Limitless Africa

Africans are known for their hustle – and the data proves it. According to research by the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Stanford University, Africa has the highest percentage of entrepreneurs among working-age adults of any continent in the world. But sadly, we’re not all Tony Elumelu or Elon Musk… We asked three guests: how can we teach Africans to be better entrepreneurs? Rebecca Enonchong  ...

As a region, Africa accounts for around 20% of US aid. In fact, development projects throughout the continent depend on this money. But some argue that there is little evidence that aid produces economic growth. Instead they say aid encourages a culture of dependency and corruption. This week on #LimitlessAfrica we ask an aid worker, an activist and an economist: Does aid create more problems than...

Across Africa, young entrepreneurs are making their dreams happen in challenging circumstances. Here three very different young Africans explain how they made their first million. Maya Horgan Famodu is an American-Nigerian venture capitalist, originally from Minnesota in the US. She has a VC firm called Ingressive Capital. Her latest fund is worth $50m. She’s invested in some of the biggest startu...

Souleymane Bachir Diagne is one of the foremost scholars of Islamic and African philosophy. Currently a professor at Columbia University in New York, he remains deeply connected to the continent and to his home country Senegal. Before moving to the US, he taught in the humanities department at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar for 20 years.  During our conversation, he gave illuminating hi...

Novuyo Rosa Tshuma is an award-winning Zimbabwean novelist who teaches at the acclaimed Iowa Writers Workshop in the US, like many literary icons before her. And she's only 36 years old.  Her debut novel House of Stone is set during the Gukahurundi massacres that took place immediately after Zimbabwean independence and remain shrouded in secrecy.  Her second novel Digging Stars also rece...

Many diaspora Africans are choosing to return to the continent. These ‘repats’ - as they’re often known - are keen to seize new opportunities. But they also return to give back - building businesses, families and fulfilling lives on the continent. In this episode, three repats tell us how and why they moved to Ghana, Cape Verde and Cote d’Ivoire. Joli Moniz left New York for Cape Verde to set up a...

Extended episode: Mmeli Hlanze and Sizo Hlophe are part of the team behind Antidote Music - an independent record label and music consultancy company based in Eswatini. In business since 2012, Antidote Music is now one of the most established labels in the country. They focus on Eswatini electronic music. Music from Nigeria and South Africa is taking over the mainstream, you can’t deny it, but wha...

Extended episode: Moses Bwayo is a filmmaker from Uganda. His documentary feature Bobi Wine: The People's President has been nominated for a 2024 Academy Award.  But first, a little on his subject, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, otherwise known as Bobi Wine. Popstar turned politician, he's the current leader of the National Unity Platform, and ran against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 pr...

My name’s Claude Grunitzky and I'm a journalist and investor. I’m also the host of Limitless Africa, the podcast that asks the questions that matter to Africa.  And exciting news: we're back! In season two, we're still having conversations with some of the most fascinating people on the continent. We're still releasing 15-minute episodes that get right to the heart of the matter with some of...

RE-RELEASE: many diaspora Africans are choosing to return to the continent. They’re keen to seize opportunities back home. Many of these returnees – known as ‘repats’ – are highly educated and skilled. But do repats’ foreign university degrees and western world CV’s give them an advantage? Or does adjusting to life back home have its own difficulties? Join host Claude Grunitzky and guests: Rebecca...

We wanted to re-release this episode as the question of term limits is ever contentious. Yoweri Museveni has run Uganda since 1986. Paul Biya has been president in Cameroon for nearly forty years. Paul Kagame could rule Rwanda till 2034 because many Rwandans voted for and continue to vote for him. Should we force presidents to leave office? We invited three guests on the podcast to help figure it...

The ‘family’ and ‘tribe’ are a traditional way of organising African societies.  But they can also be a source of conflict. Unscrupulous leaders can stoke tensions or focus resources on certain groups. In this week’s episode, Claude asks three guests from south, east and west Africa about how we can stop ethnic interests from influencing politics in Africa. Is the idea of ethnic groups at odd...

We're re-releasing this episode because we want more of you to hear it. We’re talking about billion dollar companies in Africa: unicorns. Tech people use the word ‘unicorn’ to describe start-ups with valuations of over a billion dollars. In 2020, there were over 500 unicorns worldwide. But only seven of these were African. So, what are we doing wrong? Or what we can do more right? How can we raise...

Fake news is a big problem in Africa. It can sway elections in Nigeria. Stoke up ethnic hatred in Ethiopia. Bolster business interests in South Africa. Censorship isn’t the answer as it can play into the hands of repressive regimes. So how can Africans stop the spread of false and misleading information and yet still encourage free speech? To try and figure this out, Claude is joined by three gues...

For this re-release, Claude speaks to three young Africans who explain when they realised they were not necessarily straight and when they decided to tell their parents, friends and colleagues (and in which order). Kat Kai Kol-Kes  is known for being the first public figure from Botswana to openly identify as a transgender person. She’s come out many a time – to herself, to her family and to...

Historically Africans have not been well represented in international institutions. This is a problem: these organizations are key to tackling things like climate change and Covid-19. But with a Nigerian leading the World Trade Organization and an Ethiopian heading the World Health Organization, that could be changing.  But is this happening fast enough? How can Africans make sure their voice...

We decided to rerelease this episode to make sure it gets the listenership it deserves. Andela, Jumia, Flutterwave - these are just a few of the African tech startups now worth over a billion US dollars. Foreign money is flowing in. Some people are getting rich. We ask our three contributors whether these tech startups will create significant employment on the continent.   Maya Horgan Famodu...

Africans are known for their hustle. And on a continent where youth unemployment is high, they have to hustle. For this episode Claude speaks to three young entrepreneurs - a business woman in the music industry, a fashion entrepreneur, and a founder of a tech start-up now worth over $3billion. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji who founded fintech start-up Flutterwave, now worth over $3 billion. He’s now head of...

Religion is integral to how many of us live our lives. It also plays a part in how politicians and lawmakers govern us. Is this a good thing? Or can it lead to conflict and oppression? Dr Bakary Sambe , the director of the Timbuktu Institute, researches and finds solutions for religion and security issues in the Sahel region. Dr James Wuye , a pastor from Northern Nigeria, lost his hand fighting M...

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is the continent’s premier men's basketball competition. It plans to rival the NBA in the US and to find the next generation of Giannis, Dengs and Ibakas. Host Claude Grunitzky talks to: Amadou Fall , president of the Basketball Africa League.     Flo Larkai , an ex-player, coach and now a scout with the South Sudanese national team. Usher Komugish...

From Nollywood to Youtube to arthouse festivals… Host Claude Grunitzky talks to three Africans in the film industry. What challenges and opportunities do they face? Nicole Amarteifio is the creator of the TV series An African City. She tells us how she taught herself to make films.   Kivu Ruhorahoza is a Rwandan film director who’s shown his films at festivals all over the world. He tells us...

Over 25 million people in Africa are living with HIV. And the continent accounts for almost two thirds of the global total of new HIV infections. But millions of dollars are spent fighting the illness. So what are we doing wrong? How can we rethink the fight against HIV? Claude spoke to three guests who know what they are talking about. Bisi Alimi is a Nigerian LGBT activist who recently announced...

African fashion is booming but why do we still aspire to foreign designers? Claude spoke to a designer, an investor and an entrepreneur about how to get Africans buying ‘Made in Africa’. Moses Turahirwa , the creative director behind the Rwandan high fashion brand Moshions.    Zaid Osman , an entrepreneur behind the South African streetwear brand Grade Africa. They manufacture in Africa....

Climate change is one of the most important issues the human race faces. Global warming will affect where we live, what we eat, and what we breathe. Listen to three young climate activists from around the continent who aren’t sitting back as the temperatures rise.  Khahliso Myataza is a young South African climate activist from Soweto, Johannesburg. She thinks you can't be a feminist without...

Let’s name some of the greats of African football… Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, George Weah, Yaya Touré…  But these icons are in the past. What about the future? How can we develop more great African footballers? Is it only about investment? Talent? Or do we need to change our mindset completely?  Kingsley Pungong, founder of Rainbow Sports, a sports company which owns and operates two p...