In this episode, Maureen and Mashudu take you on a journey across borders—both real and imagined.
The conversation kicks off with a sharp take on the existence of passports; they unpack how access often morphs into hierarchy. When formerly excluded people gain mobility, why does it sometimes come with a sense of superiority over those still locked out? And deeper still—do passports, borders, and visas serve progress, or quietly work against our collective future?
From there, they revisit Onyx Africa’s recent Web3 Founder Series, spotlighting Glen Jordan’s work with Empowa. The conversation expands into the hidden mechanics of poverty—how people aren’t necessarily poor, but punished for earning irregularly, and in turn locked out of things like home loans and financial dignity.
Things heat up when the two lock horns on payday access apps: are they empowering tools or dressed-up loan sharks? Is it reckless spending or underpayment that’s failing the average worker? It’s a spirited debate that doesn’t land neatly—just how we like it...
From there, the discussion zooms out to a continental scale: the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt’s opposition, and the power dynamics that dams (literal and political) always reveal.
The episode closes with a hard look at historical amnesia—how those who once upheld and benefited from apartheid now conveniently act like they never supported the system.
It’s one of the most debated, dynamic, and boundary-pushing episodes yet. It’s fiery. Uneasy. But important. A cozy conversation… with sharp edges. 🥶
