BlackBoard Africa Podcast

The most important lesson that I've learnt on this journey is that

Those with an ability have a responsibility

Those who can, must I can

Therefore, I am

And because I have

It’s my duty to now pass the baton

So, let’s go

Stretch your hand

The thing about the transferal of this baton

is that it doesn’t matter if upon release you blast hard or get slow

see the point is that when the time comes

I have to pass it on because really, we don’t have a shot at us all winning

Unless when I get to you, I let go eh

I have a responsibility to you and you to what I give you

I know that as I draw closer to you

You’ve already started running to get closer towards that win too

So, I’m confident that as I pass to you, the passion in the form of what I’ve been through

You’ll take it and do the same to make conquerors of all the teammates you’re running to

It’s our turn now

It’s time to make this darkness bright with our burn now

Pass the baton and together let’s build an Africa for us by us

We’re the generation that will no longer be turned down.

For what. 

Written By Vuki Dlamini

What made Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa stop in her tracks and reassess what was truly important?

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, is a South African business executive currently working as the chief executive officer of Naspers South Africa. She previously held the positions of co-founder and chief executive officer at Sigma Capital and CEO at the Shanduka Group. Mahanyele-Dabengwa was included in The Wall Street Journal list of the "Top 50 women in the world to watch in 2008", was recognized by Africa Investors as a "Leading African Woman in Business" in 2012, and named as ForbesWoman Africa "Business Woman of the Year" in 2014. The All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) named her “Business Woman of the Year” in 2019.

Phuthi Mahaneyele-Dabengwa Discusses Career And Leadership Best Practices 

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa Discusses Education.

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa Discusses Social Enterprise.

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa Discusses Her Mantra And A Message To Young Girls.

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa Discusses Advice To Her Younger Self.

Liz Letsoalo Discusses Career

Liz Letsoalo will be chatting to us today. She is the founder of Masodi Organics who started the business by getting the word out there and soon turned the words into action and action into the product. She is also the founder of Rave Mobile Beauty a beauty service company. Liz prides herself on revolutionizing beauty as a while through the two businesses Masodi Organics and Rave Mobile Beauty. She is an activist who believes that one should never censor the things they have to say, a TEDx Speaker and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.

Liz Letsoalo Shares Her Upbringing And Background

Liz Letsoalo Discusses How Politics is Present In Everything

Liz Letsoalo Discusses Business.

Liz Letsoalo Discusses Her Journey So Far.

Liz Letsoalo Discusses Finding The Funding

Gabriel Asheru Benn discusses His Journey And Staying In Alignment With Your Assignment

Gabriel “Asheru” Benn, is a veteran hip hop artist, educator, and youth whisperer. He has graced stages and recorded with artists such as Pete Rock, Talib Kweli, Raheem Devaughn, Jill Scott, and others, and is widely known for writing the opening theme song for the popular TV series, The Boondocks. Due to his other musical contributions to the show, he received the Peabody Award in 2006, becoming the first hip hop artist to receive the prestigious award. Benn currently serves as the Founding Director of Guerilla Arts Ink, LLC (GA) - an arts/ education & media consulting organization which specializes in out-of-school time (OST) cultural arts programming, innovative curriculum design, professional development, creative placemaking, and youth engagement strategy.

Gabriel Asheru Benn Discusses Navigating People and Partners

Gabriel Asheru Discusses The Importance of Letting Your Purpose Run Through You

Gabriel Asheru Benn Discusses Distant Learning During A Pandemic

Gabriel Asheru Benn Discusses The Ups And Downs Of Being An Artist 

Gabriel Asheru Benn Discusses How Many Attempts It Took To Write The Boondocks Theme Song.

Gabriel Asheru Benn Discusses His Mentors and Grooming To Be A teacher.  He Says Passing The Baton Is A Civic Duty.

James Okina Discusses The Name Street Priests

James Okina founded an organization called “Street Priests” at the age of 15 to transform the lives of street children through a youth-led movement in Nigeria. Inspired by his own experience, Street Priests Inc. runs community programmes, more than 250 children have benefitted from their Captain Nourish Program, which distributes food and holds events and educates kids on the dangers of substance use. 21 year old Okina is also leading an online competition calling on a diverse group of creatives across all art genres to bring awareness to children in difficult situations across the world. This campaign highlights the challenges of street children, indigent children, and at-risk children, to inspire community action towards solving these problems.

James Okina Discusses His Motivation.

James Okina Discusses The Importance of Having Youth At Change-Making Tables.

James Okina Discusses the Special Anti-Robbery Squad And Police Brutality In Nigeria

James Okina Discusses Young Africans In The Social Enterprise Space To Look Out For.

Pass the baton, The masterclass series for young people working to build a better Africa. taking lessons from those come before us to equip social impact activators for their journey. Trailblazers in business management, brand construction, social enterprise and more all coming together to share their lessons. How do we apply their expertise to the social initiative space and extend the reach? This audio series sets out to equip youth with the right mindset, strategy, connections, cohort community, and execution process to help launch a successful social impact initiative.