Freedom Pioneers of Africa

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in sub-Saharan Africa presents the cross-regional radio programme “Freedom Pioneers of Africa”. In twelve episodes, local change-makers present their successful projects and discuss topics such as innovation, digitalisation and entrepreneurship. The programme airs on community radio stations in six countries in the Africa and is released here as a podcast.
The featured entrepreneurs discuss topics related to energy, education, health, security, financial inclusion, agriculture, climate and waste management. The audience is encouraged to give feedback about the initiatives being presented to them by the change-maker during the live radio broadcast. An external global connect expert then helps analyse the initiative and provides input on how it can be transformed into an even bigger global product.

The programme, presented in English, airs on eighteen community radio stations in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi. Each episode has a length of 10 - 15 minutes.
English South Africa Business · Technology
12 Episodes

Health Innovation - Paratube

In 2011, Portia had a major accident which resulted in her being wheelchair bound. She subsequently suffered deep depression as a result of feeling that she had lost her independence and dignity. She now needed assistance with basic tasks such as using the bathroom and for this, she was fully…
Season 1 / Episode 1 21 min

Food/Agritech Innovation - FarmHut

Farmhut is the biggest farm to folk marketplace in Zimbabwe. It is an online platform whose mission is to disrupt the food supply systems across Africa. Farmhut supports smallholder farmers to attain productivity and profitability. Over a third of the food grown by farmers never gets to the table as…
Season 1 / Episode 2 21 min

Education Innovation - TEFA

Andrea Mwalula is the founder of Twende Education for All/TEFA – an organisations whose work brings education to paediatric patients through a digital (learning on tablets) & play-based learning model. TEFA operates in the Lusaka and Mpika districts in Zambia and currently serves approximately 130 children and youths. Their vision…
Season 1 / Episode 3 19 min

Waste Innovation - Trashion

Gertrude Gugu Mlanga, 25, is a Malawian innovator and entrepreneur investing in protecting and preserving the environment. Gertrude has always been a passionate artist and says that her love for art and the environment is what has led her down the path of sustainable fashion. Through her firm, House of…
Season 1 / Episode 4 25 min

Energy Innovation - Kasangazi Hydro-Electrical Power Plant

Colrerd Nkosi is a young Malawian who innovated with basic materials to generate and connect his village to electricity. Using a bicycle dynamo and an old refrigerator compressor, Nkosi at the age of 21, was able to bring electricity in his village. Since then, more households continue to be connected…
Season 1 / Episode 5 17 min

Agribusiness Innovation - Sanavita

While studying for a BSc in Human Nutrition at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Jolenta Joseph was looking for a business idea that would help reduce the rampant malnutrition among vulnerable communities in Tanzania. The entrepreneur created Sanavita in 2019, an innovative agribusiness company that processes biofortified crops to create various…
Season 1 / Episode 6 23 min

Energy Innovation - WiBox

Brian Vhutali Gadisi and his co-founders at Arion – the creators of the wiBox, are solving a small but important part of South Africa’s energy crisis – continued connectivity to the internet for work and study during load-shedding (planned power cuts). What started out as a university project and a…
Season 1 / Episode 7 15 min

Energy Innovation - AFNON

Arnold Nyendwa is a Zambian entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of AFNON (formerly Venturas Jumpstart). Arnold invented a revolutionary stainless steel stove that was inspired by people living in marginalised communities in Zambia. He was concerned about respiratory diseases such as asthma developed by using charcoal, wood, and other wooden cooking…
Season 1 / Episode 8 23 min

Energy Innovation - Cist Biofuel

CIST Ethanol Fuel is a clean cooking ethanol made from invasive water hyacinth. While ethanol is traditionally made by adding yeast to products like sorghum, barley and sugar cane, CIST Ethanol Fuel uses water hyacinth, a plant found in abundance in Lake Victoria. Chemist and high school teacher Richard Arwa…
Season 1 / Episode 9 21 min

Mobility Innovation - Elocart Electric Mkokoteni

Kenneth Guantai is a Kenyan innovator and inventor. He noticed how the use of the regular tuk-tuks polluted the environment and how handcarts (referred to as mkokoteni by the locals) was tedious and tiresome for youths who used them to earn a living. This concern led Kenneth to invent electric…
Season 1 / Episode 10 30 min

Housing Innovation - Nelplast Eco

Nelson Boateng and his team at Nelplast Eco Ghana Limited are killing two birds with one stone by ridding the state capital of filth and providing affordable building materials made from plastic waste. Unlike many who recycle plastic waste into bags or other handy products, Nelplast Eco Ghana uses plastics…
Season 1 / Episode 11 23 min

Water Security Innovation - Kusini Water

This social entrepreneur was born in Limpopo, South Africa and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, with a major in Chemistry. He also has a certificate in Water Treatment Technology. His brainchild, Kusini Water provides safe drinking water to people in rural areas using…
Season 1 / Episode 13 17 min