One 54 Podcast

Learnmore Jonasi joins the show for a powerful and hilarious conversation about resilience, identity, and finding purpose through pain. Born and raised in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe, Learnmore reflects on growing up in a small mountain village surrounded by farmland, animals, and community—a childhood rich in freedom and simplicity, even amid economic hardship. He opens up about Zimbabwe’s...

Vic Mensa joins One54 for a powerful conversation about identity, activism, and reconnecting the African diaspora. Born Victor Kwasi Mensah, Vic reflects on growing up on Chicago’s South Side and living near figures like Barack Obama and Minister Farrakhan. He opens up about race, redlining, and navigating culture as a Ghanaian-American artist. Vic also discusses launching the Black Star Lin...

Boris Kodjoe joins the show for an expansive conversation on identity, culture, and purpose. Born to a Ghanaian father and German mother, Boris opens up about growing up Black in Germany, navigating racism, learning English later in life, and the intentional work it took to build a career in Hollywood. He reflects on his deep connection to Ghana, the emotional impact of returning to Africa, and wh...

Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe joins the One54 Africa Podcast for an honest and reflective conversation about identity, heritage, and life beyond Precious . Gabourey opens up about how  Precious shaped the way the world sees her, while sharing what it was like growing up Senegalese American in Brooklyn and carrying a name deeply rooted in West African culture. She reflects on reconnect...

Tolú joins for an unfiltered conversation about identity, culture, and navigating fame as a Nigerian woman in America. Tolú opens up about her experience on Netflix, including her time on The Trust  and  Perfect Match , where she became one of the most talked-about personalities. She reflects on winning money on  The Trust , the backlash that followed, and the unexpect...

Ugo Mozie sits down for a candid conversation about identity, creativity, and his journey from growing up Igbo to becoming one of fashion’s most influential stylists. Ugo opens up about his childhood, being raised in an Igbo household, and how cultural values, discipline, and self-belief shaped the way he approaches fashion and life. He reflects on navigating two worlds — honoring his...

Award-winning actress Folake Olowofoyeku joins for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about identity, beauty, culture, and carving out space in Hollywood without compromising who you are. Folake opens up about growing up in Nigeria, moving to the United States at 18, attending boarding school, and navigating the pressure to assimilate while holding tightly to her Yoruba roots and name. She refle...

Demetria Obilor joins One54 for a raw, thoughtful, and deeply personal conversation about going viral, navigating online backlash, and standing firm in your identity. Demetria opens up about the moment her life changed overnight after a viral clip sparked intense public attention. She reflects on how quickly social media can magnify opinions, how body image became the center of a national conversa...

In this powerful episode of One54, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Godfrey sit down with Festus Ezeli for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about identity, resilience, and purpose. From picking up a basketball at 14 to becoming a first-round NBA Draft pick and NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors, Festus shares a journey that mirrors the paths of global athletes like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel E...

Super Bowl champion and former NFL standout Prince Amukamara joins for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation. From growing up Nigerian in America to playing on the biggest stages in sports, Prince opens up about identity, discipline, faith, and what really happens after the lights go off in professional football. Drafted in the first round by the New York Giants, Prince reflects on life inside...

Global viral sensation Elsa Majimbo joins Akbar and Godfrey for a powerful, hilarious, and deeply honest episode of One54. Born and raised in Kenya, Elsa opens up about her rise from making videos with a bag of chips to becoming an international star embraced by icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Steve Harvey, and Lupita Nyong’o. Elsa reflects on growing up in Nairobi, navigating colorism i...

Jimmy Akingbola has built a career that spans British theatre, Hollywood television, and global film — but the journey wasn’t easy. In this One54 Africa conversation, the Bel-Air star opens up about breaking into the U.S. industry, navigating identity, and why so many UK actors — from Daniel Kaluuya, Idris Elba, John Boyega, David Oyelowo, Damson Idris, to Cynthia Erivo — a...

Olly Sholotan — actor, musician, producer, and the breakout star who redefined Carlton Banks in Peacock’s  Bel-Air  — joins Akbar and Godfrey for a hilarious, soulful, and deeply honest conversation on One54. From Nigerian roots to Hollywood sets, Olly opens up about the journey that shaped him into one of the most compelling young creatives in entertainment today. Born in Atlanta, raised between...

Darryl Vega, Nigerian-born storyteller, creator, and rising comedic voice, joins Akbar and Godfrey for an honest, funny, and deeply personal episode of One54. From losing his mother at a young age to navigating the turbulence of immigration, identity, culture shock, and rediscovering his voice, Darryl’s journey reflects the resilience, humor, and heart found across the African diaspora. Born in La...

Ling & Lamb—viral creators with 8.5M+ followers and 3B+ views—join Akbar and Godfrey for a laugh-out-loud, culture-rich episode of One54. From palm wine and “chin-chin” debates to Lagos traffic and pronunciation games (“burger,” “squirrel,” Yoruba tones), the couple unpacks life as an intercultural family—blending Nigerian pride, American slang, and the everyday comedy that made them internet...

Emmanuel Acho, Emmy Award–winning host, New York Times bestselling author, and creator of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, joins Akbar and Godfrey for a raw and inspiring episode of One54. From NFL locker rooms to national television, Emmanuel shares how his Nigerian roots, faith, and family shaped his journey toward purpose and success. Born to Nigerian parents who immigrated t...

Uzo Aduba, the three-time Emmy Award–winning actor, joins Akbar Gbajabiamila and Godfrey Danchimah on this episode of One54. Born to Nigerian parents who lived through the Biafran War, Uzo reflects on how her mother’s courage and work ethic shaped her worldview. She opens up about growing up in Massachusetts, being one of the few Black students in her school, and the painful moment she first heard...

In this episode of One 54, hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila and Godfrey Danchimah unpack what it means to grow up African in America, mixing raw honesty with comedy and cultural pride. Godfrey recalls how his Nigerian father made him take out the trash after his first one-hour comedy special and how his dad didn’t truly believe in his career until he saw him on Comedy Central with Tommy Davidson. Godfrey...