Mazungumzo - African Scholarly Conversations

Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa)

‘Mazungumzo - African Scholarly Conversations’ is a podcast that highlights the perspectives of various stakeholders in academia and research fields across Africa through open dialogue or ‘Mazungumzo’ on scholarly communication in Africa. We are joined by an expansive list of African policymakers, science communication specialists, innovators, and tertiary institution leads who contribute to this realm of science communication. Join the host, Joy Owango, for candid stories by researchers, policymakers, higher education leaders, and innovators on their journeys.

  1. SN 4 EP 5: Reclaiming African Scholarship Through Open Science and Data Sovereignty with Dr. Julius Sindi (APHRC)

    5D AGO

    SN 4 EP 5: Reclaiming African Scholarship Through Open Science and Data Sovereignty with Dr. Julius Sindi (APHRC)

    In this episode, we tackle the "painful paradox" of African scholarship: researchers acting as "architects" of data only to be locked out of their own results by global paywalls. Host Joy Owango joins Dr. Julius Sindi (APHRC) to discuss dismantling the "vicious cycle" of academic exclusion and the urgent need for a sovereign, African-governed African Research Commons. Connect with Dr. Julius Sindi through: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julius-kirimi-sindi-ph-d-3045439/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    50 min
  2. SN 4 EP 4: Knowledge Management and the Future of African Higher Education with Dr. Felicia Kuagbedzi (AAU)

    JAN 15

    SN 4 EP 4: Knowledge Management and the Future of African Higher Education with Dr. Felicia Kuagbedzi (AAU)

    In this episode, host Joy Owango speaks with Dr. Felicia Kuagbedzi, the Acting Coordinator for ICT Communications and Knowledge Management at the Association of African Universities (AAU). They discuss the AAU’s pivotal role in reforming higher education in Africa through digital transformation, knowledge management, and capacity building. Dr. Felicia highlights how the AAU is bridging the gap between research and policy, fostering continental collaboration, and building the digital infrastructure necessary for African universities to thrive in the 21st century. Connect with Dr. Felicia Kuagbedzi through: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-nkrumah-phd-21a73273/ ⁠⁠⁠Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    43 min
  3. SN 4 EP 3: Governance of African Research Ecosystems and Open Science with Dr. Henry Waruhiu, ESAMI

    12/19/2025

    SN 4 EP 3: Governance of African Research Ecosystems and Open Science with Dr. Henry Waruhiu, ESAMI

    This episode explores the urgent need to harmonize research governance across Africa and break down the institutional silos that often keep scholarly knowledge trapped within faculties. We sit down with Dr. Henry Waruhiu, Director of Research and Management Consultancy at the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), to discuss the "politics of publishing" and the unique "helicopter view" ESAMI applies to the continent’s knowledge ecosystems.Connect with Dr. Henry Waruhiu through: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/waruhiu-henry-46611819/ ⁠⁠⁠Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

    48 min
  4. SN 4 EP 2: Reimagining North Africa’s Knowledge Hubs — Maha Abbas on Open Science, AI, and the Future of Libraries

    11/13/2025

    SN 4 EP 2: Reimagining North Africa’s Knowledge Hubs — Maha Abbas on Open Science, AI, and the Future of Libraries

    In this episode host Joy Owango speaks with Maha Abbas, Head of Biblioteca Alexandrina Information for Africa (BAIFA) at Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, and North African representative at the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA). They explore how libraries in Africa, especially in North Africa, are evolving from historical centers of knowledge into dynamic, digitally empowered institutions driving research visibility, open science, and continental collaboration. The conversation journeys through Africa’s library heritage, the integration of technology like AI, and the human-centered vision that sustains the profession. Connect with Maha Abbas through: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/maha-abbas-023608235/ ⁠⁠⁠Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

    43 min
  5. SN 4 EP 1: Implementing Research Systems in African Hospitals with Hannah Wanjiku

    10/20/2025

    SN 4 EP 1: Implementing Research Systems in African Hospitals with Hannah Wanjiku

    This episode features insights from Hannah Wanjiku, the Research Management Officer at Gertrude's Children's Hospital, on the critical role of research management and science communication in strengthening African healthcare systems. Hannah shares her journey from clinical nursing to research leadership and explains why hospitals are "gold mines" of data that need structured systems to turn insights into action.  Connect with Hannah Wanjiku through: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-wanjiku-7a75292b/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

    27 min
  6. SN 3 EP 12: Building Equitable Research Ecosystems Through African-Led Management Systems with Allen Mukhwana of Science for Africa Foundation

    09/11/2025

    SN 3 EP 12: Building Equitable Research Ecosystems Through African-Led Management Systems with Allen Mukhwana of Science for Africa Foundation

    In this episode, Allen Mukhwana, Head of Programmes, Strengthening Science Ecosystems at Science for Africa Foundation, shares her journey from accidentally stumbling into research management to becoming a champion for equitable research partnerships across Africa. Allen reveals how strategic research management can dismantle colonial legacies in academia and build truly equitable partnerships with Global North institutions. This episode explores the critical role of research managers in creating sustainableecosystems, the fight against tokenistic collaborations, and the promising future of African-led research sovereignty through science diplomacy and open access publishing reforms. Connect with Allen Mukhwana through: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-mukhwana-56b1871a/ ⁠⁠⁠ Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

    48 min
  7. SN 3 EP 11: Harnessing Behavioral Science for Better Research Communication with Monica Akinyi Kay of Busara

    08/14/2025

    SN 3 EP 11: Harnessing Behavioral Science for Better Research Communication with Monica Akinyi Kay of Busara

    In this episode, we sit down with Monica Akinyi Kay, Project Associate at the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, to explore how behavioral science can transform research communication in African contexts. Monica shares insights from her work with civil society organizations across East and Southern Africa, highlighting the Low-Cost Message Testing Guide (LCMT), a practical approach that helps organizations test and refine messages even with limited resources. We discuss the real-worldbarriers to engagement, from community mistrust to information overload, and examine why co-creation, local context, and strategic partnerships are essential for communication that works. This conversation offers practical strategies for researchers, policymakers, and communicators to move beyond assumptions and design messages that resonate, motivate, and lead to lasting change. Connect with Monica Akinyi Kay through: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicaakinyikay/ ⁠⁠⁠ Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

    39 min
  8. SN 3 EP 10: Reflections on the Open Science Strategy in Morocco with Hanae Lrhoul

    07/17/2025

    SN 3 EP 10: Reflections on the Open Science Strategy in Morocco with Hanae Lrhoul

    In this episode we sit down with Professor Hanae Lrhoul, a leading voice in open science and research policy in Morocco. From her early work building digital repositories to helping shape the country’s National Open Science Strategy, Professor Lrhou shares reflections on the progress, challenges, and collective vision for a more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful scientific future in Morocco and beyond. Connect with Professor Hanae Lrhoul through: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanae-lrhoul-969576197/ ⁠ Read the transcript of this episode through our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tcc-africa.org/category/mazungumzo-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) on: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/tccafrica⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/tccafrica⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mazungumzo-africa-scholarly-conversations-podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

    23 min

About

‘Mazungumzo - African Scholarly Conversations’ is a podcast that highlights the perspectives of various stakeholders in academia and research fields across Africa through open dialogue or ‘Mazungumzo’ on scholarly communication in Africa. We are joined by an expansive list of African policymakers, science communication specialists, innovators, and tertiary institution leads who contribute to this realm of science communication. Join the host, Joy Owango, for candid stories by researchers, policymakers, higher education leaders, and innovators on their journeys.