Four Kenyan podcasts among 13 picked for Ksh.12M Spotify continental fund

The $100,000 (Ksh.12 million) fund announced on Monday seeks to support creators in the growing podcasting scene through financial grants, workshops and networking opportunities.

Among the 13 beneficiaries of the fund across the continent are The Sandwich Podcast, The Messy Inbetween, Mantalk.ke and Nipe Story.

The Sandwich Podcast, the podcast with the most listeners in Kenya, is hosted by Joan, Kibz, Nyamita and Owen. Delivered in a mix of English, Swahili, and Sheng, topics on the podcast are inspired by the hosts’ life experiences and the guests they feature.

The Messy Inbetween on the other hand is hosted by Murugi Munyi and Lydia Mukami, covering love, money, work, life, and advice led by lived experience and all the things that make life what it is. TMI provides a safe space for women to discuss their experiences candidly.

At the same time, Eli Mwenda and Oscar Koome’s Mantalk.ke tackles conversations led by men on issues such as toxic masculinity, fatherhood, feminism, dating, and self-care, while Nipe Story is hosted and narrated by Kenyan writer, journalist, and queer activist Kevin Mwachiro.

The podcast gives a voice to written African short stories and seeks to provide a platform for African writers to have their short stories heard.

“Africa Podfest is excited about the development of podcasting in Africa particularly because the medium allows underrepresented African voices to tell the story of Africa,” Melissa Mbugua, the Co-Director of Africa Podfest, said.

Mbugua also noted that the fund will be offered to select creators from other African countries with the biggest podcast listenership; South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana, and are recorded in Pidgin, English, French, Sheng, Ga, and Twi. 

They comprise of Si Maman M'avait Dit (Cameroon), Sincerely Accra (Ghana), I Said What I Said, Tea With Tay and F&S Uncensored (Nigeria), as well as After School Is After School with Sis G.U, The Journey Kwantu, Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba and Convos & Cocktails with Lesego Tlhabi from South Africa.

With over 433 million users, 188 million of whom are Premium subscribers, Spotify will administer the fund through Africa Podfest, a Kenyan-based company focused on inspiring and elevating African podcasters by building a sustainable and inclusive podcasting industry across Africa.