Limitless Africa

"I would compare it to a wildebeest migration"Hip-hop is one of America’s most influential cultural exports. But what happens when African artists reclaim it through language, ancestry and community? In this episode of Limitless Africa, host Claude Grunitzky speaks with GNL Zamba, a Ugandan hip-hop artist, filmmaker and creative entrepreneur, about how African languages, independent systems and family-led business models are reshaping global hip hop. Zamba reflects on why switching to Luganda transformed his career, how Africa’s young population represents untapped creative power, and why financial success without community impact is incomplete. He also shares insights on avoiding exploitative industry contracts and building sustainable creative infrastructure between Africa and America.Plus: What the Beyonce family unit get so right🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:3:43 The yardstick to success5:17 Choosing Luganda over English6:54 Bobi Wine and the music scene in Uganda8:40 The importance of family in hip hop13:55 Who won the beef💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"I chose Luganda because it is my ancestors' language.""Hip-Hop is going to change the world.""Once minds like ours connect, it's limitless.""Africa is going through a creative renaissance.""The Africans and the Americans have a chance right now to either catch up with the world or even overtake the world with the collaborations they can form."🌍 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?The producer bringing African stories to the small screen https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/we-need-that-visionary-brave-first-money-in/The Hollywood moguls investing in African wrestling https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-hollywood-moguls-are-investing-in-african-wrestling/💗 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 pop culture 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.

"Women like this really do exist."The Real Housewives reality TV franchise has become one of America's biggest cultural exports. But what happens when this franchise lands in Africa?In this episode of Limitless Africa, hosts Claude Grunitzky and Dimpho Lekgeu speak with Portia Hlubi, producer of The Real Housewives of Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Lagos, and Eugene Mbugua, executive producer of The Real Housewives of Nairobi. Together, they unpack how the franchise’s glamor and drama are being reimagined by African producers. From casting and cultural nuance to conflict style and aesthetics, this episode explores the behind-the-scenes decisions that make the show work across African cities.Plus: The difference between the Real Housewives in Joburg and Lagos.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:21 The Instagram skit that started it all2:41 The universal appeal of reality TV3:34 Adapting the format4:42 The Real Housewives bible5:11 From Joburg to Nairobi7:48 Different rules for glamour8:25 Drama10:46 Audience expectations12:55 Stories that travel💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER: "It does a number on your own psychology.""As people, we all have universal problems. We're all looking for love.""It's a whole college education on its own on how to make good television.""Nigerian ladies argue or conflict very differently."" There was one crazy scene where a cast member brought a life size casket to a lunch.""The ladies in Nigeria are quite superstars in that they don't really like being told what to do."🌍 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?The producer bringing African stories to the small screen https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/we-need-that-visionary-brave-first-money-in/The Hollywood moguls investing in African wrestling https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-hollywood-moguls-are-investing-in-african-wrestling/💗 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 pop culture 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.

 "There's more change that can be made, more impact, more positive impact in people's lives through this kind of work, and plenty of money to be made."On this episode of Limitless Africa, we speak to Luni Libes, CEO and founder of agriculture investment company Africa Eats.  As of December 2024, Africa Eats was listed on the Mauritius Stock exchange. Luni Libes is an intrepid investor and the real deal: the 23 active companies in the Africa Eats portfolio had a combined revenue of $44 million dollars last year - up from only one million when he started investing. Luni has surprising thoughts on what investment model works best for Africa - no VC funds for him.Plus: Why trade barriers on the continent could offer opportunity for growth. 🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:53 Building the largest agro vet supply company in Malawi3:50 Building the biggest sausage supplier in Rwanda5:09 From tens of thousands of dollars to a million in six years9:10 The reality of farming in Africa11:39 Banks don't lend12:46 From software to farming15:19 The problem with VC19:53 How investors cash out23:10 Risk in Africa27:06 Berkshire Hathaway VS Africa Eats30:49 How trade barriers help💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"We're beating the S&P 500 and we're doing it with chickens and potatoes""It doesn't have any competition because those borders are there.""There's no charity work here."🌍 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?"Resilience is very African" - The entrepreneur moving 20,000 trucks across Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/resilience-is-very-african-the-entrepreneur-moving-20000-trucks-across-africa/How I made it: the entrepreneur bringing refrigeration to Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-i-made-it-the-entrepreneur-bringing-refrigeration-to-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 entrepreneurship in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/

"The VC model is just fundamentally the wrong fit for Africa."In this episode of Limitless Africa, Claude Grunitzky and Dimpho Lekgeu speak with American investor Luni Libes, founder of Africa Eats and Fledge, and Tanzanian entrepreneur Haika Mtei, CEO of Golden Pot. Together, they explore how long-term thinking, patient capital, and culturally adapted funding models are reshaping business across the continent. Plus: How one woman is building the go-to cereal brand in Tanzania🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:00:42 Why don't African start-ups exit?3:13 Why Warren Buffet could hold the answer4:52 The cereal brand that holds the answer6:16 The value of travelling to the U.S.10:24 Small cheques not big ones12:24 Investors need to get brave💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER: "The VC model is just fundamentally the wrong fit for Africa. You have to do something different.""Harder than getting to Harvard." "Far fewer failures in Africa than in the States"🌍 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?Does foreign aid fuel corruption, dependence, weak governance? Interview with investor Maya Horgan Famodu https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/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 entrepreneurship 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.

We thought we'd give you a taster of what's still to come. We're still talking to the best and brightest Africans and finding out the surprising ways they're working with American business, tech and creative talent to be the best they can be. Because Africa is the future. And Americans - and Africans - know that.So tune in for the rest of Limitless Africa, Season 3.

"We're only now coming around to fully cracking what it takes to reach the African consumer."Jean-Claude Homawoo is the CEO of logistics firm Lori Systems. Founded in 2017, the company has now managed over 20,000 trucks across 12 African countries, moving goods worth more than $10 billion. Jean-Claude is an entrepreneur finding solutions to really practical problems: transport across Africa and across national borders... And that means potholes, border police, and variable road networks. Plus: Why 'Buy Now Pay Later' is key to success in Africa🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:51 How to transport $10 billion-worth of goods across Africa7:17 From Harvard back to Africa11:35 What Lori's done so far13:45 American money14:46 Eight and a half years without profit19:01 The number one problem for founders23:51 Financing your customer27:06 Why resilience matters29:17 Why Africa should prize diversity💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"We're only now coming around to fully cracking what it takes to reach the African consumer.""Resilience... It is something that is truly pretty quintessentially American. And it is also very African.""If you come to the continent, and you speak to a dozen founders, I suspect that 10 of them will tell you that one of the biggest challenges they face is financing working capital.""Keeping the lights on as a CEO is your number one job, period""What built Silicon Valley was diversity. It was diversity of thinking."🌍 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 stop food waste in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-i-made-it-the-entrepreneur-bringing-refrigeration-to-africa/Adam Grant on the skills needed for African entrepreneurs to succeed https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-how-to-rethink-africas-hidden-potential/💗 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 entrepreneurship 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.

"Every Clark Kent can become Superman"Owusu Akoto is the Ghanaian entrepreneur tackling one of Africa’s most overlooked problems: cold chain logistics. In this episode of Limitless Africa, host Claude Grunitzky speak with Owusu about how his company, Freezelink, is solving food and medicine waste by building Africa’s temperature-controlled transport and storage network from the ground up. Owusu shares what African entrepreneurs need to succeed and why Africa’s uncultivated land may be its most powerful untapped asset. He also breaks down the mindset shift needed to embrace failure, build legacy, and scale solutions across the continent. Whether you're interested in agribusiness, logistics, entrepreneurship or building the future of food in Africa, this episode offers grounded insights from the frontlines.Plus: Why failure can be the best teacher.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:40 The problems of mango farmers3:26 The story of farmer Eric6:19 The two things needed for success9:12 The American mindset11:59 The importance of the African mindset💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Every Clark Kent can become Superman""America is the biggest advert in history for how success compounds.""Africa contains the most amount of uncultivated arable land in the world."🌍 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/Has foreign aid fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance? Interview with investor 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 entrepreneurship 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 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.