The Podcast Making African Innovation Required Listening
When Boris Kodjoe arrives on In The Valley he begins with a single word: “Present.” He explains that “the past is over and the future isn’t guaranteed.” His episode, taped live during FII9 in Riyadh, marks a turning point for the series. Kodjoe is the first major diaspora figure to appear on a podcast already known across Africa and the Middle East for spotlighting founders and investors who are building real companies rather than rehearsing familiar hype cycles.
In The Valley has become one of the most focused platforms documenting African innovation across borders. The series is now stepping into the U.S. market with intentional pace. Created by Silverbacks Holdings and hosted by Ibrahim Sagna, the show has grown into a cross-continental presence with measurable traction: 34 episodes, 50 guests and 18 million views across platforms. Its audience reflects the reality of modern movement. Capital, talent and creative IP now circulate between Accra, Lagos, Dubai, Riyadh, London and the United States in a weekly rhythm.
That momentum gives its U.S. expansion weight. Podcasting continues to climb as a global medium. Backlinko’s industry review records the 2025 worldwide audience at 584.1 million listeners, a rise driven by video-led discovery and YouTube’s dominance among younger audiences. Kodjoe’s appearance sits at the intersection of that growth and the increased demand for accessible African innovation narratives in the United States.
Airlines have noticed the shift. The series was recently added to Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment roster, extending its reach to global travelers and business audiences who may not yet be inside Africa’s tech or creative landscape but are already shaped by it.
Kodjoe’s interview moves away from nostalgia and celebrity promo. He discusses identity, migration and creative work without leaning on spectacle. He speaks directly about the “ancestral power” that shapes him and describes his path from Germany to the United States in terms that reflect presence rather than performance. The tone aligns with listeners who expect clarity and context from the media they follow.
Kodjoe has been building global bridges long before this episode. His Full Circle Africa initiative brings leaders in business, sports and entertainment to Ghana to discuss investment and narrative ownership. It matches a broader shift in which diaspora networks are driving capital toward African creative industries, fintech and emerging technology. Analysts have pointed to Africa’s young, highly connected population as the engine behind that trend.
The episode’s value sits in its detail. Kodjoe speaks about African creators who are building animation studios, mobile fintech platforms and AI-driven creative companies that lower production barriers and protect ownership. He says the old studio model is over and that audiences consume content differently. African creators, he argues, are already designing systems that reflect how people watch, listen and share today.
For many U.S. viewers, this episode is their entry into In The Valley. It immediately clarifies that the show is not a celebrity podcast. It is a platform committed to serious, grounded conversations about Africa’s present and future, delivered by guests who understand what it means to build across borders.
The Kodjoe episode is the entry point for many Americans, but it is also a preview of the series’ wider ambitions. The platform is expanding at a moment when Africa’s creative influence and tech footprint continue to rise.
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