In this instalment of African Tech Conversations, Michael Kimani talks Musa Kalenga through his somewhat unlikely personal blockchain journey—a story that begins with a laptop, $600 and repurposed writing skills and leads to the birth of the Blockchain Association of Kenya. Michael is a Kenyan blockchain enthusiast, data wrangler and entrepreneur based in Nairobi. Michael has advised numerous Africa-focused blockchain projects and is currently co-founder at airtime digital money marketplace, Fonbnk, where he spearheads growth for African markets. Editorial Disclaimer: While the Celo Community Fund supports this African Tech Conversations episode, African Tech Roundup maintains complete editorial oversight. Opinions expressed by the host, Musa Kalenga, and his guest do not necessarily reflect the views of the African Tech Roundup or the presenting sponsor, Celo Community Fund. SUPPORT US: Value our work? Then, join our Patreon Community (https://www.africantechroundup.com/patreon/) and help the African Tech Roundup platform remain single-mindedly focused on serving Africa's tech and innovation ecosystem with robust independent insight and learning content.

African Tech Roundup

ATRUC S2 EP1: You Had Me At Blockchain with Michael Kimani

This is the second episode of the African Creative Business, Today (ACBT) capsule mini-series, which explores in-trench personal and professional realities at the intersection of creativity, business, and technological change. In this podcast, Nigerian visual artist Ayanfe Olarinde talks about how her art journey emanated from personal scribbles grappling with imperfection and a quest for acceptance. In her art, Ayanfe exploits several mediums, including ink, paint, wire, and discarded objects. Her scribbles, doodles, sculptures, paintings, digital art, upcycled artworks explore a broad range of social issues and matters of self-exploration. Her work has evolved to include photography and mixed media collages. More recently, she's started leaning into the global NFT art trend, which has helped grow her already impressive international profile. Ayanfe's career highlights include being nominated for the Future Awards Prize for Arts in 2019, exhibiting solo at the 25th Bamako Encounters exhibition, being part of group exhibitions at SMO Contemporary Arts at the Wheatbaker, Retro Africa, AAF Lagos, Rele Gallery, Moeshen Art Gallery and Thoughts Pyramid, and having her work featured by Vogue, Konbini, RADR Africa, Reuters, CNN, NowThis News, Euro News, MSN among other outlets. Editorial Disclaimer: African Creative Business, Today (ACBT) is a collaboration between African Tech Roundup and Ahmed Amine Azouzi's media production imprint, Qlam. This project's inaugural four-part capsule series is kindly supported by the BMW Foundation and the Segal Family Foundation. SUPPORT US: Support African Tech Roundup's independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon ( https://www.africantechroundup.com/patreon/).

African Creative Business, Today S1 EP2: Ayanfe Olarinde - Visual Artist

This is the third and final instalment of our three-part Web3-themed UNAJUA series featuring Kenyan blockchain enthusiast, data wrangler and entrepreneur Michael Kimani. On this podcast, Michael will draw on his live industry experience to offer examples of Web3 plays in Africa worth keeping an eye on, and he'll hint at trends in the space that he's backing with his own time, effort and money. Michael is a Kenyan blockchain enthusiast, data wrangler and entrepreneur based in Nairobi. Michael has advised numerous Africa-focused blockchain projects and is currently co-founder at airtime digital money marketplace, Fonbnk, where he spearheads growth for African markets. Editorial Disclaimer: While this UNAJUA Series is kindly supported by the Celo Community Fund, African Tech Roundup maintains complete editorial oversight. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the African Tech Roundup or the presenting sponsor, Celo Community Fund.

UNAJUA S9 EP3: Noteworthy African Web3 Plays feat. Michael Kimani

On this UNAJUA podcast, Michael Kimani briefly introduces Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (commonly known as DAOs). He also shares a bit of the emerging trend of building internet businesses designed to share the commercial upside with users, explaining how internet entrepreneurs interested in building Web3 solutions would do well to lean into this dynamic. Michael is a Kenyan blockchain enthusiast, data wrangler and entrepreneur based in Nairobi. Michael has advised numerous Africa-focused blockchain projects and is currently co-founder at airtime digital money marketplace, Fonbnk, where he spearheads growth for African markets.

UNAJUA S9 EP2: What Is A DAO? feat. Michael Kimani

In this opening episode of an UNAJUA Series focused on demystifying the ‘Web3’ trend and unpacking how it is unfolding within an African context, Michael Kimani offers ‘minimum viable responses’ to pertinent crowdsourced questions. Michael is a Kenyan blockchain enthusiast, data wrangler and entrepreneur based in Nairobi. Michael has advised numerous Africa-focussed blockchain projects and is currently co-founder at airtime digital money marketplace, Fonbnk, where he spearheads growth for African markets. On this podcast, Michael tackles the question, What is Web3? by answering two related sub-questions: How has the internet experience of the everyday African evolved since they began to adopt its use in earnest in the 2010s? and How might we frame the potential impact of the Web3 trend on the continent’s digital transformation journey?

UNAJUA S9 EP1: What Is Web3? feat. Michael Kimani

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen In the third and final episode of this music industry-themed UNAJUA series featuring Yaw Asamani, Yaw takes sets out the pros and pitfalls of music streaming and outlines the potential for smaller artists to enter the orbit of some of the world's biggest musical acts. Yaw reckons that the music industry is the cornerstone of the current global 'creator economy' boom—a trend he expects to expand even further. Yaw Asamani is a music tech entrepreneur. Yaw previously founded DooWapp, an app for adding playable song lyrics to messages and posts—think musical emojis. He was also formerly MD at Airbit, a leading Marketplace for selling beats online. He has recently founded and leads Bawse, a pre-launch platform looking to empower DIY artists, creators and music executives. Click here (or on the microphone icon on the right of your screen) to leave us a 60-sec voice note with your reactions to any of the topics raised in the UNAJUA Series. (We will include some of your audio takes in future follow-up episodes.) PROMO: African Tech Roundup is partnering with Socialstack to launch a social token ($ATRU) on the Cello blockchain to drive community engagement. Listen in to today's episode to see how you could be one of the first few to receive some $ATRU social token. USEFUL RESOURCES: JOIN THE REVOLUTION: Create a Celo Account via Socialstack EARN $ATRU TOKEN: Click here to complete the form and earn your $ATRU. SUPPORT US: Support our independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon.

UNAJUA S8 EP3- Can Streaming Help David Take On Superstar- Feat. Yaw Asamani

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen The second instalment of this music tech-themed UNAJUA series featuring Yaw Asamani addresses how global streaming platforms aren't necessarily geared towards enabling African artists to cultivate sustainable livelihoods. Yaw also explains how artists might make leverage audience analytics to build and expand their reach. Yaw Asamani is a music tech entrepreneur. Yaw previously founded DooWapp, an app for adding playable song lyrics to messages and posts—think musical emojis. He was also formerly MD at Airbit, a leading Marketplace for selling beats online. He has recently founded and leads Bawse, a pre-launch platform looking to empower DIY artists, creators and music executives. Click here (or on the microphone icon on the right of your screen) to leave us a 60-sec voice note with your reactions to any of the topics raised in the UNAJUA Series. (We will include some of your audio takes in future follow-up episodes.) PROMO: African Tech Roundup is partnering with Socialstack to launch a social token ($ATRU) on the Cello blockchain to drive community engagement. Listen in to today's ep‌isode to see how you could be one of the first few to receive some $ATRU social token. USEFUL RESOURCES: JOIN THE REVOLUTION: Create a Celo Account via Socialstack EARN $ATRU TOKEN: Click here to complete the form and earn your $ATRU. SUPPORT US: Support our independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon.

UNAJUA S8E2-Are Homegrown Music Platforms Key To Profitability For African Artists-ft. Yaw Asamani

In this music tech-themed UNAJUA series, Yaw Asamani taps his live industry experience to explore how African artists are using a plethora of social and technological platforms to find their voices, build audiences and monetise their art. Listen in to learn how the streaming era has ushered in lucrative opportunities for African artists to develop and dominate niche audiences and serve loyal international fan bases. Yaw Asamani is a music tech entrepreneur. He previously founded DooWapp, an app for adding playable song lyrics to messages & posts, think musical emojis. Former Managing Director at Airbit, a leading Marketplace for selling beats online. Currently, founder at Bawse, a pre-launch platform looking to empower DIY Artists. Click here (https://telbee.io/channel/uuatbnkraty1vn-nkazpcg/index.html) to leave us a 60-sec voice note with your reactions to any of the topics raised in the UNAJUA Series. (We will include some of your audio takes in future follow-up episodes.) PROMO: African Tech Roundup is partnering with Socialstack to launch a social token ($ATRU) on the Cello blockchain to drive community engagement. Listen in to today's episode to see how you could be one of the first few to receive some $ATRU social token. JOIN THE REVOLUTION: Create a Celo Account via Socialstack(https://wallet.socialstack.co/) EARN $ATRU TOKEN: Click here to complete the form and earn your $ATRU(https://forms.gle/CE7DrkszZzLXDCA6A). SUPPORT US: Support our independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon (https://www.africantechroundup.com/patreon/).

UNAJUA S8E1-How Are African Artists Using Tech To Stand Out In A Crowded Global Field-Ft Yaw Asamani

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen Christiaan Steyn is the head of a new South African insuretech startup called MiWay Blink. In the second episode of this two-part conversation, Christiaan lets us in on developing an insuretech startup during a pandemic and building on the success of its incumbent parent company. MiWay Blink was launched in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the thick of the COVID pandemic. In this instalment, Christiaan taps into the launch of MiWay Blink and how the culture of scaling what works and ditching what doesn't has proven to be the right formula. He further expands on how to navigate the corporate challenges and drawbacks that working with established boards can have on startups. Editorial Disclaimer: MiWay Blink is the presenting sponsor of this two-part podcast conversation. African Tech Roundup maintains complete editorial oversight, and opinions expressed by the podcast host, Andile Masuku, do not necessarily reflect the views of the presenting sponsor, MiWay Blink. USEFUL RESOURCES: SUPPORT US: Support African Tech Roundup's independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon.

BONUS- Scaling What Works And Ditching What Doesnt With MiWay Blink - Feat. Christiaan Steyn

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen In the fourth and final instalment of this blockchain-themed UNAJUA series with Citi Group's Ronit Ghose, Ronit explores the philosophical basis for backing the centralisation or decentralisation of global finance. He also tackles the notion of tokenisation and how societal consensus regarding the value of money shapes commerce and culture. Ronit Ghose is the Global Head of Banking, Fintech, and Digital Assets for Citi Global Insights (Citi Group). Ronit is also the lead author of the Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions (Citi GPS) insights platform. He advises Pan-African VC, Launch Africa Ventures and talent search startup Remotexec, and sits on the Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) advisory board. Click here (or on the microphone icon on the right of your screen) to leave us a 60-sec voice note with your reactions to any of the topics raised in the UNAJUA Series. (We will include some of your audio takes in future follow-up episodes.) PROMO: African Tech Roundup is partnering with Socialstack to launch a social token ($ATRU) on the Cello blockchain to drive community engagement. Listen in to today's episode to see how you could be one of the first few to receive some $ATRU social token. USEFUL RESOURCES: JOIN THE REVOLUTION: Create a Celo Account via Socialstack EARN $ATRU TOKEN: Click here to complete the form and earn your $ATRU. SUPPORT US: Support our independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon.

UNAJUA S3EP4-Does Society Need Centralised Financial Institutions To Mediate Value-Ft.Ronit Ghose

Enjoy the first episode of the four-part mini-series African Creative Business, Today (ACBT) capsule mini-series in a slight change of pace. The ACBT series explores in-trench personal and professional realities at the intersection of creativity, business and technological change. In this podcast, self-titled "professional music enthusiast" and live music curator Christine Msibi talks about navigating the post-COVID realities within South Africa's vibrant creative industry. Christine is an arts administrator and co-founder/managing director of Jozi Unsigned; an agency positioned as an independent musical talent incubator specialising in project managing, producing, and promoting the live music experience. She is presently contracted to The Music In Africa Foundation as a project coordinator. Some of Christine's career highlights with Jozi Unsigned include curating the first two UJ Weekend of Jazz festivals (2018/2019), curating the headliners for the award-winning I Love Soweto Market (2014 to date), leading the promotion of Msaki in Joburg (2014- 2016) and engaging in a pioneering partnership with Concerts SA (2014 to date). Editorial Disclaimer: African Creative Business, Today (ACBT) is a collaboration between African Tech Roundup and Ahmed Amine Azouzi's media production imprint, Qlam. This project's inaugural four-part capsule series is kindly supported by the BMW Foundation and the Segal Family Foundation. SUPPORT US: Support African Tech Roundup's independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon.

BONUS- The Emotions And Economics Of Live Music Curation In A Post-COVID Scene Ft. Christine Msibi

Christiaan Steyn is the head of a new South African insuretech startup called MiWay Blink. In the first episode of this two-part conversation, Christiaan reflects on how the COVID pandemic has delivered growth challenges and opportunities for insurance startups and incumbents alike. MiWay Blink was launched in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the thick of the COVID pandemic. In this instalment, Christiaan offers context-setting insights about the progress of Africa's insurance industry from his South African vantage point. Christiaan also factors in on the size of Africa's insurance market opportunity and estimates how much of that market remains untapped. Editorial Disclaimer: MiWay Blink is the presenting sponsor of this two-part podcast conversation. African Tech Roundup maintains complete editorial oversight, and opinions expressed by the podcast host, Andile Masuku, do not necessarily reflect the views of the presenting sponsor, MiWay Blink. SUPPORT US: Support African Tech Roundup's independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon (https://www.africantechroundup.com/patreon/).

BONUS: Why would anyone launch a car insurance startup in a pandemic? ft. Christiaan Steyn

In this blockchain-themed UNAJUA series instalment, Citi Group's Ronit Ghose talks about how mobile telcos are eagerly peddling digital banking services— disrupting traditional financial corporations in the process. Ronit also explains how blockchain tech is poised to upend mobile payment norms, ushering in a decentralised contract dispensation. Ronit Ghose is the Global Head of Banking, Fintech, and Digital Assets for Citi Global Insights (Citi Group). Ronit is also the lead author of the Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions (Citi GPS) insights platform. He advises Pan-African VC, Launch Africa Ventures and talent search startup Remotexec, and sits on the Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) advisory board. Click here (or on the microphone icon on the right of your screen) to leave us a 60-sec voice note with your reactions to any of the topics raised in the UNAJUA Series. (We will include some of your audio takes in future follow-up episodes.) PROMO: African Tech Roundup is partnering with Socialstack to launch a social token ($ATRU) on the Cello blockchain to drive community engagement. Listen in to today's episode to see how you could be one of the first few to receive some $ATRU social token. USEFUL RESOURCES: JOIN THE REVOLUTION: Create a Celo Account via Socialstack(https://wallet.socialstack.co/) EARN $ATRU TOKEN: Click here(https://forms.gle/CE7DrkszZzLXDCA6A) to complete the form and earn your $ATRU. SUPPORT US: Support our independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon(https://www.africantechroundup.com/patreon/).

UNAJUA S7 EP3: How are mobile telcos disrupting incumbent financial institutions? ft. Ronit Ghose

UNAJUA S7 EP3 How Are Mobile Telcos Disrupting Incumbent Financial Institutions-Ft.Ronit Ghose

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen In the second episode of this digital money-themed UNAJUA series, Ronit Ghose breaks down the fundamentals of Digital Money 2.0. Listen in to hear Ronit frame terms like cryptocurrency, commercial bank money and electronic money. He also explains why the question of Whose liability is it anyway? is critical to understanding how the global financial status quo is being challenged. Ronit Ghose is the Global Head of Banking, Fintech and Digital Assets for Citi Global Insights (Citi Group). Ronit is also the lead author of the Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions (Citi GPS) insights platform. He advises Pan-African VC, Launch Africa Ventures and talent search startup Remotexec, and sits on the Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) advisory board. Click here (https://telbee.io/channel/uuatbnkraty1vn-nkazpcg/index.html) to leave us a 60-sec voice note with your reactions to any of the topics raised in the UNAJUA Series. (We will include some of your audio takes in future follow-up episodes.) PROMO: African Tech Roundup is partnering with Socialstack to launch a social token ($ATRU) on the Cello blockchain to drive community engagement. Listen in to today's episode to see how you could be one of the first few to receive some $ATRU social token. USEFUL RESOURCES: JOIN THE REVOLUTION: Create a Celo Account via Socialstack (https://wallet.socialstack.co/) EARN $ATRU TOKEN: Click here(https://forms.gle/CE7DrkszZzLXDCA6A) to complete the form and earn your $ATRU. SUPPORT US: Support our independent media-making efforts by becoming a Patreon (https://www.africantechroundup.com/patreon/).

UNAJUA S7 EP2: Digital Money 2.0 - Whose Liability Is It Anyway- Feat. Ronit Ghose

Africa-focused technology, digital and innovation…

hubhopper

African Tech Roundup

hubhopper