What does it truly mean to be a science leader in Africa today? Is leadership defined by publications and titles, or by the ability to shape research agendas, mentor the next generation, and translate evidence into real-world impact?

In this episode of Echoes of Evidence, hosts Lillian Mutengu and Dr. Linda Murungi (Science for Africa Foundation) sit down with Prof. Sam Kinyanjui, Head of Training and Capacity Building at the KEMRI–Wellcome Trust Programme and Director of the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL).

Together, they explore what research leadership looks like in the African context, and why it must be reimagined to meet the continent’s needs.

For more information about us and our work, please visit our website: https://scienceforafrica.foundation/

In this episode of the Echoes of Evidence podcast, co-hosts Dr Evelyn Gitau and Lillian Mutengu sit down with Prof Dixon Chibanda, psychiatrist and founder of the Friendship Bench, and Constance Mabia, a passionate mental health advocate, to unpack how we talk about and respond to mental health in Africa.
Prof Chibanda challenges conventional approaches to diagnosis, questioning the over-medicalization of human suffering. He calls for a more compassionate, community-centered model—one that values conversation, empathy, and understanding over clinical labels. Constance Mabia brings the lived experience of navigating mental health challenges in African contexts, highlighting the power of dialogue, connection, and culturally grounded care.

What would it mean for the world, and for Africa, if an HIV cure were within reach? In this episode of Echoes of Evidence, Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u, Programme Director, Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE) and also Director of Basic and Translational Science at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), joins Shally Achieng, a passionate HIV advocate with lived experience, to explore the science, hope, and humanity behind the global search for an HIV cure.

The conversation unpacks the latest scientific advances, the realities of living with HIV, and the societal barriers that continue to shape Africa’s response to the epidemic. Together, they explore: — How close the world is to finding an HIV cure — The importance of African-led research and collaboration — Why stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress — What a “functional cure” could mean for people living with HIV

In this episode of Echoes of Evidence, hosts Lillian Mutengu and Dr. Evelyn Gitau sit down with Prof. Omu Anzala, founder and first director of the KAVI Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Nairobi, to unpack the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding vaccine research and development. The conversation explores why certain misconceptions persist, how misinformation takes hold, and what it takes to separate fact from narrative in an age where falsehoods spread faster than ever. Prof. Anzala also reflects on how African communities can navigate these gray zones, how scientists respond when disagreements arise, and the strategies needed to build clarity and trust in science.

In this nascent episode, we reflect on the power of science and the legacy of colonialism in the knowledge ecosystem, and connect the modern-day scientific pursuits to the classic and traditional African scientific culture.

Joining us in this discussion is Dr Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, the Africa Managing Director at Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. 

The show is hosted by Lillian Mutengu and Dr Evelyn Gitau from the Science for Africa Foundation. For more information about us and our work, please visit our website: https://scienceforafrica.foundation/

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Welcome to Echoes of Evidence — a podcast by the Science for Africa Foundation. This podcast series shines a spotlight on health, climate, agricultural research, as well as topical and emerging issues shaping science and innovation on the continent and beyond. In each episode, we explore how African scientists are tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges—from climate resilience and public health to renewable energy and AI innovation.  
 
We’ll hear directly from the scientists leading this charge—innovators who are developing homegrown solutions, driving policy, and pushing the frontiers of knowledge in uniquely African contexts. Whether it’s epidemiologists in Ghana, climate scientists in Kenya, or bioengineers in South Africa, their stories will reveal the power of African science to transform lives, inform global discourse, and inspire the next generation.