The NDINI Podcast

This week’s delightful quickfire segment guest is none other than the “Princess of Zouk,” the award-winning Angolan songbird, Nsoki.

“I can find inspiration almost everywhere.” – Nsoki One of Nsoki’s most notable hit songs is “Africa Unite;” a collaboration single with a blend of electronic, house and African rhythms that speaks about music, peace, harmony, and unity between all Africans. Then in 2018, Nsoki teamed up with Rayvanny to sing “Africa Sunrise,” a song about the struggles and joys of living in Africa.

Back in episode 36, we jumped on a quick interview with Nsoki just before a performance in Canada. The sensational artist talked about her roots and what inspires her to pursue music. Nsoki even shares some of the challenges that come with being an international superstar and a mother.

But you know what else is truly remarkable about her? Her mellow and very down-to-earth presence. Who says Nsoki can’t be a trailblazing African woman and soul-soothing songbird at the same time, right?!

Now that you know a little bit about her, it’s the perfect time to catch her quickfire round!

Quick answers to quick questions like, what’s her favorite time of day and why? her favorite thing to eat? oh! and what is her favorite book? All this and more, so don’t miss it!

IN THIS EPISODE: - The 3 words that describe Nsoki - The first person that comes to her mind when she hears the word “successful” - Nsoki’s favorite book - What gift does she love to give, as well as the gift she loves to receive - What is Nsoki’s favorite time of day and why - The 2 people she’d like to have dinner with and why - What her favorite food is - and so much more!

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This week, we feature Sandra Chuma's quick-fire round with one of Africa's best female athletes - Kirsty Coventry.

"Staying true and honest to yourself takes sacrifice." - Kirsty Coventry Back in episode 34, we learned that Kirsty first learned how to swim at just 18 months old! Then at 9-years old, she told her parents that she would join the Olympics and win the gold. Oh, if she only knew how true this was!

In 2000, she went on to compete in her first Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Stepping on the world stage had allowed her to see that her dream of winning a gold medal was possible. By 2004, she had won her first Olympic gold medal in what she describes as her most memorable competition. Her epic win marked the beginning of her incredibly inspiring journey as Africa's most decorated Olympic athlete.

She has also established several programs and spearheaded projects. In 2015, Kirsty and her husband, Tyrone Seward, had founded the Kirsty Coventry Academy. It is a non-profit that provides swimming lessons to children and adults alike. As a humanitarian, the academy they had built is definitely more than just a swim school. Their programs aim to save lives (learning how to swim is potentially life-saving), empower individuals, and uplift communities.

Kirsty also currently serves as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in Zimbabwe since September 2018.

Now, let's jump in head first to a quick-fire round we had recorded right before she competed in the Rio Olympics - which turned out to be her last Olympic games. What's her favorite song? What about her worst habit? Oh! What is her favorite food? So many questions, so little time. Don't miss this lighthearted segment!

You can watch Kirsty's full intgerview episode here: http://www.ndini.com/podcasts/034/

IN THIS EPISODE:

- What Kirsty's favorite song is - Her favorite ice cream flavor - Which one does she prefer: sunrise OR sunset? - What's something Kirsty wished she had more of - What her worst habit is - Her favorite school subject - What her favorite meal is - And so much more!

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In this week's NDINI quick fire round, we have the trailblazing African CEO & creative designer of BOUSWARI - Diarra Bousso Niang.

It actually took us several attempts to get her to agree to do an interview for NDINI. Our conversation was totally worth the wait because Diarra was such a gracious guest. (That and of course, having this opportunity to do a quickfire round!)

Back in episode 31, Diarra Bousso Niang shared her inspiration and struggles as a budding entrepreneur. She opened up about some of the best life lessons she had learned throughout the years and then some.

"Tell a story and tell it well." - Diarra Bousso Niang Now, the words "Africa" and "luxury" don't often get used in the same sentence, mainly because of how the media depicts it in two words: war and disease.

But you know as well as we do that there's MUCH MUCH MORE to Africa than that - and our guest sure believes so too!

Diarra owns a growing African luxury brand, Bouswari. And to pay tribute to her African roots, she used a contraction between her middle name -- Bousso, and Bassari -- referring to the Bassari people living in West Africa.

Her brand works closely with African artisans in Senegal and they specialize in producing luxury handmade leather and suede handbags. Diarra's mission to assume the role as a storyteller through their collections not only encourages creativity to bloom in her home country but also celebrates African culture and heritage.

Join us to learn more about the woman behind Bouswari. What she loves about Senegal, what she wishes she had more of, and what's her "I am..." Tune in or watch the video to find out!

IN THIS EPISODE: - Diarra describes herself in 3 words - Her favorite book (hint: it's a French book!) - What she loves about her home country - Senegal - What's her favorite meal - Diarra's worst habit - What she wished she had more of - Where to find Diarra and read more about her brand - Diarra declares her "I am..." - And much more!

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Hello! I just wanted to stop in and wish you a very, very happy new year. I also wanted to say thank you!

Thank you so much for all of your support, all of your love, all of your likes in 2018.

When I started this platform a year ago, I had no idea what I was getting into. I had no idea whether anybody was interested in the stories that I wanted to share. I had no idea if any of the women would be interested in telling their stories on this platform.

What has happened in 2018 has been truly phenomenal and my heart is filled with so much gratitude.

You have embraced this platform, you have written to me, you have liked and you have shared - and I am so incredibly grateful.

I am so incredibly grateful to have the opportunity and the privilege, quite frankly, of sharing these stories from phenomenal women. Phenomenal African women who are in the world doing all kinds of incredible things. Phenomenal women who are helping to tell a very different story about what it means to be African and particularly, what it means to be African women.

And I just wanted to take you down memory lane. I wanted to reminisce and remember some of the highlights of our episodes in 2018.

Join me,

Sandra

IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 002 | Anjali Nayar: We all have the power to effect change. Episode 007 | Gugu Nkabinde: The power of believing in your ideas Episode 011 | #BringBackOurGirls - The forgotten story of the Chibok Girls Episode 012 | Mpumi Nobiva: You are more than your circumstances. Episode 016 | Rungano Nyoni: You can achieve anything! There is no reason for you not to. Episode 017 | Farai Simoyi: Doubting yourself - you've already killed your dream before you've even begun. Episode 018 | Hawa Essuman: We have power. We have will that we could use to great effect. Episode 020 | Abbesi Akhamie: You have to love yourself and who you are, and your heritage. Episode 022 | Lucia Bakulumpagi-Wamala: If you're not willing to be embarrassed, you're not willing to be great. Episode 024 | Catherine Addai: I am a believer in the reality of dreams. Episode 028 | Dr. Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty: The biggest thing I want to is to really show people what is possible. Episode 031 | Diarra Bousso Niang: You are never ready, so just start! Episode 034 | Kirsty Coventry: You have to be your own cheerleader. Success to you is not necessarily success to other people. Episode 036 | Nsoki: As an artist, I can use this platform to promote peace. Episode 037 | Zahara: It's knowing who you are, and what you were born for. Episode 038 | Yemi Alade: Anything you do, put in your best. Episode 039 | Dr. Nothabo Ncube: Turning pain into purpose Episode 040 | Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr: Seize Your Own Power. Episode 041 | Sindy Zemura-Bernard: Don't be afraid because fear cripples us.

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For this week's quickfire highlight, we have the distinct pleasure to get up close and personal with multi-awarded international and space lawyer, Dr. Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty.

Dr. Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty is currently an assistant professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society with a courtesy appointment at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, USA. She is a fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) based in Waterloo, Ontario Canada where she focuses on environmental governance. She's also a member of the advisory board to various groups and organizations!

Simply put, Dr. Timiebi is a brilliant and resilient African woman with many different pursuits and interests fueled with unbelievable vision and passion. But do you know what it is that really makes us adore her even more? It's how she remains down-to-earth despite having all these amazing opportunities and achievements.

So, how does she do it? How can an African woman fearlessly stand up and take on a profession dominated by white men?

In episode 28, Timiebi shares that aside from having a truly supportive family, her mother had given her the best life advice. She has this quote written down, "Fear is a habit." She said that by seeing her fear as a habit she was able to work on changing her pattern, which eventually led to her becoming less and less fearful.

"You need different perspectives to solve global issues, you need the African woman at the table." - Dr. Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty

Now, Dr. Timiebi knows that there's so much to do when it comes to creating a level playing field for developing countries, but this doesn't change her dream to see innovation spur from socially conscious and inclusive ways. What she wants is innovation that doesn't harm people in the long run. Innovation that inspires the future generation and builds relations, not barriers.

Now it's time to get into our quick-fire questions and uncover what goes on in the mind of one of the few African women in the space industry. Join us as we get to know her as she reveals her thoughts and personal struggles. What's something she wished she had more of? What is that one question she wished more people would ask her?

Real questions get real answers, don't miss this episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The 3 words that Dr. Timiebi describes herself with
• The first person that comes to mind upon hearing the word 'successful'
• What her current favorite book is
• Who are the 2 people she'd like to have dinner with and why
• What's her favorite meal or thing to eat (Hint: Indian food)
• Where her favorite place is and why
• What's something she wishes she had more of
• The one question she wishes people would ask her more often
• And much much more!

In this week's NDINI quick fire segment, we have one of Africa's hottest new fashion designers - Kaela Kay's CEO and Creative Director, Catherine Addai.

There's really nothing quite as extraordinary as finding one's true passion, telling one's story, and empowering others to do the same. Which is why it is always a great delight to bring front and center some of Africa's most amazing women.

But beyond all the successes and the struggles, we are all human at our core. This is why these quick fires segments are so special! It is an opportunity for us to know our guest even more -- what brings them joy, the best advice they've ever been given, and even what their worst habit is. It's like seeing their colorful personalities through a looking glass.

Speaking of colorful, you will love today's quickfire guest highlight!

With her love for bold prints and colors, Catherine Addai obviously isn't someone who would sit idly on the sidelines. She has managed to effortlessly pique people's interest with her wit, charm, and unique sense of style -- something that shines through every Kaela Kay dress ever created which makes it an equally good conversation starter.

But like all epic tales, Catherine's journey had its fair share of detours before ultimately getting to her destination.

Back in episode 24, we learned what inspired her to become the entrepreneur and fashion diva that she is now. Her inspiration wasn't anything glamorous, it was something most of us can relate to - frustration.

So, what happened? In a nutshell, Catherine needed a dress for an event but her seamstress couldn't deliver on time. Why? Because she wasn't a priority. So she did what any sensible person would do - she made one herself using the sewing machine her mother had given her.

Then came the day of the event! She wore her first hand-sewn dress. After receiving a considerable amount of double-takes (and a good deal of 'oohs' and 'ahhs'), it dawned onto her that she might be onto something. It took her a few years to refine that 'something' into what is now Kaela Kay and become its full-time creative director.

But did you know that her regular day job at the time wasn't even remotely connected with the fashion industry? She had a career in the health sector, worked on her designs and business on the side, AND was raising a family. How did she even juggle all those roles? Well, she's just as surprised as we are!

"You don't have to show a lot to be sexy. Sometimes being covered up can be sexy, if the cut is right!" - Catherine Addai

Kayla Kay isn't your typical designer brand. These are clothes that encompass Catherine's creativity and African heritage. It's an ever-evolving clothing line for women who want to be fashionable yet formidable - these are creations with a compelling story.

And now that you know the story behind the business, it's time to know even more about our lovely guest!

Here's another NDINI quick fire round to liven up the holidays and deliver your weekly dose of awesome.

Enjoy!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Catherine describes herself in 3 words
• The first person that comes to mind when she hears the word 'successful'
• Her favorite book
• What's the best gift she's ever received
• What she loves the most about the place she lives in
• What she can't get through the day without
• Her favorite time of day
• The two people she'd like to have dinner with and why
• Catherine as 'The Lover of Claw Nails and Fried Plantain"
• And so much more!

IN THIS WEEK’S QUICKFIRE Q&A, WE HAVE SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL ALLY, A WOMAN OF POWER, MOTHER, AND ENTREPRENEUR, LUCIA BAKULUMPAGI-WAMALA.

If you watched Lucia’s NDINI episode yet, we had the pleasure of listening to her story a few months ago. But here’s a quick recap of what transpired in that interview to get you caught up with her story!

For starters, Lucia shared how her relentlessness when it comes to learning has helped her become who she is now. You see, before becoming the founder and CEO of Bakulu Power, she fancied a different career.

Lucia wanted to work and be active in the luxury brand management industry. Why? It was a career that she felt fit her personality perfectly.

The only problem is, she didn’t have the money to support her studies. So in an attempt to chase after her dream, she decided to visit her relatives in Uganda to ask for help to cover her school fees. But that was before she had given birth to her daughter, Naomi.

Suffice to say, she had gone on a completely different career path. Perhaps it was the universe changing her course to prepare her for something that matched her energy!

Lucia is an, “an outlier, a young woman, a local developer, a refugee, an entrepreneur, a mother.” She has delivered a speech for the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue and had been part of Forbes Magazine’s ’30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa’ (2017).

The journey has been long, the stakes were high, but that didn’t stop Lucia Bakulumpagi-Wamala from becoming a woman of power. Quite literally because they provide power for rural communities in Uganda, Africa.

Now that you know a little bit more about her backstory, it’s time to get up close and personal with Lucia. For this quickfire round, we’ll finally know her answers to 20 fun and insightful questions. Does she or doesn’t she bake (a lot)? Who would she go on a dinner date with? So many questions, so little time – there’s no time to waste.

Let the quickfire Q&A commence!

IN THIS EPISODE:

- What are 3 words that perfectly describe Lucia - Who’s the first person that comes to her mind when she hears the word ‘successful’ - What her all-time favorite book is - What’s she like as a gift-giver - What is the best gift Lucia received - Her favorite thing to eat (hint: it’s round and flat) - If she could pick anyone to have dinner with, who would they be and why - Plus a lot more!

Check out Lucia's full interview episode at: http://www.ndini.com/podcasts/022/

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If you enjoyed last week's interview, then you're going to love this quick-fire round with Farai Simoyi!

Farai Simoyi is an award-winning designer who embraced her entrepreneurial spirit. She has worked with Beyonce's 'House of Dereon,' Rocawear, Nicki Minaj, and Rachel Roy. But that wasn't where her heart and purpose were, she wanted to leave a legacy.

Driven by her passion to give back, Farai went on to promote opportunities for her fellow African creatives. She has three ventures: her eponymous label - Farai, The Narativ, TNT Concept Store, and Bloom.

Farai's dedication to her cause and her craft is awe-inspiring, but you have yet to see her bubbly wit and humor. Don't miss this rare glimpse into this amazing artist's thoughts and obsessions in this fun quick-fire segment - hint: lasagna and Oprah.

IN THIS EPISODE:

- What are the 3 words that best describe Farai - The first person she thinks of when she hears the word 'successful' - Her favourite book - Her favourite gift to give - The two people Farai wants to have dinner with and why - Farai's favourite time of day and meal

- What's something that she can't go a day without - What's her life's theme song - A question that she wished more people asked her and each other - What Farai's 'I AM' statement is... - And so much more!

In line with the upcoming holiday festivities, we're excited to share our new lighthearted yet insightful content!

Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing NDINI's special segment: Quick-Fire Q&A. Don't miss this rare opportunity to get to know our NDINI alumna on a more intimate level.

This week, we have esteemed guest Gugu Nkabinde answer Sandra's 20 quick-fire questions! From something personal like Gugu's "I AM" statement to something surprising like her breakfast choices, this episode proves that trailblazers have fun too!

"Don't give up, remind yourself to continue seeing the positives, and remind others that there is hope." - Jacqueline Villeneuve

What does it take to be the change you want to see in the world? How can one person change the fate of many and leave a legacy for others to follow? Well, to accomplishany of these, one must start with the most basic of human capacities - LOVE. Jacqueline Villeneuve is the Founder and Director of Operations at Zawadi la Tumaini Hope Homes.  She has dedicated her life to support, educate, and empower young African women and orphan children. Her journey began when she first flew to Kenya as a volunteer with Free the Childrenwhen she was 15 years old. She was there with 26 other youth to build a one-classroom schoolhouse.

That trip was all it took for her to realize what she wanted to do in the future. After graduating high school, she then proceeded to work at a coffee shop to earn enough to go back to Africa. She started ZLT at 17and opened the children's home by 19.

She named the children's home 'Zawadi la Tumaini', which translates to 'Gift of Hope.' She wanted to give vulnerable orphan children the hope of a new beginning - a safe haven.

Unlike larger NGOs, ZLT doesn't measure their organization's success by the number of children they support.  Their focus lies in providing quality care and education for their children. Jacqueline and her team invest their time and attention to help the children cope and heal from past trauma. They currently have 25 children in their care.

But running a children's home comes with its challenges - from sleepless nights to the overwhelming surge of emotions that comes with raising 20+ children. Jacqueline also always worries that they may not receive sufficient donations and funding to support the children.  But she says that what keeps her going is all the good they've done so far.

 

To help make the home more self-sustaining Jacqueline created an ethical fashion brand called 'Olive & Annie'.  The brand was named after 2 of the children at ZLT.  Olive & Annie products are 100% made by Kenyan artisans and female designers. 

 

In addition to funding the children's home, their products support campaigns and organizations focused on women's rights, child protection, and ending sexual violence. They've even collaborated with Mpumi Nobivato create the 'Amandla' necklace to support Mpumi's Share Your Story Africacampaign. 

 

Despite Jacqueline and her team's dedication, most of their funding still comes from donations. Please visit ZLTHope.Orgto find out how you can help Jacqueline and her team make a difference in a child's life.  

 

In 2017 Jacqueline also founded 'She Matters' inspired by her own story of being a survivor of sexual violence.  The organization provides emotional and legal support and advocacy.  They are also developing sensitivity training for health care providers.

 

 

 

IN THIS EPISODE

• How a trip to Kenya when she was 15 years old changed the trajectory of Jacqueline's life
• Why she started Zawadi la Tumaini Hope Home
• How Jacqueline deals with the emotional pressure and stress of running an orphanage
• The greatest challenge that Jacqueline faces with running ZLT
• Why she created the ethical fashion brand 'Olive & Annie'
• What Jacqueline's hope is for the future and for her ZLT family
• Why she founded 'She Matters'
• What Jacqueline's "I am..." is

 

 

EPISODE LINKS

Zawadi la Tumaini Children's Home (ZLT)

ZLT Website

ZLT on Facebook

ZLT on Instagram

 

Olive & Annie

Olive & Annie Website

Olive & Annie on Facebook

Olive & Annie on Instagram

 

She Matters 

She Matters Website

 

Jacqueline Villeneuve 

Jacqueline on Instagram

Jacqueline on LinkedIn

 

Other resources

Mpumi Nobiva on Episode 012