Banana Island Living Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Banana Island Living
Banana Island Living - A community business and lifestyle podcast for a happier, healthier, more informed living.
Dr. Wole Odedun’s life story has been truly epic! He really could have ended up as a motor mechanic, eking out an existence on Lebanon Road, Ibadan, Nigeria. Instead, he went back to school, went abroad, studied medicine, worked jolly hard and struck gold; no, hit the mother lode.
In this episode, we discuss:
· Ode Omu, Ibadan, Malta, Harley Street? Not the most obvious of trajectories surely;
· God, fate, serendipity, making your own luck? Take your pick;
· Education, education, education/property, property, property and, of course, location, location, location;
· Aston Martin DB7 Volante, 1958 Jaguar XK150 and the classic car bug;
· Records dear boy, records – keep, keep, keep;
· Putin, patriotism and the world order;
. Giving back, doing good and heck, living well - because you've earned it;
· Fela, Bob James, Spirogyra and Taylor (Ms. Americana) Swift – from the sublime to the ……
· The bucket list - the rich also wish.
Dr. Wole tells a joke but wryly, one that gets one worrying about the future of the motherland.
This episode will get you thinking about Shakespeare, Brutus and that thing about the tide in the affairs of men..
Links Mentioned:
Joseph Stiglitz – The Road to Freedom
Fela and the Koola Lobitos
Taylor Swift Netflix – Miss Americana
Spirogyra – Morning Dance
Sponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living
Banana Island Living's YouTube channel
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With nearly 30 years as an international civil servant working with the UN, Yewande Odia has been in all the hotspots - Somalia, Haiti, Goma, Tchad and yes, even New York (the original hotspot)!
In this episode, we discuss:
- UN or bust - how to get your foot through the door;
- Trevor Noah, Chris Rock and the attraction of the educated comic;
- Theatre arts, school band, UN? Not the most obvious of career paths;
- Dangerous situations and intense friendships - the correlation;
- Korean dramas, Old school R & B and the turgid book that doesn't bear finishing;
- The bucket list - and yes, even Yewande who has done it all and seen it all still has things to tick off.
Yewande finds a joke, a pun that needs some thinking about but that, surely, is the point. This episode will get you thinking about resilience, perseverance and the changing nature of friendships as we grow older.
Links Mentioned:
Barack Obama - A Promised Land D' Angelo- How Does it Feel? Robin Thicke - Lost Without YouHer Private Life - the movie
Sponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel
As if Sarah Boulos’s backstory (past imperfect?) was not epic enough, her present continuous one merits its own Hollywood (or is it Nollywood?) biopic. Born in Burkina Faso, schooled in France and US, Lebanese father and French mother; living in Nigeria for many decades, Sarah has truly bloomed where she was planted.
Vibrant, passionate and a muse, Sarah’s life has been one of great highs and horrible lows, heady peaks and shattering troughs, filled with sublime moments and truly ridiculous phases. And still she rises.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Being white in Africa - privilege or albatross?;
- Yes, trust fund babies also cry;
- Losing multiple family members within 24 hours;
- That epic marriage cum merger - yes, that one;
- The soul preserving discovery of faith - for Sarah it’s all encompassing;
- SPAN (Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria) and finding your purpose.
- The bucket list - step aside Oprah;
Between Chat GPT and Google’s Bard, Sarah tells a joke, or rather, finds a joke and tells it sweetly. This episode will give you a whole new respect for that delicate high wire oxymoronic space between supreme confidence and touching humility. Yes, the future is conditional.
Links Mentioned:
Clint White - Tattoos, not Brands T Y Bello - The Morning SongbookChevalier - the movie.You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitvah - the movie
Sponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8
Blessing Adesiyan established WorkLife Africa, a think-tank focussed on transforming the continent's workforce and work spaces. She has made quite a journey from tech to care, not the first pivot that springs to mind but as the mistress of making lemonade from lemons, she now sits comfortably in her own skin.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Finding yourself pregnant in Uni and making it work;
- The incredible power of a loving father;
- Growing up in Nigeria, being fearless and that unquantifiable super power;
- The squeezed middle, the never ending care giving age and the sheer soul sapping burden of care;
- Japa, japaing and japadaing - hmmm;
- The pastor's daughter way to spirituality (and no, it doesn't involve church);
- Powerlifting, weights and we are in awe!
Blessing tells a joke, actually a true story but an absolute cracker. This episode is a close up of a mega motivated person and one that just might get you lifting weights.
Links Mentioned:Peter Attia - OutliveAsake - Work of ArtAdekunle Gold - Ogaranya
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8
Ugoma Ebilah is a polymath - she has been an economist, successful financier, clothes designer, art dealer and now, one word which might just work when trying to box the unboxable would be 'creative entrepreneur'.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The corporate lane, having an eye, wanting more and the side hustle mission creep.
- Clarity vs choosing not to know.
- The indefinable attractiveness of being light.
- The secret dream job, the Mercedes Benz dream car and that most un-pc of creatures - the petrol head.
- London, the Barbican, then and now.
- Women vs men - and a new take on the us/them dynamic?
- Nina Simone, Davido and Wike - from the sublime to the ridiculous?.
- Mbari Mbayo - Mbayo + Kola = Mbari Kola; clue - it's members only.
Ugoma's joke is smutty, graphic, laugh out loud but, thankfully, coded - you have been warned!
This episode is a mega eavesdrop - it will get you turning up the volume.
Links Mentioned:I. E. Echeruo - Expert in all StylesNina Simone - Ain't got no/I got lifeDavido - FeelWarning by Jenny Joseph
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8
Only the paranoid survive! Only the paranoid survive?
Yes! Tokunboh George - Taylor lives by that mantra and she really should know. She is THE foremost PR strategist in Nigeria and founding Managing Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Nigeria. Served her and her clients well (very well) and in this episode, we discuss:
- branding, self branding and positioning;
- that line between branding and pushiness;
- knowing what you want and getting ready to get it;
- Ikoyi Club, Golf and strategising;
- Charity work and image laundering;
- Korean dramas (help - can't get away from them);
And Snoop Dog!! Nope, that's one we definitely didn't see coming!
Sponsored by Banana Island SchoolCheck out:
Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living
Uzo Nzeogu, a talented artist who studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with greats like Bruce Onobrakpeya and El Anatsui seemed all set to claim his place as a fine artist. But then, he did the maths, ditched paint and chose pragmatism.
Pragmatism led him to Newswatch, to Dele Giwa, to Ray Ekpu, to Dan Agbese and to 'the happiest time of my life'. The newsroom rush, the boardroom manoeuvring, the tragic, shocking murder of Dele Giwa, Uzo was in the thick of it.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Pragmatism and paying the bills.
- The halcyon days of Nigerian news magazines.
- There but the love of God and barely dodging the bomb.
- The Nigerian war and PTSD.
- IPOB and the lessons of Rwanda.
- To repatriate or not to, Uzo has a view.
And choosing to ditch the Nigeria project.... and here we agree to disagree.
Nope, no jokes in this episode but Uzo admits to listening to BIL podcast. What a gent!
Sponsored by Banana Island SchoolCheck out:
Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living
Helen took a short trip away from university and came back as Miss Nigeria 1979! Sharp, shrewd and always impeccably turned out, Helen Prest Ajayi neatly turned the beauty currency into entrepreneurship, into businesses way ahead of the times.
In this episode, we discuss:
- using what you have to get what you want.
- spotting trends way ahead of time.
- Buka (yes, that Buka) and the fast food thing.
- SPARE, Prince Harry and telling your own story.
- Jogging in Banana Island really can inspire you - no, honestly.
And Helen tells a joke - a good, groan-inducing joke. This episode will have you upping your glam game and then start spotting trends.
Sponsored by Banana Island SchoolCheck out:
Banana Island Living’s InstagramBanana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living
Eku Edewor is many things but one thing she definitely is not is a slacker. Not just a pretty face (and what a pretty face), she believes in grafting and earning her flowers. In this episode, we discuss:
- 9 years old and catching the bug (yes, do put your daughter on the stage Mrs. Worthington).
- 53 Extra, Castle & Castle, Netflix and longevity in the business.
- UK or Naij? - would I?, should I?, could I ? and the angst of choice.
- Identity and name change.
- Not black enough v not quite white enough - you know, that bi-racial actor conundrum.
- Ambition + graft = winning combo?
- Producer or bust - not quite bucket list but yeah...
Eku is versatile and her funny ha ha joke shows just how versatile.
This episode will have you surfing the net - to catch one more glimpse.
Links Mentioned:53 ExtraCastle & CastleBritain's Next Top Model
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living
A lion in the den who has made his mark on the property landscape. Paul Onwuanibe is group chief executive officer of Landmark Africa Group. With formal education in Architecture, Property Development and Construction Management, together with a London Business School MBA with a merit in “Value Engineering”
Paul is one of the renowned lions on the Nigerian business reality show "Lion's Den" and in this episode, we discuss:
- the Lion's Den and choosing winners (or not).
- that initial funding - friends, family and fools?
- dodging death in the World Trade Centre.
- the 'where's your boss?' dance.
- the Nigerian mindset - priceless and world beating.
- making sure your kids are Naija centric.
- Pele and Carl Lewis and the Olympic mindset.
- Kenny Rodgers, Dolly Parton and the country music vibe.
Paul tells jokes too. Self deprecating and good news ones. This lion is a nice and warm tabby. A thoroughly nice one.
Check out:
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
For years, Dr. Ayo Aderinwale lived and breathed African political science. He has been in exile fleeing Abacha's regime, been a key figure in the plans and preparations for the United States of Africa, been Deputy President, Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, established and became executive director of the African Leadership Forum... and then on a flight from Addis, after a particularly frustrating episode, he had his damascene moment. He was done! Bye bye political science. Hello private sector. And boy has he made his mark!
Now with 19 stores in South West Nigeria, Dr. Aderinwale is chairman and owner (along with his wife) of Justrite chain of stores. With turnover in billions of Naira, he brings his formidable intellect to retail and the landscape changed for ever.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the dream that turned into a mirage.
- the power of a positive mindset.
- who needs Ikoyi and Banana Island?
- Data is king, queen and joker.
- Nigeria still the best place to make it bigly.
- Sunny Ade vs. Ebenezer Obey
And Ayo does jokes, tells a great one and we share a cracking one from one of our regular listeners. This episode will get you doubling your hustle (and saving the jokes for Christmas lunch).
Check out:
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
Old Gregorian, avid Banana Island Living listener and serial entrepreneur, Adeyemo Sodipo, has embedded himself in the community he migrated into - St. Louis, Missouri. He has set up businesses, serves as a trustee of that most WASP of WASP American institutions, the private Prep school, been a union employer and sits on the board of his local Crime Victim Advocacy Centre.
Adeyemo represents that most conflicted of individuals - the diaspora Nigerian. In this episode we discuss:
- Once a Gregorian, always a Gregorian;
- 3.9/4 GPA and still wanting;
- How to survive as a diaspora entrepreneur in the US (what you don't learn in business school);
- Naira/Dollar values and the perennial whinge of the diasporan;
- Nigerian politics and the lesser of all the evils;
- Staying and building vs. running away and doom and glooming - nope, we don't judge;
- Dad, daddy and father - love, legacy and the binds that last.
- And Fela - Lady, Shakara and no, water no get enemy. IYKYK.
QI!
Continuing our series unveiling the experiences and memories of the generation before ours, how they lived, loved and explored, our guest is none other than The Original Original, the legend in her own lifetime, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye.
An absolute one-off in the art and craft space and an all-round wonderful personality, Mama Nike shares incredible awe-inspiring stories spanning six decades.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The 14-year-old runaway bride.
- Serendipity vs making your own luck.
- Mbari Mbayo and those halcyon days.
- Female solidarity, empowerment and financial independence.
- The deep, rich, unwritten language of Adire symbols.
- That bucket list thing.
- and, believe it, yams and fecundity have a thing going (cryptic, yes, but listen and all will be revealed).
This is one heck of a life journey. Absolutely riveting!
Nike Art Gallery on Instagram
Visit Nike Art Foundation
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living
Available on all audio listening platforms.
**The fourth in our series of conversations with people 75 years and over, our conversation with the musical octogenarian is one that uplifts and serenades.
We speak with Edna Jane Deinyo Soyanwo (EJD). Born on Sunday January 7th, 1934, EJD holds a BA (Dunelm) degree, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of London, Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) and a Masters in Education from the University of North Wales (Bangor). She has had a long successful teaching career in the UK, Ghana and Nigeria.**
In this episode, we talk about:
- Love in G minuet.
- Blooming where you are planted.
- Living in the Empire, loving the Queen and KC3
- Netflix's The Crown.
- 'Ghana Must Go' with nuance (history really does need context).
- Life as a foreigner during the Nigerian civil war.
- SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) - an ode or a dirge?
- The power of relationships, friendships and warmth.
- And yes, Love ALWAYS wins.
**This episode absolutely exudes positivity and joy. A truly joyful rom-com.
Banana Island Living’s Instagram**
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
**The third in our series of conversations with people 75 years and over, our conversation with the royal professor could not have come at a better time - a week after Queen Elizabeth's passing.
We speak with Emeritus Professor Osato Frank Giwa-Osagie, Cambridge educated obstetrician-gynaecologist and educator. Professor Giwa-Osagie is a recipient of the Adrian Stokes Memorial award from Guys Hospital Medical School, London, 1975, Chevalier du Lion, Republic of Senegal, Dakar, and a truly worthy person to walk us through the story of medical practice in Nigeria - the peaks, the troughs, and the bits in between.**
In this episode, we talk about:
- The bucket list.
- The old school tie (if you know you know).
- The real (Benin people's version) story of the sacking of the Benin Kingdom.
- The King (Charles) and I
- What Princess Diana said
- Being controversial and hanging the consequences - it's the age privilege thing.
**and then - the joke - the medical (ever so slightly smutty) joke.
This episode will get you hitting the clubs - if it works so well for Prof.....
Banana Island Living’s Instagram**
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
The second in our series of conversations with people 75 years and over, this episode is a truly special one.
We meet two Agbaje sisters (82 and 91 years old) who have lived their best lives and lived to tell the tale. Mrs. Moulin Ashake Agbaje - Anozie and Ms. Wule Agbaje (the Agbajes) are special, and boy, do let us know it!
In this episode, we talk about:
- life as children of a millionaire in pre-independence Nigeria
- polygamy and family life
- la dolce vita in 50s England
- Cliff Richard (of all things)
- the Nigerian civil war
- counting your blessings
- above everything else, the Agbaje Oriki (poignant, deep, rich, incredibly moving)
and then, the joke - the side-splitting joke. This one requires Google Translate but absolutely worth the effort.
**A moving, wistful tribute to an incredible generation.
Banana Island Living’s Instagram**
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
Hers was the generation that saw the best of times and, arguably, the worst of times. The heady, optimistic pre Nigerian independence days and then, the abyss of the Civil War.
Mrs. Eugenia Arinola Afolabi has seen it all, done it all and wears the robes with a twinkle in her eye. In this episode we discuss:
- being wooed and wedded in 50s Nigeria;
- life as a foreign student in 50s England;
- fostering - good and not so great;
- skiing whilst black;
- from Guinea to Japan, New York to Belgium - moving every few years, living in many countries and continents but always, always being your true authentic self;
- her favourite things - music, books, food....
and, ah - that special, special thing close to the heart of every Yoruba person - her 'Oriki' (Google is the friend you need for this:)
This really is one for the history books.
Check out:
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
The big C, the dreaded C, that soul destroying word we do everything possible (or at least try) to avoid. Yes, Cancer!
In seeking to find some cause for optimism, no matter how faint, we speak to Moji Animashaun, an experienced cancer treatment professional with over 30 years' experience as a radiation therapist.
Moji retired as a Deputy Director in the Oncology unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in 2018 after practising in 5 different hospitals on 3 different continents. She has also spent several years teaching and constructing radiation therapy curricula in both the United States and Nigeria. In 2013, Moji founded St. Cyril Cancer Treatment Foundation, an organization whose mission is to provide quality cancer treatment to Africans, starting in Nigeria.
We discuss:
- cancer in Nigeria
- the myths, denials and burgeoning awareness
- the glimmer of hope and good news
- treatment - to stay in Nigeria or hot foot it out
- chemo - is it worth the angst?
- and of course, the guest's hidden bits - bucket list, iffy jokes and all.
This episode will get you thinking, and evaluating.
Enjoy!
Links:
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
Sade Doherty works hard - at being a business lawyer, family court assessor, school governor, Musical Society of Nigeria trustee, Centre for Contemporary Arts trustee, and at that most social of High Church communities, The Pink Ladies of the Cathedral Church of Christ.
In this episode, we talk about:
- wearing many hats
- being 'se kari' or in English - strategic
- hard work
- Obama
- Nigerian politics today
and groan, the joke - never smutty but not clean either.
A light, soufflé of an episode. You'll love it.
See Sade Doherty on LinkedIn: FOLASADE DOHERTY | LinkedIn
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
'The diet starts tomorrow!' Yeah, sure.
We've all been there, said that, got the oversized tee shirt.
Olamide Balogun, the 'awakening lifestyles' guru and certified wellness coach, puts us through our paces and tells us a few home truths about those healthy choices.
We discuss:
- losing weight
- veganism on a Nigerian diet
- what not to eat or drink
- fasting
- faith
- music, books and yes, that joke thing.
Check out Olamide Balogun on Instagram: @awakenlifestyles
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
Children have a voice, they should be encouraged to use it and people should encouraged to listen (with apologies to the Duchess of Sussex). Tsemaye, Kwezi, Alicia and Tom from Nigeria, South Africa, France and the United Kingdom share their thoughts.
We talk about:
- the war in Ukraine
- what makes them happy
- what they would like for the world
- the environment
- Movies - Encanto, Star Wars, Books, Music
- and yes, we get the obligatory joke - from the vaguely amusing to the groan worthy.
A totally charming International Children's Day episode. Will make your week.
Tsemaye, Kwezi, Alicia and Tom are all students at Banana Island School.
Check out Banana Island School's website: www.bananaislandschool.com
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
Special Educational Needs (SEN) has become rather a ‘thing’ but was it ever thus and we are just more aware now? What do we mean by SEN? You know that feeling when you think something is not quite right? The worry, the angst, who do you call? What do you do?
Apparently, “1 in 5 of us has dyslexia” - Dyslexia Nigeria, so yes, it is a ‘thing’.
In the post-Covid world, what have practitioners in the coal face noticed about the children they see?
In this episode, the second in our Education Series, we sit with experts passionate about special-needs children, particularly dyslexia and the autism spectrum. We discuss early signs, early intervention, labelling (or not) and, perhaps most important of all, next steps. We speak with:
Mrs Helen Oshikoya, founder of Nobelova Gradani Psychoeducational Services Nigeria. She is a certified Educational Assessor and Advanced Certified Autism specialist.
Dr Adrienne Tikolo (Ph.D), MD of Dyslexia Nigeria. She is certified Dyslexia assessor with certification in Educational Testing and Board Certified Cognitive Specialist. She is also a member of the British Dyslexia Guild and British Psychological Society.
Mrs Olayide Olumide-Odediran, ED of Dyslexia Nigeria and a Certified Professional Coach, IBCCES Certified Cognitive Coach and UK CIM Certified Executive Function Coach. She holds an M.ED from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a First Class (Honours) Degree in Business Administration & Law from Keele University, UK.
We discuss:
Early Diagnosis;
The Labels, the Definitions;
Systematic Synthetic Phonics/Whole Word Recognition;
The Rose Report;
Special Needs and COVID-19;
Debunking Stigma;
A Parent’s First Action Line;
Collaborations and CSRs
Books, Travel and, yes, the obligatory Jokes
Learn more about Dyslexia Nigeria here
Visit Nobelova Gradani here
Check out United Way Greater Nigeria
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
You get the degrees, plan for the business, find the ideal one at the right price - what could possibly go wrong? Well, plenty as it turns out.
Tope Egoh takes us through her adventures in the education space in the UK and now in Nigeria. The highs and lows, agony and ecstasy. She tells us, knowing what she knows now, would she do it all again?
In this episode, Tope discusses resilience, passion, burdensome regulation and yes, even racism! In your face, can’t-avoid-it racism.
The first in what we hope to morph into a separate and independent Education Podcast Series, this episode introduces a much needed discussion about education, where we are, where we want to be and what we need to do to get there, in Nigeria and abroad.
Oh, we do have the joke (it is funny) and Tope loves the Eagles!
In this episode, we talk about:
Taming Turnbidge Wells;
Racism;
Buying and starting a School;
Succession Planning;
Hotel California, and
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
This Women’s Month we demystify money, wealth creation and preservation and who better to do this than a woman who does all these and does them well.
Bimpe Nkontchou, legal practitioner, family office manager, wealth advisor, art patron extraordinaire and now fintechpreneur!
In this episode, we chat about:
Advising the Uber wealthy;
Succession planning versus ‘Apres moi, le deluge’;
Bimpe’s thoughts on NFTs and Crypto;
Asa, the latest album, keeping that headspace and yep, the quintessential mum jokes, royalty free;
A promise - This episode will leave you healthy, wealthy and wise.
Do feel free to thank us later.
Bimpe Nkontchou on LinkedIn
Visit Wealth8
Visit Wealth8 Advisory
See the Wealth8 mobile app
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
‘Niyi Coker, Jr. is currently Professor & Director of the School of Theatre, Television and Film at San Diego State University in California. Prior to which for 14 years, he was the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Chair & Distinguished Professor in African-American Studies at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis. Despite formidable opposition, he created the first and only degree granting program in African-American Studies at the University of Alabama in 1999—almost 30 years post-civil rights movement.
Passionate, inquisitive and creative, Dr.‘Niyi Coker is an award winning filmmaker, theatre director and author who embodies that almost indefinable, indefatigable, all conquering Nigerian spirit. From that golden era at University of Ife when the constellation of stars and future stars were all at the same place at the same time - Soyinka, Ogunbiyi, Kole Omotoso, Ahmed Yerimah, Chuck Mike and ‘Niyi - a nephew of the great Ola Rotimi! It was perhaps inevitable that he would go on to great things.
We talk about:
Great Ife!
Steel Pulse
Bob Marley
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
Africa Unite!
Dr Niyi’s inspiring bucket list
Dr Niyi Coker’s mail address on LinkedIn
Visit African World Documentary Film Festival
African World Documentary Film Festival on Facebook
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
CONTENT BUCKET FROM THIS EPISODEMUSE
Molefi Kete Asante
“People who have sacrificed and paved the way for us to be here” Dr Niyi Coker
WORKS
A Raisin in the Sun
Africa World Documentary Film Festival
MOVIES
Exterminate All The Brutes - Raoul Peck
MUSIC
Bob Marley
Steel Pulse - Mass Manipulation
TRAVEL
Fiji Islands
BOOKS
The Physics of God - Joseph Selbie
The Confessions of an Economic Hitman - John Perkins
Educated and intrepid with the world as their oyster, the African millennial is young and restless. Fearlesss, ambitious, fiercely afro-centric, secure in their own skin and ready to try new dating options.
Kemi Afun-Ogido (or Dolly to the chosen few) is a policy analyst with the AfDB. She has her finger on the pulse of African agribusiness and worked and/or visited over 25 African countries. She is engaging and totally charming talking about:
Her Nigerian-Indian roots ;
- Online dating (Yup! We went there);
- Her bucket list;
- Racism and the Indian caste system;
- The angst ridden navel gazing boyfriend; and
Yes, this millennial Afropolitan workaholic tells a geeky joke, and it is funny.
Links Mentioned:
Olukemi Afun-Ogidan on LinkedIn
Kemi’s article about the digital future of African agriculture
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
We have discussed with artists, masters and collectors about this topic, but what does it mean to the maven of the arts who is also a chief from the Benin Kingdom, the original home of some of these looted works? Do note the use of the word ‘works’, not just ‘artworks’.
Our guest, Chief Charles Uwesunyi-Edosomwan, is a mega lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has represented both sides of the political aisle and won the trust of both. He is also the Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom, a life member of the Nigerian Body of Benchers and a hero of the University of Benin.
Charles Edosomwan has been appointed a trustee of the proposed Benin Royal Museum by the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II alongside Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and Prince Nduka Obaigbena and speaks with passion in a wide ranging conversation covering:
- The return of the Benin Works (of course);
- A trip down the kingdom’s cultural history;
- Establishing and funding the Benin Museum;
- His nearly military career;
- His personal journey;
- The Nigerian project and restructuring;
- Jimi Hendrix, Weather Report, Return to Forever (who knew?)
And yes, he tells great jokes - the ones with the killer punchlines? Yes, those ones.
Links Mentioned:
Chief Edosomwan on Instagram
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
2021 was quite the year: a roller coaster of highs and lows, peaks and troughs, agonies and nearly-there ecstasy.
**In our new year episode, guests and listeners of our podcast share their reflections on 2021 and their hopes for 2022. In spite of (or perhaps because of) 2021, they look forward with optimism and positivity.
This is the tonic you didn’t know you needed.**
Contributors to the episode:
Yewande Osahrieme-Odia
Seyi Ojuri
Leonard Lawani
Alimi Adewale
Dr Otefe Edebi
Paula Okoneh
Tesse Akpeki
“I gave up on life and living and hope …but, during this year when I felt so lost….people of all races, gender, orientation, just showed up with such love, support, insight” - Tesse Akpeki
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
For a guilt free Christmas, we give you the perfect present - a worthy edition with just the right amount of fun.
Dr Nkoyo Rapu shows what is possible and how far our dreams can go in reshaping our communities and building a mega social enterprise. Her organization, Bethesda Child Support Agency and what is now termed ‘the Bethesda Model’ has well over 900 children over 4 schools, a Skills Acquisition centre and has been studied at Harvard Business School.
We discuss the Bethesda Model, Dr. Nkoyo Rapu’s ‘damascene moment’, a few detours down memory lane and, yep, that joke thing.
Merry Christmas!
Links Mentioned:
Dr Nkoyo Rapu on Instagram
BethesdaChild Support Agency on Instagram
Visit Bethesda Child Support Agency
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
See More of Banana Island Living
Femi Akinsanya - investment banker, broker, educationist and foremost art collector, is no art dilettante.
His passion for collecting transcends that plaything of the idle HNI hour, minute or even year - it began with his distinctive upbringing by a woke Yoruba grandmother ahead of her time, a public librarian.
We discuss selling a business you started from scratch, finding a buyer, succession planning, Mayflower School, Ikenne, Wole Soyinka and, of course, ART and REPATRIATION!
In this episode, we talk about
Femi as an investment banker
The origin of his love for art
His first art collection
Professor Tai Solarin and Mayflower School, Ikenne
Afrocentric Art collecting
His take on the return of stolen artworks
And, yeah, the joke bit. Did he or didn’t he share one? Listen to find out.
Links Mentioned:
Olufemi Akinsanya on Instagram
Olufemi Akinsanya on Linkedin
See Femi Akinsaya Art Collection here
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
This season is sponsored by the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
See More of Banana Island Living
The Nigerian Central Bank Digital Currency, e-Naira, has finally launched, and Oluwaseun Odeku, Associate Director, Forensic Services, KPMG, walks us through.
In this episode, we look at
What exactly is the e-Naira?
Why do we need the e-Naira?
Step by step process for e-Naira wallet
The security/privacy concerns
The future for TelCos, Banks, Fintechs and the PSB Approvals
The opportunity for ForEx and PAPSS
And yes, our guest has a laugh out loud joke😊
Links Mentioned:
Oluwaseun Odeku on Linkedin
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
This season is sponsored by the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
See More of Banana Island Living
The Diaspora Millennial Podcaster Episode.
With now over 7,000 downloads and a million thanks to our fantastic listeners, in this episode, we look at the Nigerian podcasting landscape. The Diaspora Millennial is one demographic that has taken to podcasting with real passion.
We sit down with diaspora millennial podcaster, Matilda Bakare, producer and co-host of the Africalypso podcast. Matilda and her fellow hosts record and publish their content from Canada..
We talk about podcasting for the Nigeria and diaspora audience; the Africalypso podcast journey; the future of podcasting, and yes, the dad joke shows up, again.
Links Mentioned:
Visit The Africalypso Podcast
Matilda Bakare on Instagram
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
This season is sponsored by the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
See More of Banana Island Living
This week's edition features Nigerian printmaker, painter and all round maestro, Bruce Onabrakpeya.
His candour, complex personality and sharp wit made for a truly intriguing conversation.
We discussed Zaria Rebels, return of stolen art, his Harmattan Workshop, his die-hard love for Nigeria; oh, and his intriguing answer to the question ‘who do you admire most?’
Yes, the maestro does have a fun side. Listen and discover this whole different side to BRUCE Onabrakpeya.
Links Mentioned:
About the Harmattan Workshop
The Harmattan Workshop on IG
Visit the Bruce Onabrakpeya Foundation
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
This season is sponsored by the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
See More of Banana Island Living
Mention of the Niger Delta of Nigeria and good (okay, goodish) news in the same sentence is not a song that’s often heard.
Our guest, Dr Dara Akala who runs an NGO in the heart of the Niger Delta, has a soothing narrative, one well worth sharing.
Dr Akala, a development economist and Executive Director of the corporate social enterprise PIND, has a plan, a plan that seems to be working and, one, one dares to hope, making a real difference in the lives of people of the Niger Delta.
Here are a few things to expect:
- Gaining community trust
- Ogoniland today
- Big Oil divestment and the future of funding
- The elephant in the room - where is the government in all this?
- Past imperfect, present continuous, future conditional?
- Dr Akala tells a joke…
Links Mentioned:
Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in Nigeria
PIND on Linkedin
Dara Akala on Linkedin
Dr Akala’s mail: dara@pindfoundation.org
The book Dr Akala is reading: Formation: The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Sponsored by Banana Island School
See More of Banana Island Living
In the rather concerning landscape of the current Nigerian economy, and in spite of COVID-19(or perhaps because of), one segment of the economy seems to be doing exceptionally well - Fintech.
The numbers are head turning -Flutterwave valued at $1 billion (that is $200 million more than the highest value bank in Nigeria); Paga and Andela now with a $1.5 billion valuation. Is Fintech the new oil? Bigger than oil?
Victor Ndukauba, expert investor and the Deputy Managing Director of Afrinvest, has his finger on the Fintech pulse. We discuss how to get in on the ground floor and finding those unicorns.
This episode might just be all the intro you need into this brave new investment world.
We also talk about:
- Fintech: The Next Big Thing?
- How best to invest
- The Nigeria tech talent pool
- Investing in startups
- The venture capitalist’s risk trick for startups
- Trust issues with investing in tech
- Fintech innovation vs CBN regulation
- What are NFTs?
- What makes Victor tick?
Links:
Victor Ndukauba on LinkedIn
Afrinvest on Instagram
Victor Ndukauba, Afrinvest
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF)
See More of Banana Island Living
In this episode, two young Nigerians, Leonard and Daniel - millenial software developer and a Gen Z photographer - share their thoughts on the Nigeria project. One optimistic, and the other, not so much!
We talk about:
- Finding love in the digital world
-
ENDSARS
- Black Lives Matter
- The Commonwealth/Empire
- Religion
- Hope!
Fascinating and yes, even weirdly touching.
Links:
Daniel's works are on Behance
Leonard is on Instagram
Banana Island Living’s Instagram
Banana Island Living's Twitter
Sponsored by Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF)
See More of Banana Island Living
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola is THE novel of the season. Femi Babalola, Bolu's father and diaspora dad extraordinaire, discusses the very intentional way you raise children to keep them connected with their roots and achieving at the highest level in the adopted country.
Bi-coastal living, raising diaspora children, religion, taking bold business risks in an unpredictable Nigeria - no topic was off limits.
A truly interesting season opener.
Our bonuse episode and Season 1 wrap up with teasers for Season 2!
Banana Island Living Podcast started on the 1st of April with the Crypto episode and what a ride it's been. We skip through the different episodes and reveal the most popular.
Season 2 starts on the 1st of September and here we give you heads up on what to look forward to on Banana Island Living - happier, healthier and even better informed.
When you eat, breathe and live art and you are also an engineer, a lawyer and a stock broker. Definitions and categorisations become superfluous.
We present Prince Yemisi Shyllon.
When you are arguably the biggest collector of African Art on the continent, you have a unique voice and earned an authentic platform to talk about art in Africa. Prince Shyllon has a unique and truly innovative position on the repatriation of looted artworks to Nigeria. He may well have found the best solution to this big issue.
Brilliant, truly.
The second in our Art series, we talk to Hannah O'Leary of Sotheby's
about the contemporary African art scene.
The explosion of the African art scene, how to start collecting, the accessibility, the investment opportunities and the influence of African art on the European artists.
Fascinating, educational and, above everything else, the passion for African art shines through.
Definitely one for art lovers everywhere.
The first in our special art series.
We speak to two mega artists at the top of the contemporary Nigerian art scene. Alimi Adewale and Ayoola Gbolahan. Two artists, similar in age, similar in success but with different routes to art. We talk about how it all started, what inspires them, the pandemic and the isolation.
We laugh - a lot! We get really close and personal and, next to buying their art, it really doesn't get much better than this.
This week we speak to the hosts of Tesse Leads and Chatting With the Experts podcasts - Tesse Akpeki and Paula Okoneh.
The word 'journey' has become rather hackneyed but these two really have had 'a journey'. The peaks, the troughs, the agony and the ecstasy - loss to triumph and everything in between. No holds barred and nothing off the table.
This was a jam session, and then some.
In this episode we discuss mental health in Nigeria - the myths, the realities and where/how to get help.
But how do you talk about such a heavy subject in a light hearted way? Dr. Edebi (the singing physician) educates us and - yes, it is very real. No - it isn't limited to a particular demographic.
Yes, we laugh, a lot, but always, always being respectful of the topic and the challenges.
This episode was recorded in May 2021 to mark Mental Health Awareness Month.
They are born and bred in the diaspora but identify as Nigerians. But how true is this and how Nigerian are they really? The angst, the agony and the ecstacy of the diaspora millenial is deeply moving and searingly thought provoking.
Definitely one to listen to - again and again.
When you set out to solve a problem, to fulfill a need you have. On that journey, you encounter your purpose; and that purpose turns into a thriving digital business. A digital business started when Instagram was but a babe in arms.
Yetty Williams takes us on her journey and, yes, it is absolutely worth the ride!
Take three people, all different nationalities, all came to live in Lagos, and listen to them talk about their experiences.
There are many ways to tell your Nigerian story. The good and the not so great. The sublime and the mundane. The security, the music, making friends. Real people, real experiences, unvarnished and honest.
Not to be missed.
We talk to Augustine Okpe, a developer with in-depth knowledge of the Banana Island property market. He takes us through all the hoops you need to jump to develop property on the Island and tells us what to do and probably, more importantly, what not to do. Priceless!
Our very first Business episode. The Crypto Episode!
In this episode, we discuss Crypto currencies with Dr. Iyabo Masha, a global economist, staff member of the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC and member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
The recent Central Bank of Nigeria ban on Crypto currencies going through the banking system has generated a lot of heated conversations in the country. What was the thinking behind the ban? Does the Nigeria Stock Exchange recognise Crypto as an asset class? Still? And the future?
Plus, we get up close and personal with Dr. Iyabo Masha.
Not to be missed!
Welcome to the Banana Island Living podcasts!
*Banana Island Living is a lifestyle, well-being platform that encapsulates how we want to live – happier, healthier - and better informed.
We will talk business, community, books, travel, music, food, gardens, health, style and , of course, Banana Island Life.
Join us every fortnight - starting 1st of April 2021!*