The ‘Hustling the African Dream’ podcast series is a project produced by Telltale Media in collaboration with eight young Africans from Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe on the Young African Research Fellowship (YARF) programme at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). These fellows are all alumni of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, representing diverse universities from across the African continent and the diaspora. The series emerges from the context of The Imprint of Education (TIE) project, a pivotal study championed by HSRC in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. The TIE study pursues questions on topics such as ethical and transformative leadership, giving back, livelihoods, identity, mentoring and work with the view to understand how to better prepare young African graduates to have a real impact on their worlds.
At the heart of the podcast project lies a critical inquiry into how young people across Africa sustain their livelihoods, innovate, hustle, and create opportunities, especially in light of prevailing socioeconomic challenges and the structural barriers that impede their progress. As part of making the podcast, the fellows conducted extensive interviews with young hustlers, entrepreneurs, and professionals working across six countries, representing Southern, West, and East Africa, uncovering multifaceted methods through which they generate income and livelihoods as well as the structural barriers they encounter in their pursuits.
As showcased in the podcast through moving narratives, these methods span a wide range of activities, from agricultural pursuits and rural-urban migration to innovative recycling initiatives and street-vending enterprises such as food and beverage sales and technological trading. Some even operate in risky environments as they pursue livelihoods as Boda Boda drivers, often putting their safety and mortality on the line.
The narratives shared in this podcast provide compelling insight into the experiences of young Africans who, despite being marginalised and facing precarious circumstances largely beyond their control, demonstrate extraordinary resilience and determination. They are not merely striving for personal survival, but are also deeply committed to fostering opportunities that empower themselves and their surrounding communities. The essence of the podcast’s title signifies this dual commitment: through the act of hustling, the African dream becomes a shared vision that includes personal empowerment alongside community welfare.
In addition to showcasing these inspiring stories, ’Hustling the African Dream serves a broader purpose: it aims to provide practical evidence that resonates with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and other relevant parties, urging them to reconsider current perceptions and frameworks regarding the nature of work. Mainly, it advocates for a more inclusive understanding of work that transcends the traditional definitions of office-based, 9-to-5 roles—emphasizing that legitimate work can encompass a variety of legal and even illicit activities that young people engage in to empower themselves and contribute to their communities.
The podcast series not only seeks to celebrate the achievements of young Africans but also strives to influence systemic change. It fosters a dialogue around the potential and capabilities of the continent’s youth as they hustle to fulfil their dreams in an often-unforgiving landscape. It is a testament to the creativity and tenacity of the next generation and presents a hopeful vision for the future of work and opportunity in Africa.
The HSRC will be hosting the official launch of the ‘Hustling the African Dream’ podcast series in its Cape Town offices on Tuesday, 4 December 2024. The event will include a listening session and panel discussion with the young leaders and industry experts.
Click here to RSVP to attend the event in-person or register to join remotely.
Further reading on the ‘Hustling the African Dream’ project in the HSRC Review:
From trash to treasure: using Kenya’s waste crisis to generate livelihoods for youth
A perilous dance with survival: the youth hustle economy in Malawi
Africa’s youth livelihood challenge: amplifying voices through a virtual museum
This podcast was produced in the context of The Imprint of Education study that is conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Foundation, its staff, or its Board of Directors.
