Join hosts Isaac Aboah and Daniel Merki as they engage with Africa's most inspiring thought leaders and doers who are driving the continent's transformation. In each episode, we delve into the work and ideas of these changemakers, exploring Africa's challenges and the abundant opportunities for growth and development. In our Winter 2023 season, we delve deep into the stories of mavericks and outliers who are forging the path for Africa's future across various fields, including Media, Entertainment, Non-Profits, Tech, Creative Arts, and Entrepreneurship. Join us on the Change Africa Podcast as we shape a new African narrative that inspires innovation and prosperity.
Connect with us on social media: Change Africa Podcast on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/changeafricapod/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/changeafricapod), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/changeafricapod/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-africa-podcast/).
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Peace Hyde: Redefining African Storytelling Through Purpose and Power
Peace Hyde, award-winning creator, discusses with Isaac Aboah how she redefines African storytelling by championing authenticity and building platforms to elevate African talent in this interview.
22 May 2025
Paakow Essandoh: Bridging Cultures Through Fashion and the Power of Representation
In this episode of the Change Africa Podcast, host Isaac Aboah sits down with Paakow Essandoh, founder of the celebrated fashion brand Mizizi, to explore the power of fashion as a tool for cultural identity, diaspora connection, and creative entrepreneurship.
Paakow shares how Mizizi was born out of his quest to reconnect with African heritage after feeling culturally disconnected growing up in the diaspora. What started as a passion project quickly became a global brand celebrating African pride through bold designs, cultural storytelling, and authentic community engagement.
The conversation explores the challenges of building a culturally sensitive brand, the role of collaboration and music in expanding reach, and how Mizizi navigated its rise from social media buzz to partnerships with major cultural institutions like Marvel. Paakow emphasizes the value of persistence, adaptability, and surrounding yourself with the right people to grow sustainably.
From personal identity to global impact, this episode highlights how fashion can help reclaim narratives, build movements, and reshape how Africa is seen, both by the world and by its diaspora.
Episode Summary
00:00 – Introduction to Change Africa Podcast
01:01 – Paakow Essandoh: Bridging Cultures Through Fashion
05:03 – The Journey of Entrepreneurship
08:59 – Grappling with Identity and Blackness
12:03 – Promoting African Culture Through Fashion
13:02 – The Launch of Mizizi and Initial Success
16:02 – Evolving the Brand and Cultural Sensitivity
19:09 – Media Attention and the Rise of Mizizi
20:54 – Sustaining Success in African Fashion
23:06 – Collaborations and Future Directions
23:50 – Building Connections Through Music and Fashion
26:29 – The Impact of African Culture on the Diaspora
29:02 – Collaborating with Marvel: A Journey of Persistence
38:08 – The Role of People in Business Success
41:27 – The Talent and Potential of African Creatives
45:48 – The Future of African Creativity and Global Representation
Further Reading and Resources
Explore Mizizi at mizizishop.com (https://www.mizizishop.com)
Discover how Mizizi partnered with Marvel and other global brands
Learn more about diaspora fashion and storytelling via The Folklore (https://www.thefolklore.com) and OkayAfrica (https://www.okayafrica.com)
This podcast is a production of Nexa Media.
Do you have a question for our hosts? Email us at changeafricapod@gmail.com (mailto:changeafricapod@gmail.com)
Follow the podcast on Twitter (https://twitter.com/changeafricapod), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/changeafricapod/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/changeafricapod/), and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-africa-podcast/).
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15 May 2025
Amma Gyampoh: Transforming Africa Through Impact, Innovation, and Local Power
In this episode of the Change Africa Podcast, host Isaac Aboah sits down with Amma Gyampoh, founder and CEO of Scale Up Africa, for a compelling conversation on digital transformation, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and rethinking finance across the continent.
Amma shares how her work in e-government and digital systems in the UK shaped her approach to African development. She reflects on her decision to return to Ghana and the transformative potential of solving problems “amidst the obvious,” especially in agriculture, where she believes distribution is everything.
The discussion dives into African startups' structural challenges, from infrastructure and funding gaps to misaligned investor expectations. Amma champions a shift in mindset and capital, calling for decolonized financing, better collaboration among investors, and deeper engagement from local pension funds and family offices in shaping Africa’s future.
This episode also explores gender lens investing, the untapped power of tourism and the creative economy, and why local decision-making is critical to sustainable entrepreneurship. Amma makes a powerful case for aligning capital with context and systems with sovereignty.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Change Africa Podcast
01:01 – Amma Gyamoh: Founder of Scale Up Africa
02:46 – Digital Transformation Experience in the UK
05:26 – Transitioning to Ghana: Motivations and Challenges
08:23 – Addressing Agricultural Challenges in Africa
12:25 – The Importance of Distribution in Agriculture
15:32 – Building Startups: Differences Between Africa and the UK
18:14 – Investor Perspectives on Infrastructure and Funding
21:12 – Impact Investing Ghana: Collaborative Efforts
25:30 – Unlocking Local Pension Funds for Impact Investments
30:01 – Engaging Wealthy Families in African Tech Opportunities
31:04 – Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential
34:29 – Challenges in the Startup Ecosystem
39:31 – Integrating Solutions Across Sectors
41:12 – Shifting Power Dynamics in Funding
45:54 – Transforming Tourism and Creative Industries
51:26 – Decolonizing Finance and Impact Investing
56:40 – Building a Sustainable Future for Africa
Further Reading and Resources
Learn more about Amma Gyampoh’s work through Scale Up Africa (https://scaleupafrica.co).
Explore Impact Investing Ghana (https://impactinvestinggh.org), a platform promoting collaboration in inclusive finance.
Check out AVCA and the Ghana Venture Capital Trust Fund for additional context on investing in African startups.
Read more on gender lens and decolonial investing at Criterion Institute (https://criterioninstitute.org/).
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
43
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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