Dear Diaspora

Welcome to this special episode of Dear Diaspora! It's bittersweet to share that this marks my final episode of the show. Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of sharing the stories of African entrepreneurs and changemakers worldwide, while also pursuing my own professional goals. I'm now making space to do more of what I love–travel, be outside, all the things. While my podcasting era has come to a close, I hope to continue to find ways to be in community with you all. Thank you for listening and being a part of this incredible experience.

Uche Ogba, CEO of ECHÜ Marketing Agency LLC was my guest for this final episode!

We spoke about his journey:

• Encountering biases as new (and Nigerian) business owner in San Antonio
• Embracing authenticity and knowing when to pivot
• Authentically building community
• Prioritizing his wellness and giving back–and how it transformed his business

Mentioned in the episode:

• Sponsor a Grow for Me farm using referral code 'dear diaspora': https://www.growforme.com/en/
• Follow @ehcumarketing on - Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Learn more about EHCU marketing: https://ehcumarketing.com
• Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nduulwakowa/
• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nduulwa/
• @deardiaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Get email updates from Dear Diaspora: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79

Welcome back! I had the pleasure of speaking with Haja Batsu, founder of Uman4Uman for this episode. Uman4Uman is a social enterprise that provides sustainable menstrual products to girls in Sierra Leone.

We dive into:

• Haja's journey building a social enterprise from the ground up
• Her experiences pitching her business to people who don't understand period poverty
• How you can support her work (links below)

Mentioned in the episode:

• Sponsor a Grow for Me farm using referral code 'dear diaspora': https://www.growforme.com/en/
• More about Uman4Uman: https://www.uman4uman.com
• Follow Uman4Uman on IG: https://www.instagram.com/uman4uman/
• Connect with Haja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haja-isatu-bah-504652106/
• Follow Dear Diaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Get email updates from Dear Diaspora: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79

Welcome to the latest episode of Dear Diaspora! I had the pleasure of speaking with Esther Armah, a creative powerhouse and author of the book Emotional Justice: A Roadmap for Racial Healing.

Tune in to hear us discuss her concept of "revolutionary Black grace," which she describes as a way to honor our unique Blackness while connecting it to a global Blackness. We dive into what it looks like in practice, how we can use it to end the "diaspora wars," and how we can all work to replace judgment with compassionate curiosity.

Oh, and listen until the end for a brief podcast/life update!

Mentioned in the episode:

• Sponsor a Grow for Me Africa farm using referral code dear diaspora: https://www.growforme.com/en/
• Register to attend the next Grow for Me Africa webinar: https://www.growforme.com/en/registration
• Buy Esther's book, Emotional Justice: A Roadmap for Racial Healing: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Justice-Roadmap-Racial-Healing/dp/1523003367/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1678412063&refinements=p_27%3AEsther+Armah&s=books&sr=1-1
• Follow Dear Diaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nduulwakowa/
• Get email updates from Dear Diaspora: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79

Discussions surrounding the "Diaspora Wars" – cross-cultural arguments among different ethnicities of African people – are often counterproductive. This week's episode, with social impact professional and digital creator Jasmin Church, aims to shift that!

Jasmin is passionate about connecting communities across the diaspora, and her Youtube channel @jazzyjetsets, focuses on her life as an expat in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Tune in to hear about:

• Her journey from Trenton, NJ to Johannesburg, SA
• How our African and Black American cultural identities have evolved over time
• Our take on the Diaspora Wars – and how extending radical grace can be a great first step towards ending them

Mentioned in the episode:

• Subscribe to Jasmin's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JazzyJetsets
• Follow Jasmin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzyjetsets/
• Follow Dear Diaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Get email updates from Dear Diaspora: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79
• More on the Diaspora Wars: https://nbcit.org/diaspora-wars/

Hey fam, thanks for tuning in – we're diving into all things Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!

My guest co-host is CJ Haamankuli, Globe Trotter, Nurse Practitioner – and one of my favorite cousins.

Tune in to hear us discuss:

• How this sequel compares to the first movie
• How each of the characters showed us there's no "right" way to grieve
• Queen Ramonda's empathetic leadership style
• How African cultures are represented in the movie
• How the movie "blends" African cultures – and whether it helps or harms people's understanding of the continent
• Why representation matters and our own experiences embracing Zambian culture

Resources:

• Follow CJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cj_haamankuli/
• Follow Dear Diaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Get email updates from Dear Diaspora: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79

Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode with daba Co-Founder and CEO Boum III Jr.! Boum is an entrepreneur driven by his passion for Africa. After working at Nasdaq and earning his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he went on to launch daba – a new application allowing everyday investors to find and invest in Africa's most promising opportunities.

Tune in to hear us discuss:

• His journey from Cameroon to the United States
• How his African identity has shaped his experiences building an Africa-focused startup
• His thoughts on why so many eyes are on the continent right now
• Three ways young Africans across the globe can be agents of prosperity – serving as an ambassador, putting your skills to work, and putting your money to work
• What daba offers to investors and why you shouldn't miss your chance to generate real returns
• What excites him the most about Africa's future

Resources mentioned:

• Get the Daba app using access code dabaEvryAfr: https://daba.page.link/SgVd
• Access the free venture investing course: send email with subject line: "Dear Diaspora - Investing Course" to [email protected] or a WhatsApp message to https://wa.me/message/CJNP3AMOIYKUA1 with message: "Dear Diaspora - Investing Course"
• Drop any questions you'd like answered on IG live: https://www.questionwave.com/q/13035
• Connect with Boum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamboum3jr/
• Follow Boum on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamboum3jr
• Follow Dear Diaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Dear Diaspora on Twitter: https://twitter.com/deardiasporapod
• Join Dear Diaspora's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79

To say that Accra, Ghana has become one of the world's most influential cultural hubs would be an understatement. This week's episode is dedicated to sharing my experiences living and working in Ghana!

Tune in to hear:

• How Ghana has positioned itself as the gateway to Africa
• My experiences working with Emerging Public Leaders Ghana
• How I handled living in one of Africa's most expensive cities
• My thoughts on whether Ghana is worth the hype
• What I love about Ghana's food scene and more!

Resources mentioned:

• Ask me a question: https://www.questionwave.com/q/11895
• Follow Dear Diaspora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Join Dear Diaspora's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79
• Dear Diaspora Twitter: https://twitter.com/deardiasporapod
• Learn more about Emerging Public Leaders: https://www.emergingpublicleaders.org

It's great to be back – thanks for tuning in to this special episode with guest Alice Mills Mai! Alice is a licensed mental health counselor, researcher, entrepreneur, and proud daughter of Ghanaian immigrants. Tune in to hear about:

• Her journey becoming a mental health professional after realizing nursing wasn't for her
• Why there's still so much stigma surrounding mental health in many African immigrant communities
• Healing practices inherent to many African cultures that we may not regard as mental health practices (when they actually are)
• Immigration being a traumatic experience and the concept of cultural homelessness
• Her advice on navigating breakups, how to know when it's time to start therapy, and more

Resources mentioned:

• Get in touch with Alice: https://centeringwholeness.com
• Email Alice: [email protected]
• Affordable counseling resources: https://openpathcollective.org
• Dear Diaspora Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/
• Join Dear Diaspora's mailing list: http://eepurl.com/gZpu79
• Dear Diaspora Twitter: https://twitter.com/deardiasporapod

I was joined by Yeve Sibanda, attorney, public speaker, and author of My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words.

Yeve is a native Zimbabwean who calls the United States her adopted home. Although she wasn't allowed to speak her indigenous languages at school in Zimbabwe — the unfortunate legacy of colonization — she's always found ways to embrace her culture and heritage.

Tune in for tips on learning, teaching and celebrating African languages, especially when based in the Diaspora!

Buy My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words: https://www.amazon.com/First-Book-Shona-Ndebele-Words/dp/1645438112/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=my+first+book+of+shona+and+ndebele+words&qid=1638159465&sr=8-2

More about Philisa Creatives: https://www.philisacreatives.com/

For this week's episode, I was joined by the lovely Mutale Sitali, founder of Likota — a Zambian furniture brand specializing in making furniture from reclaimed and recycled wood material. Their vision? Becoming a pioneer for the industry by creating furniture that is beautiful, eco-friendly, and reliable.

Mutale built her company from the ground up and launched right before the onset of the pandemic. Tune in to hear her take on what's necessary to build a thriving business in Zambia, why she chose to prioritize sustainability — plus her advice for folks in the Diaspora interested in doing business in Africa.

Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/deardiaspora

Follow Likota on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likotaa

Likota Furniture on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/likotaa/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deardiaspora/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/deardiasporapod

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://deardiasporashow.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=216e36162217911ac352ecc1b&id=d3e544b60e