The Voice of Africa’s Diaspora Connect Room at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center Links Entrepreneurs and Investors
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Washington, D.C. – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center — The Voice of Africa’s Diaspora Connect Room, was more than an event. It was a clarion call. A bold, unapologetic declaration that Africa’s greatest untapped resource is not its minerals or land—but its people, particularly those in the diaspora, equipped with insight, networks, and unshakable passion.
The room was electric—brimming with ambassadors, government agencies, multilateral funders, diaspora investors, Ivy League students, entrepreneurs, advocacy groups, and rising African changemakers. It wasn’t a panel. It was a movement in motion.
A Movement, Masterfully Orchestrated: Loyiso Chuma Mtshontshi as MC
Guiding the experience with elegance, intellect, and clarity was Loyiso Chuma Mtshontshi, the face of diaspora diplomacy and Contributor Relations Manager at TVOA. As MC, Loyiso masterfully wove together each moment, ensuring the day unfolded with precision and purpose. Her global perspective—from the halls of the UN to the stages of the IMF and African Union—gave her the voice and credibility to anchor the entire room. She reminded attendees that Africa’s rise is not coming—it is already here, and those in the room are the ones shaping its trajectory.
Opening Charge: Dr. Kingsley Van Der Puije
The tone was set by Dr. Kingsley Van Der Puije, President of TVOA, whose powerful words ignited a sense of urgency and agency:
“Africa is not a place to be rescued—it is a power to be respected. But that power must be organized. This room is a boardroom, a battlefield, and a birthplace of new realities. Let today not be a moment of emotion—but of execution.”
His charge wasn’t just a welcome. It was a commissioning.
Keynote: Evelyn Van Der Puije – Diaspora as Catalyst
Evelyn Van Der Puije, President of The Countess Foundation and Vice President of TVOA, delivered a keynote that was both spiritual and strategic. She called on diasporans to move beyond storytelling and into stakeholding—to activate their influence, intellect, and income toward Africa’s transformation.
“We’re not here for nostalgia. We’re here for nation-building. This isn’t a homecoming—it’s a handoff. Africa is ready, but it is we who must be willing.”
Her words resonated deeply, especially with the many women leaders and multigenerational diaspora attendees who saw in her a blueprint of empowered leadership.
Spotlight Speakers: Wisdom That Moved the Room
The room was then fueled by dynamic insights from thought leaders and practitioners:
- Dr. Samuel I. Onwubiko explored how wealth, wellness, and policy are intertwined, emphasizing diaspora responsibility in both capital building and community healing.
- James Wells, founder of 7 Generation Africa and former Prosper Africa lead, revealed how ultra-high-net-worth Africans are beginning to take their rightful place as primary investors in the continent’s future—not just beneficiaries.
- Alfred Osei, a respected USAID-backed advisor, provided a masterclass on how diaspora entrepreneurs can align their ventures with funder mandates, access capital, and close real deals.
- Abigail Ndikum, founder of the Yale Africa Innovation Symposium, showcased how Gen Z Africans are not waiting for permission—they’re prototyping solutions and launching investment-worthy ventures today.
- Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, from the Lagos State Diaspora Affairs Office (LASDA), brought government into the room—calling for structured collaboration between states like Lagos and the diaspora to co-create infrastructure, policies, and opportunities.
These were not speeches. These were strategic briefings.
Business Presentations: Ventures That Are Building the New Africa
The heart of the room came alive as leading diaspora-led ventures took the spotlight, each presenting investable solutions to real African challenges:
- Kadmiel Van Der Puije delivered a compelling pitch for The Voice of Africa (TVOA) as “The Gateway to All Things Africa.” More than media, TVOA is a one stop shop ecosystem connecting the continent to the diaspora through media, trade, investment, tourism, cultural events, and youth leadership. Kadmiel’s vision: To be the World’s leading platform driving sustainable development in Africa.
- Sharaf Mahama, CEO of Legacy Rise Sports & President of Ghana’s son shared Legacy Rise Sports, a pioneering platform elevating African athletes from talent to global brand—with development academies, performance data, and athlete-first representation models.
- Evita Grant, PHD introduced AFi Payments, a fintech revolution empowering Africans with seamless, secure access to digital financial services. From remittances to mobile banking, her model ensures no African is left behind.
- Chikondi Kulemeka captivated the room with The Desks Project, a scalable solution to solve Africa’s classroom infrastructure gap. Her locally produced, durable desks are transforming learning environments across Malawi—and beyond.
- Jackson Briston presented Tiva Inc., a mobile diagnostic tech firm delivering healthcare to the most remote African villages. With cutting-edge tools, he’s closing the health equity gap—one device at a time.
- Millicent Samirah Lardi-Glawu introduced Ecolumiere Solutions, providing clean, affordable solar power to off-grid communities. Her mission: energy access not as aid, but as equity.
- Aaraf Adam, Founder, Kansuda, A multi-hyphenate artist and producer, Aaraf delivered a powerful talk on “Creating for the Continent: How Diaspora Talent Can Drive African Development.” He called on creatives to claim their place as architects of Africa’s future through storytelling, fashion, film, and cultural production.
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- Musangu Tanguy Bukasa, Co-founder, BridgeTheGapDRC, A strategic voice for homeland transformation, Musangu spoke on “Diaspora-Driven Change for the Democratic Republic of Congo,” emphasizing civic leadership, entrepreneurship, and rebuilding trust between diaspora and government systems.
Each founder was met with focused engagement from the investors, diplomats, and funders in the room—proof that African ventures are not future investments, they are present opportunities.
Matchmaking Rooms: Where Vision Met Venture Capital
Following the pitches, the energy shifted from stage to strategy in curated matchmaking breakout rooms. Investors, advisors, and funders met directly with entrepreneurs for due diligence discussions, partnership proposals, and funder alignment.
These weren’t networking moments—they were the seeds of memorandums, term sheets, and joint ventures. The sound in those rooms was the sound of Africa’s next billion-dollar opportunities being born.
Closing: Kemuel Van Der Puije – A Final Charge
As the day reached its crescendo, Kemuel Van Der Puije, COO of TVOA, brought the house to a focused, final charge. His words were a call to move beyond the event and into execution:
“Let this not be the last time we meet—let this be the first time we move. The gates are open. The voice is loud. The vision is clear. Now let’s go build.”
The Verdict: This Wasn’t an Event—It Was a Blueprint
The Diaspora Connect Room was a historic inflection point, proving that the diaspora is not a side story to Africa’s future—it is central to its strategy.
And TVOA is proud to stand at the center—amplifying the voices, activating the ventures, and advancing the vision of a connected, thriving, self-defined Africa.
This is not the end. It’s the beginning. The gateway is open. Welcome home.
