feet. Swoon! Swoon! Reality is that love is not always convenient, perfectly packaged or a red carpet straight to paradise! This love is true and enduring and sees us through the toughest obstacles life throws in our path. Join us for General Kunta’s Heart for we...

Join me today for a heart warming episode as my guest Sihle Bolani shares her journey to self awareness and presence. In her book, Nah Keep Your Strength, Sihle shares intimate stories about her life through the lens of 4 generations and on the show we discover how she found a path to healing through self reflection and writing. She shares her insights on doing the work of self awareness and ultim...

Many of us have had to leave our homes in search of a better life be it within the same country or moving to lands afar. Generations are being born in foreign lands where the need to connect with their origins while fitting in is the order of the day. New identities are woven mixing the old world with the new. I am excited to share this week's story, New Daughter's of Africa, by Bridget Minamore.

Believing in your idea enough to turn it into a business is a daunting task and often calls for a link to deeper purpose. Join Ojiugo Uche, CEO & founder of Genti Media, and I as we explore her journey building a media tech company that provides audio content in African voices and languages. Her passion and belief in how our communities can be enriched through stories and indigenous languages igni...

In a world that is getting tougher everyday, we are often faced with difficult choices that lie in the grey. Add desperation to the mix and it can become soul destroying. How far would you go to get what you want or need? Would you literally sell your soul to the devil? In this episode, a heartbreaking tale where our protagonist it tempted by the promise of a life changing job - to what end? If yo...

Following Season 2's first episode 'A Daughter's Love for her Father' we invited Mojaki Rammoneng to chat to us about life, fatherhood and motorcycles. In this episode take away lessons in fatherhood from his journey as a father of two. We also delve into adventures on two wheels! Mojaki shares how he became a motorcycle enthusiast and where to start if you're curious about biking.

Join me for The Motorcycle, a story told from the perspective of a daughter who wants nothing more than for her family to be happy together, who wants her father to see her, lover and for things to be the way they used to be. She tries to understand the challenges he faces and to be there for him – will she be able to get through to him and save her family? Isabelle Baafi is an award-winning poet...

Welcome! We have been through so much the past few years and no matter how rough or thrilling the ride has been, we at Café Curiosity have been reminded that Love is all that matters! In this episode get to know more about your host Lorraine and what’s coming in season 2

This week we read a story called Urgency, written by Mark Mngomezulu. This story is set on a minibus taxi ride from Mbabane to Joburg. The taxi provides an interesting glimpse into the communities that are born on these journeys. In the midst of the conversations, our hero battles a very personal challenge - listen to find out more.

Have you ever been curious about the link between the physical and spiritual world? This week we read Drummer Boy in a World of Wise Men which explores the link between these worlds when a boy who misses his father and can only connect with him through the talking drum. This story is written by Tobi Ogundiran who writes fantasy and horror inspired by his Nigerian roots.– you can find out more abou...

This episode is part 2 of for ‘For Honour’, written by Stanley Kenani. A story that that bears witness to the challenges that arise with infertility in a marriage and the pressures that it places on a couple. If you haven't already done so check our Episode 6 for the part 1 of For Honour.

‘For Honour’, written by Stanley Kenani divulges the challenges that arise with infertility in a marriage and the pressures that it places on a couple. Stanley Onjezani Kenani is a Malawian writer of poetry and short stories. He has performed at the Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, Poetry Africa in Durban, South Africa, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Harare, Zimbabw...

Relationships face challenging times. In this episode, The Gravediggers of Mashin, a couple is trying to get back on track after a fall from from grace leads to an unorthodox job in a superstitious community with many prying eyes. Will they make it through? Nyasili Atetwe is a Kenyan-born story teller. His mediums of expression include fiction, photography and film. He currently lives in Nairobi,...

Something that is not as often discussed is the process of balding that men go through and how it might affect their self esteem or the attachment that they have to their hair. In this episode, we will be reading a story about the experience of a man who has in fact started balding. And we discuss male pattern balding after the reading. ‘Baldwin’ was written by Andrew Aidoo, a fiction writer based...

Do you have experiences, positive or negative, where people treated you differently based on how you styled your hair? In this episode, we will be reading a story about the different connotations that society attaches to different styles of hair. ‘A Woman's Glory’ was written by Kholofelo Maenetsha. Kholofelo Maenetsha, originally from Limpopo Province, lives in Pretoria. She has published three r...

What memories do you have related to your hair and its changes throughout your life? Are they good or bad? In this episode, we will be reading a story about african hair and how taking care of it is woven into our lives. ‘Hairology’ was written by Sue Nyathi. The Polygamist, her bestselling debut novel, was published in 2012. The Gold Diggers, her second, was longlisted for the Dublin Literary Awa...

What role have you filled at the different stages of your life? Have they been forced or a natural preference? In this episode, we will be reading a story about roles and adventure; l‘Passing The Bone’ by Henry Joe Sakala. Henry Joe Sakala is a Zambian actor, writer, producer and director. His works include Unmasked and he is featured in the short-story anthology Sister Wives. You can follow him o...

A podcast about experience & discovery! In season one, Café Curiosity will explore life through short stories written by African authors. The stories offer a view of life in Africa in a thought provoking yet entertaining way! After each reading a discussion of the emerging themes follows. I invite you to relax and escape into the world’s spun by these beautiful words! Join me as I share why Cafe C...