Panel 54 is where Africa tells its own story. From Lagos to Lamu, Cape Town to Cairo, hosts Waweru Njoroge (Kenya) and Ndu Okoh (Kenya/Nigeria) explore the people, power, and politics shaping the continent. Each episode delivers sharp, evidence-first conversations with leaders, activists, athletes, and cultural voices. From sports and identity to security, media, new foreign influence, youth movements, sovereignty, and Africa’s place in a multipolar world, Panel 54 offers a global perspectiv ...
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Panel54pod Podcasts

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Edgar Wamalwa - Africa’s Debt, Dependency, and "Africapitalism"
45:31
45:31
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45:31Africa 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
57:00
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57:00In 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
50:07
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50:07China 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
48:59
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48:59In 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
59:04
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59:04In 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
35:58
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35:58In 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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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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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
35:15
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35:15In 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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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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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
39:02
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39:02In 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
36:45
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36:45Welcome 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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