Ekasi Podcast

Decolonising African Politics?

Tokenism: A guide for minorities in University

In this episode Keitu Malatsi from the University of British Columbia in Canada comes to tell us of her experiences as an African student in a Canadian setting. We discuss on the mechanics of tokenism, the curium as well as tips for scholars navigating being a minority, so do tune in for a fun ride. Music: Ifeanyichukwo Ezinmadu and Fraser MacDonald Editing: Henry Anumudu

The World In Conflict

A Survival Guide to Mental Health for Young Adult

Are we a part of Nature?

In an interesting discussion with by Njoki Mburu a Kenyan alumni from the University of British Columbia we unpack the role of people and nature. We are leaving in the anthropocene and the reality of climate change. Topics such as the indigenous Canadian community, work in Kenya and the philosophical question of whether we are a part of nature are 

Ekasi Season 3 Intro

The third season of the Ekasi Season is kicking off. We will be speaking about our world today and some of the challenges that we are facing. Hosted by Julian Mashingaidze tune in for a myriad of Mastercard Scholar stories on how we plan to deal with issues such as mental health, climate change, social justice and so much. So stay posted in tune in!

Tumi and Tana – Changing Perspectives

Perspective shifting as a tool for social progress is what underpins Tumi and Tanatsei’s huge body of work both within and beyond their university life.   Nigerian-born Oluwatumilara (Tumi) Akeke is a Mastercard Foundation scholar at the University of Edinburgh focusing on Biomedical studies. She has founded two non-profit organizations – Oncoreality which seeks to inspire conversations that would not only raise awareness about cancer but also protects the mental health of the diagnosed can...

Fighting for Equality - Moneera and Irene

What does the fight for equality and the push for women empowerment look like in the African context?   Tune in to this episode to listen to our hosts engage Irene Kinyanguli and Moneera Yassien on this pertinent topic among many other issues including their personal inspiration figures, the challenges faced in their quest for women empowerment and nuggets of wisdom obtained from their leadership journey.   Having recently graduated from the University of Arizona (under the Mastercard Foun...

Giving back to the Community - Hammed and Lawrence

Hammed Kayode and Lawrence Adjei – Giving back to the Community   Once one learns how to read and write, then they have all the fundamental prerequisites for success - Hammed Kayode   Hammed Kayode (Nigeria) and Lawrence Adjei (Ghana) are passionate educators keen to change the education space not just in the western region of Africa but across the continent.   Kayode, a postgraduate Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh is the founder of Kayode School, an instituti...

Giving back to the Community - Hammed and Lawrence

Hammed Kayode and Lawrence Adjei – Giving back to the Community   Once one learns how to read and write, then they have all the fundamental prerequisites for success - Hammed Kayode   Hammed Kayode (Nigeria) and Lawrence Adjei (Ghana) are passionate educators keen to change the education space not just in the western region of Africa but across the continent.   Kayode, a postgraduate Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh is the founder of Kayode School, an instituti...

Soaring Above - Elyse Uwimpaye and Racheal Lawrence

In this episode, our hosts engage Elyse Uwimpaye and Racheal Lawrence in an intimate conversation about their journey towards self-improvement while pursuing the goal of being agents of positive change in their communities.    Elyse, originally from Rwanda, is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh in his final year of Electronics and Electrical Engineering. Additionally, he is a published author of a motivational book titled ‘Soaring above Life’s Turbulence’ that, i...

Conflict and Literacy - Benita Gaju Rutagarama

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled  - Plutarch  Benita Gaju Rutagarama, an adjudicator and contributing trainer/coach at IDebate Rwanda did not realize her passion for debate until when her then mentor suggested to her that she should give it a try. Successfully suppressing her initial resistance to the idea and overcoming the deep-seated fear of speaking in front of large groups of people, she went in on it and the rest was history.   In this episode, Gaju, pr...

Rising above Conflict - Mostafa Olwan

Man’s search for meaning is more pressing an issue particularly when the winds of life cast him into the darkest moment(s) of his existence.   Such was the case with Mostafa Olwan when he fled Syria for Lebanon with nothing but his family. Thrust into a new environment (with difference in language and culture) and with the baggage from the Syrian civil war that was accompanied by loss of friends and other important connections, Mostafa was keen to not just make sense of his depressive state...

An Even Community

Shufaa Mohammed, a Tanzanian Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the American University of Beirut is keen to transform the education landscape in her country of origin through her two non-profit ventures – MSINGI-ELIMU and KITUO-SHULE.  Growing up in a single-parent household, Shufaa saw her mother continuously struggle to avail the necessary education opportunities for her. Now in a position of relative privilege and having been greatly influenced by the women who were a constant in her life...

An Even Community - Shufaa Hame

Shufaa Hame, a Tanzanian Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the American University of Beirut is keen to transform the education landscape in her country of origin through her two non-profit ventures – MSINGI-ELIMU and KITUO-SHULE.  Growing up in a single-parent household, Shufaa saw her mother continuously struggle to avail the necessary education opportunities for her. Now in a position of relative privilege and having been greatly influenced by the women who were a constant in her life, Sh...

Driving the African Economy - Godsway Dorlah

Armed with three certified academic degrees – an undergraduate in accounting and two postgraduates in supply chain management and digital global education, Ghanaian Godsway Dorlah is keen to use technology in not just disrupting Africa’s perspective on agriculture but also revolutionizing the continent’s agrarian practices.  Tune in to listen to Dorlah speak to our hosts about blockchain, leapfrogging, innovation in the agricultural field, the formation of his ground-breaking gari company w...

The Heroism of Art - Nour Al Halabi

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” This simple truism is the mantra that has guided most of the choices that Nour Al Halabi has made in her journey of sustainable and impactful leadership  Currently pursuing an MSc in Anthropology at the American University of Beirut under the Mastercard  Foundation Scholarship, Nour strongly believes in the power of storytelling as a gateway for effecting change in the local Lebanese communities.    Tune in to listen to her recount her w...

Community Heroes - Season 2 Trailer

Meet our hosts Geofrey Njovu and Julian Mashingaidze as they introduce Community Heroes - the second season of the Ekasi Podcast.  After a successful debut season, Edinburgh Firsts, the podcast is back bigger and better! It features a more diverse range of guests and conversations. Our hosts sat down with incredible young people to understand what is at the core of their motivation.  We have guests from Edinburgh University, Arizona State University, Science Po and the American University o...

Community Heroes - Season 2 Trailer

Meet our hosts Geofrey Njovu and Julian Mashingaidze as they introduce Community Heroes - the second season of the Ekasi Podcast.  After a successful debut season, Edinburgh Firsts, the podcast is back bigger and better! It features a more diverse range of guests and conversations. Our hosts sat down with incredible young people to understand what is at the core of their motivation.  We have guests from Edinburgh University, Arizona State University, Science Po and the American University o...

Micro and macro-aggressions - lessons from Aparthied South Africa

Welcome to a special episode of Ekasi Podcast. This is a bonus episode in recognition of Black History Month . The conversation features Ayanda  Ngobeni, Brindley Fortuin and Dr Pumla Madikizela who explore issues of micro-aggressions against people of colour in modern day society and how that relates to the past. They delve into a deep analysis of the aggressions that happened during the gruesome times of apartheid South Africa along with the scars left on both the victims and the perpetra...

Micro and macro-aggressions - lessons from Aparthied South Africa

Welcome to a special episode of Ekasi Podcast. This is a bonus episode in recognition of Black History Month . The conversation features Ayanda  Ngobeni, Brindley Fortuin and Dr Pumla Madikizela who explore issues of micro-aggressions against people of colour in modern day society and how that relates to the past. They delve into a deep analysis of the aggressions that happened during the gruesome times of apartheid South Africa along with the scars left on both the victims and the perpetra...

Monumental Firsts - Achievements, going back home, expectations and future ambitions

Welcome to the eighth episode of Ekasi’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts – Julian and Geofrey engage in a profound conversation with two guests – Daniel and Omar. At present, Daniel Mutia is an Electronics and Electrical Engineer in his final undergraduate year at the University of Edinburgh. Omar Kanyi, on the other hand, double majors in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the same university. Daniel is from Kenya while Omar is from The Gambia. Both of them are recipients of ...

Monumental Firsts - Achievements, going back home, expectations and future ambitions

Welcome to the eighth episode of Ekasi’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts – Julian and Geofrey engage in a profound conversation with two guests – Daniel and Omar. At present, Daniel Mutia is an Electronics and Electrical Engineer in his final undergraduate year at the University of Edinburgh. Omar Kanyi, on the other hand, double majors in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the same university. Daniel is from Kenya while Omar is from The Gambia. Both of them are recipients of ...

First Assessment - when it went well, when it did not, grades, group-work and support

Thank you for tuning in. This week on episode 7 of Ekasi’s debut season is a lively discussion between three students; our hosts, Julian Mashingaidze and Geofrey Njovu along with our guest Cosmo Mwamwembe, who is a Chemical Engineering student, and an Edinburgh University lecturer in the Energy, Environment and Society Department, Dr Kirsten Jenkins. They discuss their first time being assessed academically at university and the surprises that came with, and the methods of learning.  The th...

First Assessment - when it went well, when it did not, grades, group-work and support

Thank you for tuning in. This week on episode 7 of Ekasi’s debut season is a lively discussion between three students; our hosts, Julian Mashingaidze and Geofrey Njovu along with our guest Cosmo Mwamwembe, who is a Chemical Engineering student, and an Edinburgh University lecturer in the Energy, Environment and Society Department, Dr Kirsten Jenkins. They discuss their first time being assessed academically at university and the surprises that came with, and the methods of learning.  The th...

First time asking for help - academics, mental health, friendships

Welcome to the sixth episode of Ekasi’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts – Julian and Geofrey sit down and chat with Vivianne Goetz and Quincy Namonje. Vivianne, who is from Switzerland, is an Agricultural Science major. Quincy, from Zambia, is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar studying Economics with Finance at the University of Edinburgh. In this deep yet lively conversation, our guests reminisce upon their arrival at the University of Edinburgh. They not only take us back to the fi...

First time Edinburgh felt like home

Welcome to the fifth episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts - Julian Mashingaidze and Geofrey Njovu - have an insightful conversation on what the seemingly simple word of home means to Professor Peter Mathieson who is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh and Johanna Holtan who is the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Peter Mathieson and Johanna Holtan both had chil...

First time Edinburgh felt like home

Welcome to the fifth episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts - Julian Mashingaidze and Geofrey Njovu - have an insightful conversation on what the seemingly simple word of home means to Professor Peter Mathieson who is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh and Johanna Holtan who is the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Peter Mathieson and Johanna Holtan both had chil...

First time exploring Edinburgh - getting lost, buses and bus stops, google maps

Episode 4: First Time Exploring Edinburgh – Blossom Kafumbata and Esther Mndeme. Welcome to the fourth episode of Ekasi’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts – Julian and Geofrey – engage Blossom and Esther in a vibrant conversation as they relive their experiences of getting lost and found as new international students in the city of Edinburgh. Both of our guests are recipients of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh. Blossom is pursuing Chemical Engine...

First day of class - feelings, success, Scottish accent and comparisons

Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu  Episode 3: First Day of Class – Christopher Kuamba and Brenda Mioniki.   Welcome to the third episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts (Geofrey and Julian) engage two student guests in a reflective conversation about their first day of class and the expectations they had about the University of Edinburgh. The guests are Christopher Kaumba from Zambia and Brenda Mionki from Kenya. Chris is a philosop...

First day of class - feelings, success, Scottish accent and comparisons

Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu  Episode 3: First Day of Class – Christopher Kuamba and Brenda Mioniki.   Welcome to the third episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts (Geofrey and Julian) engage two student guests in a reflective conversation about their first day of class and the expectations they had about the University of Edinburgh. The guests are Christopher Kaumba from Zambia and Brenda Mionki from Kenya. Chris is a philosop...

First day in Edinburgh - shoes, weather, clothing and first impressions

Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu  Episode 2: First Time Exploring Edinburgh – Martine Irakoze and Jesse Solomon Jedidia.   Welcome to the first episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts (Geofrey and Julian) engage two student guests in a reflective conversation about their first time to explore the beautiful city of Edinburgh. The guests are Martine Irakoze, an international relations student at Edinburgh university, as well as an ac...

First day in Edinburgh - shoes, weather, clothing and first impressions

Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu  Episode 2: First Time Exploring Edinburgh – Martine Irakoze and Jesse Solomon Jedidia.   Welcome to the first episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts (Geofrey and Julian) engage two student guests in a reflective conversation about their first time to explore the beautiful city of Edinburgh. The guests are Martine Irakoze, an international relations student at Edinburgh university, as well as an ac...

First flight - leaving home and flying for the first time

Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu  Episode 1: First Flight – Zoe Mebude and Blessing Mucherera.   Welcome to the first episode of Ekasi Podcast’s debut season. In this episode, our hosts (Geofrey and Julian) engage two student guests in a reflective conversation about their first flight to the University of Edinburgh. The guests are Blessing Mucherera, an environmental development scholar from Zimbabwe and Zoe Mebude, a Zambian/Nigerian student who has a keen ...

Season 1: Season of firsts intro

This is the official trailer for the Ekasi Podcast season 1: Season of firsts.  Our hosts, Julian Mashingaidze and Geofrey Njovu, introduce the concept behind the podcast and share a little bit about themselves and what listeners should expect from this season.  "We hope to take you on an exciting journey as we take our guests back to their memories of challenges and milestones experienced as they navigated a different system and way of life." Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeany...

Season 1: Season of firsts intro

This is the official trailer for the Ekasi Podcast season 1: Season of firsts.  Our hosts, Julian Mashingaidze and Geofrey Njovu, introduce the concept behind the podcast and share a little bit about themselves and what listeners should expect from this season.  "We hope to take you on an exciting journey as we take our guests back to their memories of challenges and milestones experienced as they navigated a different system and way of life." Edited by: Geofrey Njovu  Soundtrack by: Ifeany...