Limitless Africa

"The NBA's on the continent. NFL was just here in Cairo, and you also have Formula One thinking about coming."Ibrahim Sagna is a Senegalese businessman and chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, the Mauritius-based private investments firm. It focuses on start-ups in tech, sports entertainment and the creative economy. These include businesses we featured on Limitless Africa, businesses like the FinTech payment system Flutterwave and the online marketplace ANKA. Silverbacks has also invested in the African Warriors Fighting Championship, a martial arts entertainment brand.Plus: How Ibrahim secured the Hollywood film producer Sandy Kleiman as an AWFC investor and advisor. Kleiman has worked with the Oscar-winning Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s a perfect example of how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperity. 🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:36 Why African wrestling is the next big thing4:20 Why Dambe is popular in Brazil6:09 The size of the African sports market8:40 The UFC trouble with Africa12:30 The African companies serving other continents15:19 Getting Hollywood producers on board19:29 The one principle guiding Ibrahim's career27:06 What Rwanda and Singapore have in common29:47 What people get wrong about Africa 💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"When quality manifests itself, capital follows.""Capital is very very selfish: it just looks at quality and sustainability.""No continent that is perfect. Continents make themselves look perfect.""If you look at the data, even the last 50 years, the most profitable companies in Africa are all exporters.""You have this continent that tends to be presented as a dark continent  that's just doubling at all metrics.""We've always contributed, but it just was never recognized."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Why Hollywood moguls are investing in African wrestling https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-hollywood-moguls-are-investing-in-african-wrestling/How Africa is basketball’s next big business move https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-nba-africa-means-business/Michael Finley - "If the infrastructure for basketball was anywhere near what it's like in America, Africans would dominate the NBA." https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/if-the-infrastructure-for-basketball-was-anywhere-near-what-its-like-in-america-africans-would-dominate-the-nba/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about sports and money in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"I take your Hulk Hogan and I raise you Coronavirus, one of our best fighters"Imagine a combat sport so ancient its moves were once used in spear and shield warfare. Now imagine it on a global stage. In this episode of Limitless Africa, we interview Maxwell Kalu, founder of African Warriors Fighting Championship. He’s on a mission to build Africa’s UFC, taking Nigeria’s traditional Dambe boxing from dusty marketplaces to packed stadiums and global broadcasts. Discover why fighters like “Coronavirus” are becoming local legends, how American investors from Hollywood are backing African combat sports, and why Maxwell believes Africa’s cultural power is its greatest strength.Plus: 🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:28 What is dambe?5:08 Dambe fans around the world6:05 The origins of Coronavirus9:14 Getting funding from the US12:42 Why African culture is so popular💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"So he took the name Coronavirus because he came to prominence during COVID. And the fans nicknamed him that because his style was deadly.""We featured the first ever international white Dambe fighter, a guy called Luke Leyland, brought him all the way over from sunny Liverpool and he competed in front of 10,000 people in Katsina, Northern Nigeria.""We have an outsized level of cultural power."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Building a basketball industry in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-nba-africa-means-business/How Africans can build their own NBA with the man leading it in Kenya https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/if-the-infrastructure-for-basketball-was-anywhere-near-what-its-like-in-america-africans-would-dominate-the-nba/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about sport in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"How do we continue to grow the pie for us and for everybody?"Chris Maurice runs Yellow Card, Africa's most funded cryptocurrency exchange. It operates in 20 African countries, working with approximately 30,000 businesses. This year alone, they've traded more than $3 billion dollars worth of crypto so far. He goes into what it takes to build a successful business in Africa and why there's no substitute for being on the ground.Plus: Chris's classified sections for Nigerian men.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:25 An unusual start in the industry4:33 DMs full of Nigerian men6:51 Defining crypto12:18 Bigger than Nigeria14:54 419 fraud20:43 The need for Stablecoin26:00 Avoiding fraud34:42 Advice for American entrepreneurs💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Nigerians are the most convincing people on the face of this planet.""What blockchain technology unlocks for the world is the ability to settle transactions with 100% confidence without a third party intermediary.""We wanted to make sure that this technology is available to anybody that needs it, no matter where they are, no matter, you know, what country they were born in, what currency they were born into.""I think that sometimes people over-index for innovation.""You just need to understand the local context and be able to apply that in a smart way to business models that work."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Adam Grant on the skills African entrepreneurs need to succeed https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-on-the-skills-that-african-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed/How crypto bypasses extortionate bank transfer fees https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-crypto-is-making-sending-money-cheaper-in-africa/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about fin-tech in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"I just became obsessed with this problem"Africa is rewriting the rules of global finance, not with aid, but with code. In this episode of Limitless Africa, we unpack how crypto is changing the way millions move money across borders. From Ghana to Nigeria, people are turning to Bitcoin and stablecoins to bypass high fees, long delays, and complex banking systems. Claude Grunitzky is joined by three voices at the heart of this shift: Chris Maurice, the co-founder of Yellow Card, a crypto exchange operating in over 20 African countries; Peter Peregbakumo, a Nigerian entrepreneur who relies on peer-to-peer platforms to run his business and support his family; and Frank Eleanya, a tech journalist tracking the rise of digital currencies at TechCabal.Plus: How to stay safe using crypto.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:06 From Alabama to Africa1:55 The difficulties of transferring money6:30 Why blockchain matters8:29 Using crypto IRL9:38 The growth of crypto on the continent💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Crypto is booming across Africa.""Nigerians are the most convincing people on the face of this planet.""What blockchain technology unlocks for the world is the ability to settle transactions with 100% confidence without a third party intermediary.""Because of the anonymity of the cryptocurrency market, it tends to attract people of shady characters."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Adam Grant's tips for African entrepreneurs https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-how-to-rethink-africas-hidden-potential/“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” - we speak to Maya Horgan Famodu https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about fintech in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"The financial impact of African creativity is not just realized on the continent, but it's also felt in the diaspora."Molly Jensen is the CEO of Afripods, a Kenya-based podcasting platform that focuses on the African market and has more than 3,000 podcasts on its platform. She's the expert on podcasting in Africa. She tells us why media is key to the continent's development.Plus: Molly's favourite African true crime podcasts🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:46 All about Afripods2:55 Challenges of podcasting across the continent5:38 Podcasts VS radio7:54 Switch to video9:52 True crime favourites14:04 Most popular genres by country16:46 From NYC to Accra and Nairobi19:51 East African tech scene25:59 Don't forget the diaspora💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Curated, intentional audio content that people choose to listen to and develop a relationship with the host has really exponentially kind of exploded over the last couple of years.""It's all unseen and unknown as to how big this is. But what it seems like is that it's going to be massive.""The financial impact of what's being created in Africa should also be realized on the continent and not just in the diaspora."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?How to make money from your creativity in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-can-african-creatives-make-money-from-their-art/Adam Grant on the skills African entrepreneurs need to succeed https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-on-the-skills-that-african-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about media in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"The beauty of podcasting in Africa is that it has enabled people to take ownership of narratives."From Lagos to Los Angeles, creators are building ecosystems and stories that reflect a fuller picture of Africa, one rooted in culture, innovation, and optimism. Podcasts aren’t just changing how we listen, they’re changing how we see Africa. In this episode of Limitless Africa, Claude Grunitzky and Dimpho Lekgeu explore how podcasters across the continent are taking control of the narrative, amplifying underrepresented voices, and collaborating with global platforms to shape the future of audio media. Guests include Rutendo Nyamuda, founder of The Podcast Sessions, and Terser Adamu of the Unlocking Africa podcast, alongside insights from Justin Norman of The Flip. Together, they show how collaboration between African talent and American platforms like Spotify and Apple is turning podcasting into a tool for shared prosperity.Plus: The best podcasts in Africa at the moment🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:3:44 Media as a colonial legacy6:02 The typical way African stories are told7:42 How media affects business in Africa8:23 What Africans can learn from the US ecosystem of podcasting11:29 The latest generation fighting Westernization12:50 Best African podcasts - do you agree?💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"I don't really want to tell African stories. I want to tell stories about Africa""Although they are modernizing, they're not Westernizing.""What I do think that the US has done really well, is created the ecosystem of podcasting."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Listen to Unlocking Africa with Terser Adamu https://unlockingafricapodcast.buzzsprout.com/Listen to The Flip with Justin Norman https://theflip.africa/Make sure your creativity pays https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-can-african-creatives-make-money-from-their-art/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about media in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"The researchers in Africa constantly think of low power AI. They're becoming the world's experts in how to build AI models that are tiny."From Benin City to Silicon Valley, Alexander Tsado is designing your future. He’s known as an AI architect. He’s worked for the world’s biggest tech companies. He’s advised governments. And now he’s going to tell us how Africa can power ahead in the AI race.Plus: How you can root AI in ubuntu🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:47 How the history of Benin City inspires the next technologists2:57 Why Nvidia went from gaming to processing chips5:15 From Benin City to New York City8:41 Why Africa interested Nvidia10:32 What's missing in Africa when it comes to AI14:19 Why the common man on the street should care about AI16:48 How Africa supplies the raw materials for AI19:17 How the spirit of ubuntu could develop AI22:43 Investors need to look to Africa for more than minerals25:33 The secret Alex doesn't want you to know25:50 What Alex would do as the dictator of a small African country28:16 Why the world will be looking to Africa for homegrown AI solutions💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"If you go back and look at the history of Benin City, you would see that it was one of the cities that was renowned for its level of progress.""I could literally see us building the future of the planet.""If we built our own homegrown AI solutions, we would build them in in in different ways."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?How video gaming studios are building different models in Africa https://shows.acast.com/limitless-africa/episodes/olivier-madiba-we-dont-have-huge-numbers-but-we-have-huge-pr💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about tech in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"Whoever controls AI controls the world."In this episode of Limitless Africa, we explore how Africa is adapting to and innovating with artificial intelligence, from flood-resistant crops to life-saving medical imaging tools. Claude Grunitzky and Dimpho Lekgeu speak to AI leaders on the continent who are not just training models, but training people. We meet innovators like Darlington Akogo, who is using AI to double food yields and improve health diagnostics in Ghana. We hear from Tholang Mathopa, who has already trained 4,000+ women in AI across ten African countries. And Adewale Yusuf breaks down why it’s not just about skills, it’s about power, representation, and survival.Plus: 🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1.34 What Putin thinks about AI2.00 How AI can double food production on a farm2.44 Why AI could help cut lines at the doctor4.13 How AI resembles a baby9.10 Africa could benefit from the AI revolution9.48 How American companies are training African talent10.29 The infrastructure that's the most vital12.18 The American attitude to risk💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"No one needs AI more than the global South, especially Africa.""People will have the power within their own hands to make a difference, to make a change in their own communities using technology."" We've always known US investor to take risk and to bet in the future."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Adam Grant on the skills African entrepreneurs need to succeed https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-on-the-skills-that-african-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed/How video gaming is capturing the best African tech talent https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-is-africa-transforming-the-future-of-video-gaming/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about technology in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"The content is fire."Taiye Selasi, the brilliant mind behind the best-selling novel Ghana Must Go, represents the future of African storytelling. She’s now bringing African narratives to the screen as part of her TV and film production studio Cocoa Content. In this episode, she discusses why African culture is now attracting global attention and why Hollywood producers are starting to catch on.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2.29 You don't change the world through peer-reviewed journals5.53 How a TED talk changed her perspective7.10 How Hollywood producers understand Africa is the next opportunity10.55 How the streaming model is wrong13.40 How The Black Book offers a business model16.17 The real reason African culture is booming21.08 The elephant in the room - why African investment is key23.09 Why Taiye is optimistic💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"We're talking about selling things to people who want them because they're good.""Once we start talking about African excellence, we are talking about explosively popular content. Explosively sellable, bankable product.""The content is fire.""We need that visionary, brave, first money in.""A low budget by American standards is astronomical by African ones."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?How to make money from your creativity in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-can-african-creatives-make-money-from-their-art/Solve unemployment through entertainment in Africa - interview with Yellowstone's best cowboy Denim Richards https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/the-quickest-way-to-solve-unemployment-in-africa-for-me-is-through-entertainment-actor-denim-richards-on-the-african-film-industry/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about creativity and African culture🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://claudegrunitzky.substack.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.