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Afropolitan: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Afropolitan
The Afropolitan PodcastHosted by Chika Uwazie & Eche EmoleThis isn’t just a podcast. It’s a mirror to the soul of the African diaspora.Each week, co-hosts Chika & Eche sit down with founders, culture-shapers, and bold thinkers to explore the truth behind the highlights, shedding light on grief, growth, legacy, power, identity, and everything in between.You’ll hear the stories you won’t find on panels.The questions most people are too afraid to ask.The answers that stay with you long after the episode ends.From billion-dollar builders to first-gen visionaries, we go there.About Afropolitan:Afropolitan is building a digital nation for Africans and the diaspora—powered by culture, capital, and code.The podcast
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- 2 days ago2h 49m
The Real Reason Nigerian Politicians Change After Winning — Chude Jideonwo
Chude Jideonwo has worked on political campaigns as a job for years. The 2015 Buhari campaign was the one he believed in. "Even me, I drank from my own supply." After the win, one of his dearest friends called and said, "Today, I think we've created a monster." Before the campaigns and the Villa, he was a kid in a Lagos private school, flogged in front of the whole assembly because his parents couldn't pay school fees. By 15 he was working full time. "I shall not be poor. It will never happen." Chude co-founded RED with Adebola Williams, the company behind The Future Awards Africa and YNaija, and his teams ran communications for Buhari in 2015 and Nana Akufo-Addo in Ghana in 2016. He hosts #WithChude, one of Africa's most watched talk shows, and has put $500,000 of his own money into the Fourth Mainland Fund for African creators. In this episode we get into the night Goodluck Jonathan learned the 2011 election was postponed (Chude was in the room), why Peter Obi has done more interviews than every Nigerian president since Babangida combined, why Dangote's survival was never guaranteed, the $1,000 month that put #WithChude behind a paywall, and why "it's the local taste that scales." Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND CHUDE JIDEONWO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chudeity YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/chude Full #WithChude episodes: https://www.withchude.com Substack: https://withchude.substack.com JOY, INC. AND THE FOURTH MAINLAND FUND Website: https://joyinc.xyz AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 "I disliked Buhari intensely" 3:18 Reading the media for narratives at 19 5:13 Is anyone in politics telling the truth? 9:26 RED was built for content, PR paid the bills 12:52 Buhari's fourth run "pulls up in a Rolls Royce" 13:50 Free masterclass: Peter Obi's campaign 16:44 More interviews than every president since Babangida 17:24 "Peter Obi is the billboard" 23:44 The Room on Patreon 24:35 Sponsor: Zobo Money 25:20 Sponsor: Hisa 26:27 Why this election feels eerily quiet 29:49 Dangote's IPO and his legacy 32:56 The fight of Dangote's life 35:42 The note he wrote in the Transcorp Hilton penthouse 39:35 In Jonathan's sitting room when 2011 was postponed 40:46 Running the candidate's Twitter in 2015 41:55 "Most of the problems in Nigeria are stupidity" 43:32 What ambition forces you to become in Lagos 44:28 The day his dad lost his job 47:28 Flogged at assembly over school fees 49:34 What hustling since 15 cost him 53:09 Why he got bored of powerful people 57:14 Why Nigeria projected its hopes onto Buhari 1:00:10 "This one, I believed it" 1:01:37 "I think we've created a monster" 1:03:34 "I should have known better" 1:05:18 What Nigeria felt like before 2015 1:10:37 Ghana and the Akufo-Addo campaign 1:15:44 Copy and pasting the Buhari playbook 1:17:38 Why African governments ignore communication 1:20:15 Can Nigerian media survive without politics? 1:24:26 How government patronage entered the media 1:27:38 Whatever happened to Tell Magazine 1:31:33 Should Nigerian creators charge LA prices? 1:37:27 "I thought my show was going to fail" 1:39:38 $1,000 in the first month behind a paywall 1:42:50 Why waiting on brands costs creators power 1:45:43 How the Fourth Mainland Fund started 1:54:41 He pitched Netflix on podcasts years ago 1:57:44 "The spirit of almost there" 2:05:03 "Stop trying to tell African stories to the world" 2:07:40 Every time he followed the data, he failed 2:11:05 "It's the local taste that scales" 2:18:01 "Capital has a point of view" 2:20:50 Study Tunde Ednut and Instablog 2:26:51 Why he won't make another Diezani documentary 2:30:05 The lesson that cost him the most 2:33:35 26 years of partnership with Adebola Williams 2:37:20 Rapid fire, presented by Glenmorangie 2:41:03 What's gotten better with time 2:43:23 What legacy means to him 2:46:13 Who should be in this chair next
- 1 weeks ago1h 10m
The Dark Truth About Podcasting Nobody Wants To Talk About — Les Alfred
Eight years. A chart-topping podcast. A deal with one of the biggest podcast networks in America. And Les Alfred still asks herself what it was all for. Her words: "I've worked so hard and I've sacrificed so much and it didn't get me what I thought it would." She expected more money and a bigger platform by now. When Chika asked if being a Black woman had anything to do with it, she answered in one word: "Probably." Les started Balanced Black Girl in 2018 while still working a corporate job, recording in her bedroom in Seattle. It grew into a chart-topping, NAACP Image Award-nominated show, signed with Dear Media in 2023, and was rebranded last year as She's So Lucky. In this episode we get into the Monday thought that turned into a Dear Media offer by Thursday, why she calls naming her brand after balance a mistake, the $2,500 check that made her an angel investor, the three wishes her mom kept from first grade, the most expensive lesson she's learned, and what to look for in year three when the work is working but the money isn't moving. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND LES ALFRED Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesalfred SHE'S SO LUCKY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shessoluckypod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shessoluckypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shessoluckypod Newsletter: https://shessolucky.kit.com/bestcase AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 "What was it all for?" 2:12 Before we start 2:28 The biggest myth about building a podcast business 3:23 How she lets guests actually talk 4:56 The only good reason to start a podcast 6:03 Why asking your audience for money feels awkward 7:59 When does a Black woman podcaster get the big deal? 9:17 Every way a podcast makes money 10:50 Why she fought video for years 12:58 How she grew an audio-only show 14:40 How she uses AI 15:05 A Monday thought, a Thursday email from Dear Media 16:36 What joining a network changed 17:25 Behind the scenes with Chika and Eche 18:05 The Room: Afropolitan's private membership 18:56 Sponsor: Zobo Money 19:41 Sponsor: Hisa 20:48 Growing up Black in America, explained for Africans 23:54 Her Nigerian best friend 25:07 The 2008 crash that ended her journalism dream 26:17 Falling asleep at a corporate finance job 27:16 The wellness blog she started at 24 28:29 Why old-school journalists struggle with new media 31:09 From Balanced Black Girl to She's So Lucky 33:08 How her audience took the rebrand 34:20 How to create your own luck 35:28 Reinventing at 50: Amy DuBois Barnett's story 37:35 What Oprah taught her at Cannes Lions 39:53 Her quieter season 40:19 "It didn't get me what I thought it would" 41:41 Does being a Black woman have anything to do with it? 43:03 "Grifters are winning" 44:05 The three wishes her mom kept from first grade 45:41 Grading herself on the five types of wealth 47:53 How a broke social media manager got into angel investing 52:22 Her first angel check was $2,500 53:15 What an SPV is and how to get into one 55:21 "My mistake was naming it balance" 56:39 Year three and the money isn't moving 57:15 Signs your podcast is actually working 58:16 The most expensive lesson she's learned 58:58 Media personality vs content creator 1:01:11 Rapid fire 1:02:42 "Money has to move" 1:03:01 Is a Birkin an investment? 1:03:32 The side of her the internet never sees 1:05:30 "People only relate to losers" 1:07:41 Who should be in this chair next 1:08:46 The pitches she ignores 1:10:20 Her dream guest
- 2 weeks ago1h 20m
Nigerian Musician Reveals Why He Couldn’t Leave America — Mannywellz
At 16, Mannywellz went to get his learner's permit. His mom sat him down and told him he couldn't. He didn't have papers. A few years later the college bills came in at $20,000 to $50,000 and there was no way to pay them. So he told his family to put his younger sister through school instead. He would sing. Mannywellz (Emmanuel Ajomale) moved from Nigeria to Maryland at 9, taught himself to produce on Fruity Loops, and built a sound that sits between Afrobeats, R&B, soul and gospel. He made "Peace" with Tems before most of the world knew her name, has records with Wale, toured with Jidenna, and is one of the DACA artists on the Grammy-winning album American Dreamers. He's fully independent, and his catalog pays his bills. In this episode we get into what one independent song really costs (from $2,500 to $30,000), paying producers in ownership when you can't pay in cash, why "nothing is usually as organic as it seems," quitting a bank job over a record deal that didn't exist, how "Peace" with Tems came together, getting dropped by his distributor right before his biggest run, and what therapy told him about carrying too much. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND MANNYWELLZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannywellz X/Twitter: https://x.com/Mannywellz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MannywellzTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mannywellzz Website: https://mannywellz.com All links: https://www.fvr.fan/mannywellz AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 "I found out I didn't have papers when I was 16" 1:51 The biggest misconception about going independent 3:40 "I don't hate deals. I just hate unfair deals" 4:43 Born in Nigeria, raised in Maryland by a gospel songwriter 5:57 Asa, Ryan Leslie and teaching himself to make beats 7:18 Fusing Lagos and America before it was a lane 9:16 What independence actually costs 10:10 The DC couple who taught him publishing and masters 11:47 Why viral moments fizzle without infrastructure 13:45 The real budget to get one song off the ground 15:41 When producers charged $100,000 a beat 16:05 Mixing, from $50 to $5,000 a track 17:13 Pay in ownership when you can't pay in cash 18:21 The No I.D. and Brent Faiyaz story 19:29 A friend's first $600 publishing check 20:19 Videos, stylists and a $5,000 creative director quote 23:56 Photo shoots and usage rights 25:10 What can $5,000 of marketing really buy? 25:43 Dating the algorithm 26:33 "Nothing is usually as organic as it seems" 26:56 Follow Eche and Chika on Snapchat 27:36 The Room on Patreon 28:28 Sponsor: Zobo Money 29:13 Sponsor: Hisa 30:20 Pink Sweat$ and the team behind "Honesty" 34:54 Losing his voice in the middle of a tour 36:17 Finding out at 16, and choosing not to hide 38:47 Giving his college shot to his sister 39:22 Fans in London and Lagos he couldn't fly to see 40:23 Four days at Ledo Pizza, four hours at DKNY 42:45 Why he couldn't keep a job past six months 43:45 Quitting the bank over a record deal that didn't exist 44:32 The pandemic taught him what money is 44:57 How "Peace" with Tems came together 49:18 What it feels like to have a hit 49:46 "I have the hit. It just hasn't been received" 52:38 Wasn't the spotlight a risk? 54:44 When a border officer asked him to sing 55:43 Why he passed on Substack 57:43 Small Chops, the starter before the album 58:59 Back in Lagos after 18 years 1:00:17 Too American for Nigeria, too Nigerian for America? 1:04:02 Why Lagos is his top streaming city 1:05:40 The lesson that cost him the most 1:07:45 How his parents took him leaving school 1:09:30 Buying a house with his mom 1:10:43 The question he wishes people asked 1:13:03 Rapid fire 1:17:09 What therapy told him 1:18:48 Learning to rest 1:19:44 Who should be in this chair next
- 3 weeks ago1h 14m
Banker-Turned-Afrobeats Star Exposes the Dark Side of Fame — Mayorkun
Mayorkun was two months from being homeless when Mama dropped. The first check from that song went straight to rent. A year earlier he was in a bank's marketing department, opening accounts. He posted a short piano cover only because his phone was out of storage and he planned to delete it. Davido saw it and sent a DM: send me your number. Then two weeks of silence. The message that changed his life landed on WhatsApp as he walked back to his seat after leading praise and worship in church: pack your load and come. Ten years later, Mayorkun is the Mayor of Lagos. Albums including The Mayor of Lagos and Back in Office, hits from Eleko and Mama to Of Lagos and Betty Butter, and B4 B4 with Davido and FOLA on Davido's 2026 album Oriadé. In this episode we get into the lawyer Davido paid for so Mayorkun wouldn't sign his deal blind, why blowing up is "light work" compared to staying, the 2 years he stopped writing clever lyrics because it felt like no one was listening, why he says most streaming numbers are doctored, the bank that later paid him more for one show than he'd have earned there in 5 years, and the 18 hours he lasted in London before wanting to come home. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND MAYORKUN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammayorkun X/Twitter: https://x.com/Mayorkun Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/mayorkunn Website: https://www.mayorkun.com AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 "I was two months to be homeless" 1:41 The biggest myth about staying relevant 3:08 "I'm not cosplaying any madness for clicks" 3:49 Why he never plans a song before the studio 5:48 The girl who heard his song 30 times before release 6:36 Eleko did 1 million views in 7 days. The party didn't know it 8:04 Staying is harder than blowing up 8:56 Is Afrobeats going through a weird time? 11:57 Giving away songs that didn't sound like him anymore 13:33 The hits he wrote for others and won't name 14:19 The most expensive part of his career 16:56 Davido made him get a lawyer and paid for it 17:46 Long-term business with long-term people 20:59 Join The Room on Patreon 21:50 Sponsor: Zobo Money 22:35 Sponsor: Hisa 23:42 Learning about riders the hard way 25:58 What it costs a new artist to get a chance now 27:17 A million eyes and the low phase he climbed out of 28:45 The 2 years he stopped writing clever lyrics 30:52 PR budgets that could shoot 5 videos 32:22 Standing on his own after Davido 34:22 Two months from homeless when Mama dropped 36:01 Why he hid his mum's identity at university 37:28 Leaving the bank: "Can't you do it part-time?" 39:32 The video he almost deleted to free up storage 40:20 Davido's DM at his boss's desk 41:57 The WhatsApp message after praise and worship 43:59 The day the bank paid him to perform 45:48 Of Lagos: insulted overnight, number one by morning 46:37 Would Mayorkun ever japa? 49:29 2020: five hits in five different lanes 53:14 "You can't be mysterious" anymore 54:31 Why he prefers the pre-streaming days 55:32 The hood test for a real number one song 56:11 The Snapchat money he was late to 57:49 Making B4 B4 at 1 a.m. 1:00:41 "Nobody knows the hits" 1:03:21 Touring the UK and US vs performing at home 1:06:36 Rapid fire 1:08:59 The version of him still at the bank 1:09:44 What to ask before signing to a big label 1:10:17 Fame is the most overrated part of success 1:12:30 Who should be in this chair next 1:13:05 The Sony deal
- Oct 7, 20262h 2m
Building Wealth in Nigeria Is Not What You Think It Is — Bankhead
He had 4 hours to empty a beach club with 5 swimming pools. The bulldozers were already working down the shore. He puts the loss at over ₦2 billion, and says compensation didn't cover 2% of it. Ten years earlier, Uber's launch lead walked into his club and asked for 3,000 cars. There were no cars. Just an app on a Lenovo laptop. "I can make you t-shirts. I can make you face caps. I didn't think about equity." Adewunmi Adebesin, better known as Bankhead, has spent 21 years in hospitality and entertainment. He was running Rehab at 20, turned Sunday into a party day with Grill at the Pent, and built Truth Beach Club. Now he's building FanVault, a subscription platform that pays African creators in their own currencies. In this episode we get into the hostesses who made ₦10 million in 2 months reselling his wristbands, the ₦60,000 weekly yam bill for 9 tubers, why he runs nightlife like a cartel, the day he passed on signing Davido, and why he thinks a ₦200 subscription beats a million views. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND BANKHEAD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatbankheadboy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adebesin-adewunmi-92299875/ FANVAULT Website: https://fanvault.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Four hours to move out 2:25 The biggest myth about opening a club 3:20 Who nightlife is really built for 4:13 The creator economy: $3B now, $17B by 2030 5:26 "Creativity is unlimited in Africa. Monetization is a problem." 5:58 Why he calls it modern day slavery 6:57 The ₦200 subscription math 8:02 Do Nigerians really not pay for content? 12:38 Why Twitch and OnlyFans can't take naira 14:16 Why are we watching Tesla ads? 14:59 Pay in shillings, get paid in naira 16:37 The Room on Patreon 17:28 Sponsor: Zobo Money 18:16 Sponsor: Hisa 19:43 Running Nigeria's biggest club at 20 21:34 The only job he ever had (4 weeks) 22:55 Booking Dotstar with no money to pay him 25:22 Passing on Davido 26:58 Before Lagos partied on Sundays 27:47 Fill an empty rooftop, take 20% 29:12 What Gen Z changed about nightlife 31:44 Why strict rules built the best clubs 32:31 Run the club like a cartel 33:50 Name 40 ways to steal from this business 34:36 The hostesses who made ₦10M in 2 months 39:03 Where the stolen money was hiding 41:44 Threatened at knifepoint for catching thieves 44:09 ₦60,000 of yam for 9 tubers 45:47 How kitchens recycle oil with baking powder 47:04 The coastal road comes for Landmark 47:56 The building that wasn't marked 49:06 The phone call that changed everything 50:10 "We lost over 2B" 50:50 The weeks he didn't pick up his phone 53:46 When connections stop working 55:25 Why he still smiles on the coastal road 57:09 Can you build generational wealth here? 58:26 The concession playbook 59:21 Why Ilashe beach houses won't last 1:03:23 "I started Uber in this country" 1:04:15 "I need 3,000 cars" 1:06:00 The 10% of Uber Nigeria he never asked for 1:08:52 Dashboard money 1:11:27 Why club money hits a ceiling 1:12:01 800 women and mocktails 1:14:28 Why Nollywood legends end up crowdfunding 1:17:18 Is Pella bigger than Kai Cenat in Africa? 1:20:10 Davido's ₦20M Twitch problem 1:21:33 The Cardi B content model 1:24:21 Pornhub vs OnlyFans: the $7.6B lesson 1:27:40 Will your audience follow you off YouTube? 1:31:13 The Onitsha marketer model 1:32:29 ₦22M in one hour 1:34:19 Revenue splits built into every post 1:37:02 Asleep by 9pm after 21 years 1:43:50 Rapid fire 1:44:46 The $20K tip from a man who wanted tea 1:45:44 His most expensive mistake 1:48:39 The debtor who sent ₦50M by mistake 1:49:45 A blacklist for club debtors 1:54:13 Who should be in this chair next 1:57:07 What Gege left on the table
- Sep 30, 20261h 35m
Nigeria's Banking Problem Is Not What You Think It Is - Olu Akanmu
40 million people have a government ID and no bank account. Olu Akanmu's fix: lock the regulators, the banks and the fintechs in one room and give them 3 months to go and find them. During the cashless crunch, a bank that needed more server capacity had to write a board paper, get approval, source dollars, import the server, clear it through customs and install it. 3 to 4 months. OPay could look at capacity at 9pm, see 70%, and add 40% by morning. Traders in Balogun started telling customers to get OPay so they could be paid. Olu was President and Co-CEO of OPay Nigeria from 2021 to 2023. Before that he was the third Nigerian hired for MTN's commercial launch, ran retail banking at Bank PHB and FCMB, and was CMO at Airtel. He started out as a pharmacist at Glaxo. Today he's academic director of the Lagos Business School Tech-Leap Initiative. In this episode we get into the POS machine that costs 5% of a bank branch, why MTN sent its South African team home one month after launch, Airtel's 3G towers in places with no smartphones, the ₦10 million he'd put in a dollar bond at 30, and why digital payments grew from 22% to 56% while access to credit went from 2% to 6%. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND OLU AKANMU LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olu-akanmu-88280a/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/OluAkanmu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oluakanmu/ LAGOS BUSINESS SCHOOL TECH-LEAP INITIATIVE Website: https://www.lbs.edu.ng/initiatives/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lbs_techleap/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LBSTech-LeapInitiative AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 40 million people with an ID and no bank account 2:50 The biggest myth about scaling in Africa 3:48 The managers behind the famous founders 6:44 Two founders in: who do you hire next? 8:45 The 21,000 agent ceiling OPay blew past 10:12 How business school teaches you to exclude half the market 12:03 A POS machine is 5% of the cost of a branch 13:44 Selling mobile to a country with 0.4 lines per 100 people 16:48 When 4 out of 5 Nigerians wanted to be on MTN 19:43 Influencer marketing is mercenary marketing 21:33 The Room on Patreon 23:04 Sponsor: Zobo Money 23:49 Sponsor: Hisa 24:58 What winners in telecoms, banking and fintech all do 27:35 Big Brother influencers and the wrong customer 28:38 "We're in the era of Indomie marketing" 30:48 From Glaxo pharmacist to banker 32:25 The evening Bank PHB came for a telco guy 35:00 "Give me two weeks": Googling retail banking 37:10 What foreign companies get wrong about Nigeria 38:05 Airtel's 3G towers in places with no smartphones 40:34 MTN sent the South Africans home a month after launch 42:32 Why Chinese managers show up in Balogun market 44:09 The cashless policy and OPay's 6x growth 46:05 Board papers, customs and a 4 month wait for a server 47:46 Adding 40% capacity overnight 49:42 Eche's two-minute OPay account test 52:46 Redesigning Nigeria's payments stack from scratch 57:28 The banking lobby vs the telco route 59:24 Lock them in a room for 3 months 1:01:29 Is Nigeria hard, or does it punish ignorance? 1:04:25 3 things to know before building wealth in Nigeria 1:06:23 30 years old with ₦10 million: what he'd do 1:08:05 Omoluwabi and the price of a good name 1:11:49 Compounding, excellence and peace of mind 1:14:21 The maths teacher who became a professor 1:16:03 Nigerian tech and the printing press 1:18:48 Rapid fire: beans, telecoms and "too late" 1:22:59 What the second seat learns that founders miss 1:25:01 Why big banks can't build fintechs 1:29:22 Payments grew. Credit didn't. 1:31:08 What credit does for a trader in the market 1:32:56 Who should be in this chair next 1:34:51 Would he go into politics?
- Sep 23, 20261h 56m
The Dark Side of Being Afrobeats’ Most Wanted Director — TG Omori
For six months he lay in a hospital bed while the internet decided he had fallen off. "He doesn't shoot no more." "Nobody rocks with him anymore." "He has outpriced himself out of the market." He was fighting for his life. The first kidney came from his brother. After a seven-hour surgery, the doctors came back with the news: no flow, his body wouldn't take it, and it had to come out. Before they wheeled him back into theatre he posted online and said what he believed was his last prayer. "God, let your will be done." TG Omori is the Headies-winning director behind some of the defining videos of modern Afrobeats, from the Marlian era with Naira Marley to Asake's run of Terminator, Bandana and Organise. He started out making whole videos on ₦2 million budgets. Today a single video can run past $100,000. In this episode we get into why a director can take a big budget and still go home with nothing, the year he and Asake worked like "two people in one body" with no treatments and no revisions, why he dropped his public fight for 10% of music video streams, what dialysis really costs in Nigeria (about ₦31 million a year), the "pull me on" texts from friends still in the hood, and why every day is a good day for greatness. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND TG OMORI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boy_director X/Twitter: https://x.com/boy_director Website: https://tgomori.com AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 "I said my last prayer" 1:52 The biggest myth about music video directors 2:52 Why directors go home with nothing 4:22 Why a $100,000 video pays more in Lagos than LA 5:59 The hidden cost of shooting in Lagos 6:52 Area boys at 3 a.m. on a private set 10:44 The video that made him feel he'd arrived 12:58 "It was a cult": first taste of real fame 14:25 Organise and the poetry of Parajanov 15:04 The backlash he got for shooting to the emotion 16:57 "I want to create madness" 19:00 Let directors have a system 21:34 When fans started following the director 22:25 He was supposed to be an actor 24:19 No new videos in 3 years, and the love stayed 26:17 The Room on Patreon 27:06 Sponsor: Zobo Money 27:51 Sponsor: Hisa 29:47 Why artists leave the director who made them 33:46 Why stars stop jumping for the camera 35:35 "I had the best of Asake's years" 37:43 The Asake run, video after video 38:36 "Two people in one body" 42:52 The first cut that went straight to YouTube 44:54 The video where he couldn't read Asake anymore 46:28 When artists outgrow the people who got them out 48:20 Nothing is permanent. Build your own ecosystem 51:40 The chapter of his life he couldn't direct 54:47 The diagnosis 56:33 "You don't have insurance. Go back to Nigeria" 57:43 In hospital while people said he fell off 59:09 His brother's kidney 59:47 "My body is not accepting it" 1:01:47 Why he couldn't call his mum 1:02:47 A second transplant 1:03:36 200,000 messages and a deactivated Instagram 1:08:57 Shoot every video like it's your last 1:10:20 What dialysis really costs in Nigeria 1:12:01 A $2.5 million transplant insurance wouldn't cover 1:14:22 His dad's ₦50K salary 1:18:47 The business of music videos for young directors 1:22:58 "When you're in demand, they'll pay" 1:26:03 The lesson that cost him the most 1:28:06 "Every day is a good day for greatness" 1:30:48 Why he fought for 10% of video streams 1:33:24 Why he dropped the royalty fight 1:36:02 Before your body sends you the bill 1:38:22 Rapid fire 1:39:05 The people Afrobeats doesn't credit enough 1:41:07 The Asake song he wishes he shot 1:42:49 Survivor's guilt 1:44:42 He didn't know directing existed until 16 1:45:57 "Put you on to my pain?" 1:48:03 Who should be in this chair next
- Sep 16, 20261h 6m
The Dark Side Of Being A Female Afrobeats Artist Nobody Talks About - Fave
A major label signed her, handed her enough money to go buy a car, and then let her music sit. So she asked to leave. Less than a month after she got out, "Intentions" took off and it hasn't slowed down since. Fave doesn't dance around why she walked. "What I want as an artist from my label is the money to market my music," she says. "I don't think they truly understand how things work here in Africa." Two years into a deal with Atlantic, she decided she would rather bet on herself than keep fighting to be somebody's priority. She started as a law student posting one-minute freestyles to Twitter. Within 24 hours the internet couldn't look away. Since then she's been named Rookie of the Year, tapped as an Apple Music Africa Rising act and a Spotify EQUAL Africa ambassador, and pulled onto tracks by some of the biggest names in the game. This is the artist behind Baby Riddim, Kante and Intentions. In this episode we get into the double standard female artists face across Africa, the "Afrobeats Queen" label and why crowning one woman for 200 million people makes no sense, rebelling against a strict Pentecostal home to chase music, getting stranded at a Kenyan airport by a promoter who cancelled the flights home, why she left Atlantic, and how Kante with Davido actually came together. Become a Member of The Room (Afropolitan Private Membership) Join our private community for deeper insights and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast EPISODE SPONSORS Zobo Money — Zobo is a money transfer app built for Africans in the diaspora. It lets you send money from the US, UK, and Europe to countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and more. https://www.zobo.money/afropolitan BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get a $10 bonus when you sign up, complete your KYC, and send $50 or more to Africa. Hisa — Hisa is an all-investments platform that lets you invest in Nigerian stocks, US stocks and ETFs from one app. https://invite.hisa.co/7fkf/AFROPOLITAN BONUS OFFER: Use code AFROPOLITAN and get your first two trades commission-free. CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ WHERE TO FIND FAVE Music: https://onerpm.link/RNBling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faveszn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@favesavage X/Twitter: https://x.com/faveszn AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Afropolitanpodcast TIMESTAMPS 0:00 "It's hard to manage a female artist" 0:23 The law student who went viral in 24 hours 2:08 Subscribe to the Afropolitan family 2:36 The difficulty of a male-dominated industry 3:00 "We're held to very different standards" 3:45 Judged by everything but the music 4:16 Why female artists give more on stage 5:06 Sexual advances just to get in the room 5:21 The labels that won't sign women 6:33 Wanting to put other women on 7:18 How streaming changed who gets to blow 7:47 Grouped together, never seen as individuals 8:31 Tiwa Savage vs Ayra Starr makes no sense 9:00 Too scared to headline a show at home 9:52 "Afrobeats Queen? One woman for 200 million?" 10:57 Why the comments still keep her up 12:24 A strict home and the case for rebellion 13:42 The talent her parents wouldn't let her nurture 15:31 The viral video before the song existed 16:40 A text from Olamide and a run to Lagos 17:43 Follow Chika and Eche on Snapchat 18:23 The Room: join the Afropolitan Patreon 19:14 Sponsor: Zobo Money 20:02 Sponsor: Hissa 21:06 "Wage war against your parents" 22:01 Studying law and why she couldn't be a lawyer 22:48 Baby Riddim was too big to ignore 23:31 Building a team you can actually trust 25:32 "It's a jungle, especially in Lagos" 27:00 Did law school help the business of music 30:43 Where "Dutchie girl" came from 32:00 Rebelling against the stylist template 33:49 Why she keeps getting compared to Tems 36:15 Men, women, and thumbnails that perform 37:45 Leaving Atlantic Records 38:24 "Money to ball vs money to market" 39:53 What Don Jazzy spent on Calm Down 40:52 Independent, then Intentions exploded 41:10 Is independence actually worth it 43:00 The Kenyan promoter who stranded her team 46:26 The artist's side of leaving a label 48:00 "I was very depressed at my label" 50:08 Kante with Davido: how it came together 52:55 The European tour and reaching the diaspora 54:00 Does music travel organically 56:03 Rapid fire begins 56:33 Studio at 2am, the night crawler 57:02 Dating apps or meeting organically 58:45 Why she's building on Snapchat 1:00:08 Favorite Nigerian food and city 1:01:49 Why artists are leaving Nigeria 1:03:11 The first time she hit the stage 1:05:10 Who should be in this chair next
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About Afropolitan
The Afropolitan PodcastHosted by Chika Uwazie & Eche EmoleThis isn’t just a podcast. It’s a mirror to the soul of the African diaspora.Each week, co-hosts Chika & Eche sit down with founders, culture-shapers, and bold thinkers to explore the truth behind the highlights, shedding light on grief, growth, legacy, power, identity, and everything in between.You’ll hear the stories you won’t find on panels.The questions most people are too afraid to ask.The answers that stay with you long after the episode ends.From billion-dollar builders to first-gen visionaries, we go there.About Afropolitan:Afropolitan is building a digital nation for Africans and the diaspora—powered by culture, capital, and code.The podcast
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