Best panel54pod Podcasts (2026)

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Tsepiso, James, Theophilus & Mbugua - Year in Review- Part 1 50:11

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3d ago50:11

50:11

In Part One of Panel 54’s end-of-year special, Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with some of Africa’s most influential editors to interrogate a hard question: who controls Africa’s story at a moment of global upheaval? Joining the conversation are Theophilus Yardy from Ghana, Tsepiso Makwetla from South Africa, James Muyanwa from Zambia, and Ja…

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H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Matsuura: Japan and Africa 44:15

26d ago44:15

44:15

Japan and Africa meet at a critical moment in a changing world. One is navigating demographic pressure, technological transition and a complex security environment. The other is rising in strategic importance as the global order shifts toward multipolarity. In this episode of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with His Excellency …

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Michael Lenaimado - Poachers, Politics & The Battle for Survival. 1:01:52

1M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Poaching networks, shrinking habitats, foreign market demand and political neglect are reshaping conservation across the region. And rangers are paying the highest price. In this episode of Panel 54, veteran ranger Michael Lenaimado joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to break down what’s really happening on the front lines. He exposes how organised …

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Ndu and Waweru - China, Gen Z and Africa’s Future 43:56

1M ago43:56

43:56

After twenty-one episodes across politics, diplomacy, security, mining, protests, soft power and geopolitics, Ndu Okoh and Waweru Njoroge step away from the guest chair and turn the lens on themselves.In this special introspective episode of Panel 54, the hosts reflect on the conversations that shaped the season: interviewing former President Kufuo…

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Seth Bokpe - Money and the Mining Mafia in Ghana 49:37

2M ago49:37

49:37

West Africa’s gold is enriching the world — but devastating the people who live closest to it. Illegal mining has become an environmental catastrophe, a political flashpoint and a lucrative gateway for foreign interests. And at the centre of it all is the uncomfortable truth: exploitation thrives when governance fails. In this episode of Panel 54, …

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Hassan Khannaje - Chaos in the Horn of Africa 50:07

2M ago50:07

50:07

Wars without victory, alliances without trust, and peace that profits the few. The Horn of Africa remains one of the most strategic yet unstable regions in the world, and understanding why means following the money. In this episode of Panel 54, Prof. Hassan Khannaje, Director of the Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins Waweru N…

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Ted Kwaka - The Soft Power of Cultural Diplomacy 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

Africa’s influence on the world isn’t just political or economic; it’s cultural. From music and fashion to film and festivals, soft power is becoming the new diplomacy. In this nineteenth episode of Panel 54, Ted Kwaka, cultural envoy and former Consul General for Kenya in Los Angeles, joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to explore how Africa can use…

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Kevin Kigima - The Chinese Debt Trap- Real or Imagined 48:18

2M ago48:18

48:18

Africa’s debt crisis is no longer just about economics — it’s about power, sovereignty, and the politics of influence. In this episode of Panel 54, economist Kevin Kigima Ng’ang’a joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to unpack China’s “debt trap” and what it really means for the continent’s independence and future growth. From Zambia’s default to Keny…

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Ralph Goff & Seth Shava – Drones, AI and the Future of Warfare 1:02:46

3M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

In Episode 17 of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with Retired KAF Colonel, Seth Shava and former CIA Station Chief, Ralph Goff to unpack how artificial intelligence and drone warfare are reshaping security, sovereignty, and the future of conflict. The conversation explores the new face of war, where drones, data, and algorithms…

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Tom Amolo - A Seat at The Table. 50:32

3M ago50:32

50:32

In Episode 16 of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with veteran Kenyan diplomat, Tom Amolo and former Ambassador to Germany and US, to unpack Africa’s missing seat at the world’s top table. The conversation explores how diplomacy became one of Africa’s quiet strengths yet lost its strategic edge. From Kenya’s evolving foreign pol…

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Stella Agara: Power, Protest & the New Price of Influence in Africa 53:10

3M ago53:10

53:10

In Episode 15 of Panel 54, Stella Agara a Governance and Youth Development Specialist joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to unpack a continent at a crossroads, where young Africans are pushing back against corruption, foreign influence, and the quiet capture of democracy. From Kenya’s Gen Z protests to Malawi’s ballot revolution, from China’s growin…

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Charles Murito - Africa in the Age of AI 38:31

3M ago38:31

38:31

Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction , it’s already reshaping how we learn, heal, farm, and tell stories. In this episode of Panel 54, Somoina Kimojino, Kenyan media and radio veteran, steps in to host while Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh are on assignment. She sits down with Charles Murito, Google’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan A…

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Edgar Wamalwa - Africa’s Debt, Dependency, and "Africapitalism" 45:31

4M ago45:31

45:31

Africa fuels the world with cobalt, cocoa, oil, and gold , yet still carries over $1.1 trillion in external debt. In this episode of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit with Edgar Wamalwa, a strategic consultant and project finance expert with over three decades in banking and infrastructure, to unpack Africa’s paradox of plenty. From K…

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Tom Mukhwana & Babior Newton - Telling Africa's Story 57:00

4M ago57:00

57:00

In this episode of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with journalist Tom Mukhwana and author Babior Newton to tackle one of the biggest questions of our time: who gets to tell Africa’s story? We dive deep into the media and power dynamics that shape the global narrative, asking the tough questions: Why do conflicts in Sudan and t…

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Jerotich Seii - China in Africa: Progress or Plunder? 50:07

5M ago50:07

50:07

China in Africa: Progress or Plunder? They call it development. hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with Jerotich Seii — humanitarian, social justice advocate, and active citizen to rip open the myth of China’s “partnership” with Africa. From ports in Djibouti to debt-laden railways in Nairobi, Jerotich asks what no leader will: are we selli…

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Cynthia, Musa , Chris Ochieng & Elly - The Beautiful Game! 48:59

5M ago48:59

48:59

In this special conversation, Panel 54 brings together sports manager Cynthia Mumbo, sports scientist and broadcaster Musa Abdi, Chris Ochieng (Gor Mahia striker), and Elly Asiete (Mathare FC captain) with hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to explore football’s grip on Africa, from CHAN pride to Premier League passion. The discussion moves beyond t…

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Panel 54 Podcast - Pres. John Kufuor, Pt 2 59:04

5M ago59:04

59:04

In Part Two of this conversation with His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Ghana, the discussion moves beyond the early years and into the heart of his presidency, from ushering in Ghana’s golden age of business to striking oil, reforming health and education, and navigating diplomacy across Africa. He reflects on the challenges …

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Panel 54 Podcast - Pres. John Kufuor, Pt 1 35:58

6M ago35:58

35:58

In this special two-part, on-location interview, Waweru Njoroge sits down in Accra, Ghana with His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of the Republic of Ghana and one of Africa’s most respected statesmen. Part One traces his journey from Kumasi’s royal roots to Oxford’s law halls, to Ghana’s presidency and beyond. We explore the early…

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Peter Kagwanja - Violence in Africa! 45:31

6M ago45:31

45:31

In this episode of Panel 54, public intellectual and scholar Prof. Peter Kagwanja joins Waweru and Nduh for an unflinching conversation on the nature and function of violence in Africa. From colonial brutality to the tactics of modern regimes and resistance movements, Kagwanja explores how violence has become a tool — not just for survival or prote…

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Mbugua Ng'anga - Media For Sale 43:17

6M ago43:17

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In this episode of Panel 54, investigative journalist and editor Mbugua Ng'anga joins Waweru and Nduh for a revealing conversation about the slow death of media neutrality in Africa. As global powers like China invest heavily in newsrooms and training programs, soft power—not censorship—is reshaping what counts as news. Sponsored content is no long…

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Winnie Kabintie - Is Pan-Africanism Relevant Now? 35:15

7M ago35:15

35:15

In this episode of Panel 54, youth advocate and policy analyst Winnie Kabinti joins Waweru and Ndu for a sharp and unfiltered look at the promise and problems of Pan-Africanism today. From Nkrumah’s original vision to the fragmented realities of modern leadership, they explore whether unity still means something or if it has become just a convenien…

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Dr Willy Mutunga - Death of Liberty 49:05

7M ago49:05

49:05

In this episode of Panel 54, former Kenyan Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga joins Waweru and Nduh for a powerful conversation on how civic space is being dismantled across East Africa. From protest bans in Uganda and press crackdowns in Tanzania to Kenya’s quiet rise in surveillance, Dr. Mutunga breaks down how governments are using legal systems an…

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Tom Mukhwana - Gen Z Activism 36:38

7M ago36:38

36:38

In this third episode of Panel 54, investigative journalist Tom Mukhwana joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh for a sharp, unfiltered conversation on Gen Z activism across Africa. From Nigeria’s #EndSARS to Kenya’s anti-finance bill protests and South Africa’s Fees Must Fall, we explore how a digital first generation is reshaping the idea of youth pow…

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Col (Rtd) Seth Shava - Security in Africa 39:02

7M ago39:02

39:02

In this powerful second episode of Panel 54, former Kenya Air Force Commander and Top Gun graduate Colonel Seth Shava joins hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to expose the truth behind Africa’s role in global defence. From foreign military bases to joint drills and surveillance ops, Africa is hosting the war but not writing the rules. So we ask: is…

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Khainga O’Okwemba - Rise and Fall of African media 36:45

8M ago36:45

36:45

Welcome to the debut episode of Panel 54, where real power meets real perspective. Hosts Waweru Njoroge, a seasoned Kenyan journalist media disruptor and strategist, and Ndu Okoh, a fearless cultural critic, media maven and journalist take you beyond the headlines into the heart of Africa’s most urgent conversations. In this first episode, they unp…

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