Reclaiming the Narrative: Community, Media & Africa's Startup Story with Andile Masuku(African Tech Roundup)
Description
What if the real power in Africa’s startup ecosystem isn’t capital — but control of the narrative?
This episode is a reckoning with how stories are told, who gets to tell them, and what gets left out. Andile Masuku, co-founder of African Tech Roundup, joins us to unpack the tension between media, community, and innovation — and why reclaiming the narrative is essential if we’re serious about building an ecosystem that serves people, not just platforms.
Andile has spent nearly a decade documenting the evolution of the continent’s tech space. But he’s also challenged it — asking hard questions about who gets visibility, whose voices are missing, and whether we’re building systems that truly serve people.
We unpack:
Why African Tech Roundup chose depth over scale — and what that reveals about community building
The media’s role in either amplifying hype or holding power to account
How "community" has become a buzzword — and how to reclaim its real meaning
The tension between storytelling, influence, and impact
Why building with integrity means being willing to disrupt your own comfort
💡 This episode is a call to rethink what we celebrate in African innovation — and a reminder that storytelling isn’t just a reflection of the ecosystem, it’s a force that can shape its future.
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