WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY54Lights touches down in the beautiful nation of Mauritius for this light-hearted and light-filled conversation with Pascal Lagesse. Pascal joined us virtually from his homeland where he has been working as a visual arts professional for over two decades. A prolific painter who’s refined his skills and signature in a way that’s unmistakable and definitely formidable.Over the pandemic, Pascal introduced the Zafer style of painting…one grounded in vibrant colour, infused with local staples like the Dodo bird, and also pulls from regional influences like traditional African masks. All of these are what helps make Pascal’s work thrive and flourish. Along with illuminating us on these inspirations from his work, Pascal also shared how his parents, people who’s professional pathways were in finance and accounting, allowed him the space to pursue his love of the arts. And finally, Pascal shared how his work has helped him cobat bouts of depression. His openness and candor belying a vulnerability and strength that’s unique and impressive.LISTEN AND LEARN… our Key Takeaways from the Show·     Pascal Lagesse is a natural artist who is comfortable writing, painting, acting and even behind the lens taking photos·     Our guest councils parents to encourage children and youth to pursue the arts as today more than ever, the arts and design in particular, informs so much of our world·     Kondwani and Pascal may or may not be considering launching Mauriwood… to rival Holly/Bolly/Nolly-wood·     The Zafer style, used in many of Pascal’s most recent works, was born after a visit to AmsterdamQUOTABLES6:00 Everything around us has been designed and created by someone. Art is not only in paintings but can be seen everywhere27:00 All the fun is in the making…the creation processFIND AND FOLLOW PASCAL LAGESSEOur guest – contact Pascal Lagesse on Instagram at @pascallagesseart or visit his website – www.pascallagesse.comFIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time. 

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYKondwani interviews emerging radio personality Daouda in this fun and insightful episode. Originally from Mali, Daouda shares stories from his journey studying communications in Canada and gaining experience in university radio. Daouda talks to Kondwani about his travels, Ottawa's surprisingly vibrant local music scene, and his plans to take his podcast, Inside These Minds, to the next level.KEY TAKEAWAYSDaouda was born in Dubai to Malian parents before immigrating to Canada at a young age.As a shy child, Daouda gradually built his charismatic personality by surrounding himself with great energy.Daouda refined his interviewing skills during college radio internships, learning about Ottawa's underground music scene.He strives to make podcast guests feel comfortable, like talking to an old friend.During the pandemic, Daouda used photography to document life moments and stay grounded.Daouda has visited Mali several times and keeps close ties with his large extended family there, considering himself both Malian and Canadian.BEST MOMENTS4:48 “One of the things I noticed is this scene is so underground isn’t it” 6:20 "I want to be in this industry that has a lot of storytelling that’s well thought out and well planned out”10:42 “I’m the type of guy that wants to connect to the guests as well”19:19 “I have a big family over in Mali… I’m always open about where i’ve come from27:00 "I never been the type of guy to be interviewed on the other side of the spectrum, but it was fun." VALUABLE RESOURCEShttps://54lights.com/ABOUT THE HOSTKondwani Mwase | Host & Creator‘The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.’  – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYIn this episode, host Kondwani Mwase is joined by Kenyan/Ugandan creator and director Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu. Mumbi joined us in, virtual studio, from Toronto where she now lives after time in Victoria, BC. During the course of this short, yet infinitely sweet, conversation, Mumbi shared insights about her journey as a creative - shedding light on her process and purpose. A student of life, Mumbi's approach to creation includes an intentional flow that allows her cast and crew to bond as humans as well as professionals in their craft. Mumbi is a Dora Award winner, a Founder/Artistic Director of the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre) Theatre, a recipient of a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, an Artistic Director’s Award, a Pauline McGibbon Award , a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award, a Harold Award, and has been twice nominated for the John Hirsch Directing Award. Most recently, Mumbi directed Is God Is by Aleshea Harris and Sizwe Bansi is Dead by Athol Fugard, written collaboratively with two South African actors, John Kani and Winston Ntshona, both of whom appeared in the original productionOUR HIGHs (NO LOWs) 6:22 I studied Human Biology in Victoria and so I just kind of quietly finished my degree and then like shifted gears towards the arts after that.12:56 I think that when my African identity met my Black identity, I would say when my family immigrated here as a teenager, I was like, oh, okay. This is when the meeting happened. So I feel like those two things always being in conversation with each other and being a woman FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time. 

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYDiana Gasper has made her life in North Carolina after meeting her American husband in Canada, yet she will always have the most love and longing for her home of Tanzania. Diana is a businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who helps women and girls in Tanzania to create their own businesses and sources of income, teaching them to work smart, not hard. She talks to Kondwani all about her love for Tanzania, how she started to help support women there and also about founding her Travel Agency, Extra Mile Adventure.KEY TAKEAWAYSMany women in business across Africa are working very hard but not smart. This is what Diana focuses on in her work with women in Tanzania.You have to be an example of what you teach. It’s important to Diana that she isn’t just teaching theory but is an example of success with her own businesses.Extra Mile Adventure organises travel and trips for a wide range of clientele and tastes, from Disney tickets to Religious Pilgrimages. They also have a very special product, a franchise to help women join tourism.There are so many incredible tourist destinations and things to see in East Africa, including Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the chimpanzees in Uganda, Diana urges everyone to visit, Africa is a rich and diverse continent, you could spend a lifetime travelling and not see everything there is to see there.QUOTABLES04:02 “I like it, it’s home now”09:96 “I started a non-profit organisation to empower women and girls in terms of giving them education on how they can work smart not hard”11:20 “My heart is in Africa”21:10 “If a man wants to join the team, he better be ready to support women”VALUABLE RESOURCEShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-gasper-546193262/www.extramiles.ushttps://54lights.com/ABOUT THE HOSTKondwani Mwase | Host & Creator‘The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.’  – Jean-Jacques RousseauFor most of my life, I have been obsessed with relationships. I have worked, watched and wondered about the complex nature of human interaction. Originally, my interest laid in the narrative…more specifically, I was driven to understand what was happening. Increasingly, my curiosity has been inspired by the underlying motivations behind events…why it happens. It is this curiosity that motivates me.FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time. 

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYYodit Seyoum is an interior designer from Ethiopia. She joins our host Kondwani to talk about her journey to becoming involved in sustainable and community-focused design and environmental advocacy. They discuss the importance of sustainability in the world and how this can be reflected in their home continent of Africa and the lessons to be learned. They also discuss the importance and origins of names and how they reflect on a person's identity and history.LEAN IN, LISTEN UP AND LEARNINGS - KEY TAKEAWAYSYodit studied engineering after being told it wasn’t something she could do and then went on to graduate at the top of her class!Design and engineering aren’t just about aesthetics but also about creating something that is good for the environment and the community it serves.You can take your ethos of sustainability and put it into every area of your life, truly living by the values you create.People, Planet and Profit should be balanced and created with sustainability in mind.Yodit is now offering her expertise via consultancy for smaller firms and start-ups, helping them engrain it in their culture early on.Yodit loves giving back, to the community and giving service and this is where she sees creating a true impact on the world.In regards to long-term goals, Yodit wants to start bringing her message of sustainability back to her birth country of Ethiopia and start to get young people involved in hopes of changing the future.BEST MOMENTS15:29 “It feels like sustainability is just en vogue now”22:00 “Invest in those communities around you that really align with your sustainability initiative, that way you’re building the community and making it stronger”27:45 “Offering it to those businesses that are minority-owned and black owned, I would love to help them build sustainability and weave it into their business”38:57 “The world isn’t actually much better her, it just has better access to things”VALUABLE RESOURCEShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yodit-yaregal-seyoum/ABOUT THE HOSTKondwani Mwase | Host & Creator‘The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.’  – Jean-Jacques RousseauFor most of my life, I have been obsessed with relationships. I have worked, watched and wondered about the complex nature of human interaction. Originally, my interest laid in the narrative…more specifically, I was driven to understand what was happening. Increasingly, my curiosity has been inspired by the underlying motivations behind events…why it happens. It is this curiosity that motivates me.FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time. 

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (bean) at a time.  In the latest episode of 54 Lights, Kondwani converses with Muna Mohammed, the innovative CEO behind Eight50 Coffee. Muna's deep-rooted connection to coffee cultivation, passed down through generations of her family, led her to explore Ethiopia's coffee origins.From her upbringing, Muna's fascination with coffee bloomed as she listened to her father's vivid stories of his Ethiopian childhood. Determined to honor her coffee heritage, she embarked on a poignant journey to her family's coffee farm in East Hararghe, where the legacy of Harar Coffee lives on.Kondwani and Muna explore the fusion of heritage and entrepreneurship, uncovering the essence of Eight50 Coffee's rich cultural tapestry.LEAN IN, LISTEN UP...AND LEARNMuna Mohammed, the CEO and founder of Eight50 Coffee, has a strong connection to coffee as she comes from a coffee-producing family in Ethiopia. Muna's decision to start the company was driven by a desire to bring diversity to the coffee industry, particularly on the brand end where there is a lack of representation.The name "Eight50 Coffee" was chosen to connect directly to the origin of coffee, with 850 being the date often associated with the discovery of coffee in Ethiopia or Yemen. Of note is that;Muna is intentional about telling the story of coffee accurately and showcasing the different regions and cultures involved in coffee production.Muna's journey to launching 850 Coffee involved years of preparation, including learning about the science and process of coffee, commercial roasting training, and immersing herself in the industry. She launched the business during the pandemic in 2020.BEST MOMENTS...from our guest"I wanted a name that connected directly to coffee's origin… I chose to name it 850 because not only does it tell a story of origins and ancient traditions, but it allows me to tell the story of coffee's origins and birthplace."“I knew that being on the brand end, which is where we don't see diversity, that's where you're seeing the brands that are packaged, sold in stores, sold on the shelves, the ones that are actually telling the stories of coffee and are putting out the content around coffee online on social, you know, that's the stuff that I felt like, you know, I didn't see a lot of, I didn't see a lot of diversity there.""I always try to do as much research and gather as much information as possible so that they are being presented in a way that is accurate.""2020 was just like, for me, it was go time. I've been saying I'm going to do this for a long time. And this, it just, it was the right time. And everything kind of just fell into place for me.""I'd love to see what my neighbours in Kenya are doing. I think there's a lot of cool stuff happening. And I'd love to hear more about some really inspiring entrepreneurs from Kenyan heritage, whether it's abroad or within Kenya, what they're doing.” RESOURCE Full Eight50 Coffee - https://www.eight50coffee.com/Website - https://54lights.com/Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)ABOUT THE HOSTKondwani Mwase | Host & CreatorFor most of my life, I have been obsessed with relationships. I have worked, watched and wondered about...

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYHost Kondwani Mwase is joined in virtual studio by guest-host and social media manager Ariana Busato for a behind the scenes look/listen on episodes past. Ariana, who helps with the podcasts socials and guest outreach, turned the tables on our host and asked him a series of questions about the first four episodes in this new journey. At issue were key questions that arose from these past, and powerful shows. #1 What lies at the intersection of art, life and politics? Inspired by our episode on Malawi featuring Qabaniso Malewezi #2 What is the true composition of a great leader? Inspired by our episode on Zimbabwe featuring Farai Madzima #3 What came first, the mission or the medium? Inspired by the wonderful work of Shelton Mpala's Children of the Dark Continent movement. #4 When is the work finished? Inspired by an artistic mindbending conversation with Aaron Samuel Mulenga.IF YOU HAVEN"T HEARD...YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO OUR FABULOUS FIRST FOUR EPISODELEAN IN, LISTEN UP...AND LEARN54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story at a time. This journey started several years ago but this latest evolution started on July 27, 2023 and is intended to touch down on all 54 countries in the continent. Our first, and fab, four were episodes on Malawi, Zimbabwe (2x) and Zambia. EP1.54..MALAWI - When culture comes calling featuring Qabaniso Malawezi EP2.54..ZIMBABWE - On being one of a kind with Farai MadzimaBonus Episode...ZIMBABWE - Rewriting the meaning of Africanism with Shelton MpalaEP3.54.. ZAMBIA - Escaping the colonial mindset featuring Aaron Samuel Mulenga FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY Join Kondwani as he interviews Aaron Samuel Mulenga, an artist, (soon to be) professor and an expert on Afro-futurism. The conversation, broadly speaking, touched on the impact of colonialism on African art and culture. Together they question the roots and influences of the colonial mindset, discuss whose history is really taught and how art can challenge the traditional narratives of Africa. With the conversation ranging from the untold stories of WW1’s Tenga Tenga porters, to the subject of art repatriation and the purpose of art itself, you’ll learn from Aaron the origins of Afro-futurism and the true reason he creates his art.Key TakeawaysAaron is a working artist, studying for his PHD, he was influenced and inspired by the Afrofuturism movement of the 60’s and includes the iconic Afronaut in his workMany African schools teach the history of their founders, of white, European colonizers, not local history.The inspiring and seldom told story of the Tenga Tenga porters in WW1 and their forgotten monument.Institutions such as the courts include traditions carried over from colonial times, and this should be questioned and examined as to why that can’t change.Repatriation of art and artefacts is good in principle but a delicate subject when considering the purpose of the pieces and the infrastructure in place to receive them.LEAN IN, LISTEN UP...AND LEARN “History is history. The only thing is, whose history are we learning?” “I'm guided by a desire and a thirst to change the African narrative, to really change the narrative from dark to light. It’s the dark continent now, let's illuminate it.”“That's the work that I'm trying to do, look back at history and say, how do we look at the future? And make ourselves present and more visible.” “We've got our independence, but we haven't left a colonial mindset.”“I've had to step back and say, Why do I create, what is my purpose for creating? And really, it's not so that I can sell it, it's so that I could have a conversation. It's so that I can share something meaningful and personal and deep and rich.”“We're tired of telling the same story and struggling and finding our space of belonging and struggling even to exist or to be given space to.”FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time. 

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYShe's Baaaaack!!!! Chawanangwa Mphande returned to 54Lights to share her reflections on our previous pods. In her first conversation, we discussed her childhood friend and leading cultural artist Qabaniso Malewezi. In this instalment, Chawa (as she's affectionately known) spoke about her impressions of Zimbabwean-Canadian Farai Madzima who was our guest in EP2.54..In this episode, Chawa points out some profound perspectives on identity. She unpacked how her past, present and the spaces she's lived in all conspire to inform the way she lives and what she calls home. In what feels like a broadly familiar narrative, Chawa provides us with a view that's raw, real and refined - accepting the nuances and complexities that many people from the diaspora deal with. Chawa also zeroed in on struggles finding work in certain spaces, the burden and benefit of being different as you move from one space to another. She raised a particularly pressing question about lived and life experiences...how that informs ones identity beyond a passport. ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR THIS SHOW Suggested listeningHome is a place of safety and where one feels accepted and calm. Home is a state of mind Home about cultural conditioning, nuances and spaceThe more they leave their culture, theCulture gets diluted when you move out of the country of originFIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTSInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time. 

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAYIn this episode of 54Lights modern-day Pan-Africanist Shelton Mpala speaks about his passion and the unique time we live in. The two unpack an African revival, of sorts, that is sweeping through the globe. Shelton was born and raised in Zimbabwe and describes himself as ‘just an African child’ who was lucky enough to be raised by three women, who taught him what love was; for others, himself and his country and culture. Shelton talks to Kondwani about what led him to create his Children of the Dark Continent project including the profound role of language and the evolving depictions of African culture across the globe. Shelton's mission, one borne of rewiring how people see the continent as a whole, is a refreshing and inviting perspective.  LEAN IN, LISTEN UP AND LEARN - OUR KEY TAKEAWAYS"Africa has a multitude of different types of people. Whether you are Arabic, white, Chinese, Indian. There are so many ways in. And these were all born under the African sun."When people are away from their birthplace, they can often lose their language. This was one of the reasons that drove Shelton to start Children of the Dark Continent.Shelton was fed up with the negative depictions of Africa across the globe and has worked to change that through his work.Opinions and perceptions around African culture have switched, there is a new energy around Africanism in recent times that is allowing diaspora through food, music and other cultural signposts.Nigeria is one good example of a country that has been able to export its culture in a unique and dynamic way.History is starting to be rewritten and in this narrative, what has been learnt previously about Africa is being corrected.MEMORABLE MOMENTS2:32 “Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever, it’s not going to be passed onto the next generation”4:24 “There’s a new energy around Africanism”7:16 “Africa does have a product that the world wants to see and learn more about”13:19 “History is being rewritten and recorrected”21:36 “Regardless of who you are, just be your authentic self as the world will always have an image of you”VALUABLE RESOURCEShttps://www.facebook.com/childrenofthedarkcontinent/FIND AND FOLLOW 54LIGHTS Kondwani Mwase | Host & CreatorFor most of my life, I have been obsessed with relationships. I have worked, watched and wondered about the complex nature of human interaction. Originally, my interest laid in the narrative…more specifically, I was driven to understand what was happening. Increasingly, my curiosity has been inspired by the underlying motivations behind events…why it happens. It is this curiosity that motivates me.Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [email protected] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (beat) at a time.