Discovering Africa Thru' Technology

Scent, Soul & Science: The Candles Powering a Global Feel-Good Movement

Welcome to Discovering Africa Thru Technology Podcast that cuts through the noise to celebrate the real visionaries building solutions from the ground up. We showcase the brilliance of Africa's greatminds, innovators, and experts as they tackle complex challenges with homegrown solutions driven by knowledge, technology, and innovation. Our podcast is inspired by the AU Agenda 2063 Aspiration 7, which seeks to rebrand Africa and change negative narratives and perspectives through science and innovation. In this episode, we explore the intersection of scent, science, and emotional wellbeing; and yes, we're talking about candles. Host Raziah Quallatein Mwawanga sits down with Maryam Hassan and Fisayo Adedipe the Co Founders of Muuds by 2702. A UK based wellness brand with a global mission to help people improve their quality of life through everyday products and little things that promotepositivity. Muuds is on a mission to become a global feel good brand creating intentional, mood led sensory products designed to actively support emotional wellbeing. Their approach blends research led product development with design and purpose, helping busy professionals feel calmer, more balanced and more in control of their emotional state through simple sensory experiences.From candles that shift your mood to daily rituals that spark joy Muuds is proving that sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest difference. We discuss: The Candles That Change Your Mood. How scent actively supports emotional wellbeing building a Global Feel Good Brand The vision behind Muuds and its mission to spread positivity worldwide and the science of little things Why everyday rituals matter for mental health and quality of life from idea to impact The entrepreneurial journey of two founders building a purpose driven brand with global ambition whether you are an entrepreneur, wellness enthusiast, or simply curious about the power of scent . This conversation will change how you think about candles, self-care, and the little things that make life better. Inspired by the AU Agenda 2063 Aspiration 7, which seeks to rebrand Africa and change negative narratives and perspectives through science, technology and innovation. Subscribe now and never miss a solution.  Follow us https://www.facebook.com/discoverAfrDATT https://open.spotify.com/show/4DSLXnQZGtKRzQOwj4zoik https://www.instagram.com/discoverafrdatt/ https://www.facebook.com/discoverAfrDATT https://www.linkedin.com/company/discovering-africa-thru-technology, https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/discoveringafricadatt https://www.youtube.com/@DiscoveringAfricaDATT Discoveringafricadatt@gmail.com Muuds by 2702 Instagram: 2702.company Linkedin:The 2702 Company TikTok: the2702company X: the2702company Facebook: The 2702 Company Info@2702company.com www.muuds.2702company.com

REQZI: Reinventing Residential Property Management | The Founders Behind the Platform

What happens when residential buildings stop running on disconnected tools and start operating as one connected system? In this episode, we speak with Abdulmalik Abdullahi Shinkafi Founder Ceo, AI Intergration Engineer at Cambridge and Musa Christopher, Co-Founder , Ex Amazon Operations Manager about the platform they are building to transform residential property management in the UK. Reqzi is a UK building operations platform that replaces spreadsheets, WhatsApp groups, paper logs, emails, and other disconnected tools with one real-time system connecting directors, front desk teams, and residents. Through three integrated portals an Admin Dashboard, a Front Desk Portal, and a Resident App Reqzi brings every aspect of building operations into one flow. In our conversation Abdulmalik and Musa discuss the problem they set out to solve, why most managed residential buildings still operate on fragmented systems, and how Reqzi is creating a more connected, transparent, and efficient experience for everyone involved. We also explore some remarkable milestones behind the platform: • Zero external funding and zero paid marketing, yet more than 40 companies are already in the pipeline. • The entire platform was built in-house by a single technical CEO. • Reqzi Go, their solution for landlords, HMO owners, and letting agents, was created after customers requested it before it was even on the roadmap. Built by two Nigerian-born founders, Reqzi is proving that innovation does not have to be complicated. Sometimes, the biggest transformation comes from connecting people who have always worked in the same building but never on the same system. Connect REQZI (https://www.linkedin.com/company/reqzi) Instagram - reqziofficial (https://www.instagram.com/reqziofficial) YouTube - reqziofficial (https://youtube.com/@reqziofficial?si=DdTzTFsJPpeaA9h4) X - reqziofficial (https://x.com/reqziofficial) TikTok - reqziofficial (https://www.tiktok.com/@reqziofficial?_r=1&_t=ZN-97JiKNBLdx8) Musa - www.linkedin.com/in/musa-christopher Malik - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulmalik-abdullahi-shinkafi-5645a21b6

Beyond Breakthroughs: Innovation Communicated

Beyond Breakthroughs: Innovation Communicated (with Eva Kagiri-Kalanzi) What happens when science-led startups win on technical breakthroughs but lose on the message? Research shows that clear science communication can increase an innovation’s public adoption by over 60%, yet up to 80% of deep-tech failures are driven by commercialisation and messaging gaps rather than flaws in the core science. In this episode of Discovering Africa Thru Technology host Raziah Quallatein Mwawanga sits down with Eva Kagiri-Kalanzi, a Science Communication and international development expert from Synapse-Collaborative & AISCE. With nearly 20 years of experience shaping innovation ecosystems between the UK and Africa, Eva breaks down why traditional agency models fail deep-tech founders and how fragmented messaging stalls critical solutions. We discuss the birth of AISCE, a pioneering platform bridging the gap between complex science, strategy, and governance. Eva addresses the rising "AI trust gap" in high-stakes fields where factual errors or AI hallucinations can decimate investor confidence overnight and outlines why a strict "human in the loop" approach is vital. Deep dive into the core DATT mandate: promoting the power of African experts' knowledge to solve local and global challenges. Eva shares how African science startups can move past simply producing research to completely owning their narrative and using strategic communication as a tool of global power. Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode! Connect with Us: https://www.facebook.com/discoverAfrDATT https://open.spotify.com/show/4DSLXnQZGtKRzQOwj4zoik https://www.instagram.com/discoverafrdatt/ https://www.facebook.com/discoverAfrDATT https://www.linkedin.com/company/discovering-africa-thru-technology, https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/discoveringafricadatt https://www.youtube.com/@DiscoveringAfricaDATT https://www.tiktok.com/@discoverafrdatt?_r=1&_t=ZS-976vwa4lu7w discoveringafricadatt@gmail.com +255756606041 Guest LinkedIn: Connect with Eva Kagiri-Kalanzi LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/evakagiri-kalanzi] Platform: Learn more about Synapse-Collaborative & AISCE Synapse-Collaborative [https://synapse-collaborative.com/] #ScienceCommunication #DeepTech #AfricanInnovation #EthicalAI #TechGovernance #DATTPodcast

Tech That Frees: African Innovation & Global Justice Jillian Alexander

50 million people are trapped in modern slavery today. To meet the UN's 2030 eradication goal, we would need to free 10,000 people every single day for the next decade. In the UK alone, over 23,000 potential victims were referred to authorities in 2025 a 22% increase and the highest number ever recorded. Across Africa, 7 million people live in modern slavery, with children accounting for a devastating 62% of identified victims. This is not a history lesson. It is happening right now. In this episode of Discovering Africa Through Technology, host Raziah Quallatein Mwawanga sits down with Jillian Alexander a scholar with five degrees across sociology, human rights, criminology, and law who left the boardroom for the frontlines. Starting as a volunteer walking alongside survivors, Jillian built something radically different: Unbound Organisation, a coaching-led, strengths-based, tech-enabled social enterprise designed not to rescue people, but to unlock their own power to rebuild. We explore the five pillars of the Unbound framework Unlock, Unlearn, Unfold, Uplift, and Unbound and ask: How does technology help a survivor move from trauma to autonomy? We also issue a challenge. The UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner warns that criminals now use AI and digital platforms to "recruit, groom and control victims at scale." If technology is being weaponised to trap people, then technology must be part of the solution to set them free. This episode is a call to the builders: developers, business owners, policymakers, and investors. Not pity. Partnership. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." Discovering Africa Through Technology  cutting through the noise to celebrate the visionaries building solutions from the ground up. https://www.instagram.com/discoverafrdatt/ discoveringafricadatt@gmail.com

Waste to Wealth: How African Innovation is Transforming Trash into Technology | Dr. Ben Festus

What if the waste we throw away every day could build industries, create jobs, and power Africa’s future? In this powerful episode of Discovering Africa Thru Technology, we are joined by Dr. Ben Festus a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials (CeNAM), University of Johannesburg; Acting Director of Research and Development at Federal Polytechnic Ede, Nigeria; and Convener of the Centre for Advanced Materials and Development. This episode dives deep into waste to wealth innovation, sustainable engineering, and the circular economy in Africa revealing how everyday waste can be transformed into high value materials, industrial products, and scalable business opportunities. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why waste is not useless but untapped wealth How agro-waste (like coconut husks) can become durable industrial materials Why Africa must shift from importing goods to building local industries How e-waste recycling can produce battery materials and lab-grade resources Scalable solutions for SMEs, startups, and local manufacturing The innovation behind CoolTech a smart vaccine cooling carrier How local techniques + modern science can drive climate smart industrialisation Why this is more than research but a movement for Africa’s economic transformation This episode is perfect for: Engineers | Entrepreneurs | Startups | Policymakers | Sustainability professionals | Students | Anyone interested in African innovation, green technology, and climate solutions Key topics covered: Waste to wealth | Circular economy | Sustainable engineering | Green technology | Agro-waste recycling | E-waste innovation | African industrialisation | Clean technology | Materials science | Local manufacturing | Climate change solutions Tune in to discover how Africa can turn waste into opportunity and lead the future of sustainable innovation.