Kimani Maina and Shalom Meeni have been announced as the top winners of the inaugural Youth+ Radio PodQuest 2024, a youth-focused podcasting competition led by Youth+ Africa. Maina received Ksh. 50,000 and Meeni Ksh. 40,000, among other prizes, in an initiative designed to discover Africa’s next generation of podcasting talent.
Over the course of eight weeks, 80 participants applied, and 11 finalists received personalized mentorship from industry experts. Their pilot episodes were showcased at a Live Demo Day held at The Alchemist in Nairobi.
Kimani Maina, who won the Ready for Market Award, shared his excitement, saying, "This platform has been life-changing. Podcasting gives us a voice, and I’m thrilled to bring untold stories to the forefront and shape conversations that matter.” Shalom Meeni, who won the People’s Choice Award, added, “Podcasting is a powerful tool for storytelling, and I’m eager to continue creating content that connects people and amplifies diverse African experiences.”
Freddy Mulli, CEO of Youth+ Africa, praised all participants, stating, "Africa is home to some of the world’s most dynamic podcasting talent. We are incredibly proud of the finalists' achievements and look forward to supporting these young creators. Podcasts are becoming a powerful medium for storytelling and income generation, and these creators are leading the way."
The winners received prize money, full-season podcast production, marketing and branding support, and three months of mentorship from industry leaders. They were recognized in the following categories:
- Ready for Market Award: Kimani Maina
- People’s Choice Award: Shalom Meeni
- Impact Award: Teresa Loch
- Breakthrough Idea Award: Kellyne Njoge
- The Wazo/SemaBox Award: The Disruptors (Ngina Mualuko and Mahak Dagar)
- The Good Company Award: The Bigger Picture (Mitchelle Gathii and Austin Morara)
Youth+ Radio PodQuest 2024 was organized in collaboration with Legally Clueless by Adelle Onyango, Semabox Africa, and Joyride Studios. The competition highlighted podcasting as a medium for education, creativity, and sustainable livelihoods for youth aged 18 to 35, aligning with the International Youth Day 2024 theme, “From Clicks to Progress – Digital Pathways for a Sustainable Future.”
This initiative reflects Youth+ Africa’s mission to empower young people through social entrepreneurship, mentorship, and capacity-building, with its Youth+ Radio platform continuing to spotlight the stories of Africa’s most inspiring young entrepreneurs.
