Wasafiri Africa Podcast

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, known as Wits University, is a top-tier, multi-campus public research university, founded in 1922.  Covering 400 acres, in Braamfontein and Parktown, Wits University has 11 libraries and 18 halls of residence, the latter holding 15% of its approximately 40000  student population. Through the Africa Engineering and Technology Network, Afretec, Wits has strong partnerships with various Universities in Africa.*The opportunity for Ruth to sit with Phala Ookeditse Phala and Tony Bonani Miyambo presented itself serendipitously. A few days after watching a reprise of Kafka’s Ape at the Baxter Theatre, Ruth was on the very stage where the performance took place in conversation with the vibrant thespians.Phala and Tony are magnificent in collaboration and through their production company, Noma Yini, have produced stellar, internationally acclaimed plays, amongst them Kafka’s Ape, which premiered at the National Arts Festival Fringe in Makhanda, in 2015.Without delay, the conversation ignites the mind with the depth of the discourse so easily generated by the ease and confidence with which Phala and Tony express themselves. The value of language in communication, succinctly expressing the intellectual and lived challenges of humanity in general, makes their work universal. In Africa especially, Phala Ookeditse Phala and Tony Miyambo Bonani, are impossible to overlook.In this conversation, light-hearted in its tempo, Phala and Tony’s genius is on display. One can see why the international accolades. One’s appetite is deliciously awakened to watch all their productions, and understand the layers of truth and awakening, that lie in their lines.Accolades for Kafka’s Ape include:Lustrum Award: Edinburgh Festival Fringe (2024)Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation Award Adelaide Fringe Festival (2020)Outstanding Performance Award: Prague Fringe Festival (2019)Best Satire Award: United Solo Festival in New York (2019)Best Public Performance: Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Award (2018)Silver Ovation Award: South African National Arts Festival (2015)Twendeni, Africa is Ready!                    

30 kms north-east of Cape Town, is Durbanville, where rolling hills and wide plains, offer a sense of expanse in this golden valley of wheat and wine. Dubbed “Sauvignon Blanc Country”, Durbanville is also a popular high income residential area, though demographics still overwhelmingly reflect, the impact of South Africa’s segregated history. With a view towards the future, Durbanville is only 13km from the planned Cape Winelands Airport, Cape Town’s second International Airport, scheduled to open in 2028.*A quiet day in Cape Town sets the scene for a chat between Ruth and Faye Kabali-Kagwa and the sparkling trajectory of her growth as a Theatre Arts Curator.Laced with easy laughter, Faye’s passion for capturing African story is personal, sparked by searching for identity as a child of Ugandan parents growing up in South Africa. This self-reflection has sharpened her instincts, and propelled her into her current role.The conversation underlines the central role that theatre has in re-storying the narrative of the continent; that theatre draws one into a world of expression that has room for very young to season thespians. Twendeni, Africa is Ready!

In 1994, Kigali smoldered from a gut-wrenching ethnic cleansing that horrified the world, but the resilience of the Rwandese people clawed back not only their humanity, but also their nationhood. Like a phoenix, the city has morphed into one of the most economically vibrant metropoles on the Continent. Kigali is not only known for its swift and efficient civil service, but also as a center of arts and culture, and increasingly, sports. Almost smack in the middle of the African continent, Kigali pulsates with life and expectancy. *Maye Srouji graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA in Fashion Promotion, which included a major in Broadcasting. This propelled her into the working world in Johannesburg, where she touched on a PR and Journalism Consultancy with the Development Bank of South Africa in the Innovations and Entrepreneurship department, whilst adding sprinkling of fun as a professional model, with ICE Models.The call of the Land of a Thousand Hills, soon had Maye in Rwanda. Here she picked up another consultancy with Girl Hub, by Nike Foundation and later a role as Creative Director at Village Group in Rwanda.Fast forward to 2018, and Maye found herself in Cape Town, where she signed up as Brand Manager at  Mille Collines, a contemporary African fashion and lifestyle brand. As life would have it, Mille Collines was born in Rwanda, the country of Maye’s maternal lineage.Soon Maye’s flair for fashion, brand positioning savvy, and business acumen, had her assuming the role of CEO in 2022, a role she’s still holding down the reins for, with effortless grace; which is what Maye Srouji is all about.So let’s flow into conversation, with Maye Srouji. Twendeni, Africa is Ready!

Sometimes known as Rylands Estate, Rylands is a well-established sub-area in Athlone, a suburb in Cape Town, located in the Cape Flats. Historically a hot bed of Anti-Apartheid protests, memorials include that of two ANC activists, Robert Waterwitch & Colleen Williams, who died in an explosion outside the Athlone court on 23 July 1989.Although the Cape Flats has generally been depicted as existing on the 'fringe' of the city, the residents of Rylands have transformed their physical surroundings to build a thriving community.* Ajay Lalu was born into a tight knit community which besides his nuclear family, included aunts, uncles and cousins, all who lived in the same house. His earliest memories include bonding over shared dishes at meal times, fragrant with robust conversation, as well as being acutely aware of the injustices of Apartheid. But for Ajay, a singular memory rises above the rest. The day he discovered that his film with precious footage of a school trip to the Kruger National Park, had been over-exposed and all images lost.Yet, the lessons learned from this experience, have gone on to craft the diligent, exacting personality, that has put Ajay at the forefront of A.I. engineering in Africa, helped shape his sharp business mind and honed his first love, photography, to perfection.In all this, Ajay Lalu enjoys being a Social Entrepreneur. His involvement in The Makwande Trust, Shoot 4 Purpose and the launch of A Mountain Divides, his coffee table book containing lavish colourful images of the Kaapse Kloopse, will drive our conversation today.So come along for this good news story of lives changing for the better, with Ajay Lalu.Twendeni, Africa is Ready!

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Of that, there’s no doubt. But even here, stark inequalities are evident, and children, are not exempt.Today, we put a pin location on Breadline Africa. An organization whose very reason for being, is to uplift the lives of children and the communities they live in. At Wasafiri Africa, we’ll be promoting a Charity every so often. As a Trustee at Breadline Africa, it's naturally, my first choice. The words of Nelson Mandela point the way: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul, than the way in which, it treats its children.”*Ruth and Marion meet over a shared interest, namely to celebrate the raison d’être for Breadline Africa, the Non-Profit organisation where Ruth serves as a Trustee and Marion leads as CEO.Twendeni, Africa is Ready!    @Podcasthon                

In the highlands of Kenya, is Dondori township, located in Bahati Constituency in Nyandarua County, a mere 3 hours from Nairobi.At approximately 6,500’ or 2000m, Dondori Forest flourishes in the cool highland climate and boasts a 60’ waterfall with its own miniature rainbow.*Ruth and Muthoni sat down for a conversation, on one of Nairobi’s trademark “just perfect weather days”. Ensconced in the studio at Story Moja, both Muthoni and Ruth were keen to get started on what was clear was a shared favourite topic: telling stories.Muthoni Garland’s origin story could hardly be more befitting for someone who is so passionate about books. That Story Moja is a quietly humming efficient book churning operation, becomes clear that it’s the product of blood, sweat, tears, copious amounts of coffee and sleepless nights. Muthoni’s story has arced beautifully to this stellar point where together with the team at the coal face and behind the scenes at Story Moja, her love for reading has manifested in getting children to read. A drive so powerful, that on July 10th, 2026, an audacious goal has been pinned on the collective Story Moja consciousness: to harness the magic of one million Kenyan children reading at the same time! Complimenting the foray into Academic books, restoring Africa has taken centre stage. To quote the African literary giant Chinua Achebe: “until the lion learns to speak, the story is told by the hunter.” And so to speak, we must, according to Muthoni, by capturing the many stories of outstanding Africans pre and post the colonial era, who determined not to be erased,  championed the cause for their people. The result is the SHIZU History Books. Fantasy and real stories, creatively woven through the threads of time travel, championed by twin teenagers. Stories zig zag the continent and include Zulu Queen Mkabayi to Luo Chief Odera and shooting away again, to Ndongo Princess Njinga, and others. Born in “the original safari country” it’s not surprising that Muthoni has included a series dedicated to educating children about Kenya’s spectacular wildlife. Once again, imagination takes over the shuttle, and it’s smart young wild life detectives that go traipsing in the wild, learning fast and taking the reader along. No doubt the magic at Story Moja has only just begun. Enthused by Muthoni Garland’s fresh laughter and vibrant energy, this is one tale we won’t want to end anytime soon. Twendeni, Africa is Ready!