In this episode of Listen to Your Footsteps, host Kojo Baffoe sits down with Jean Daniel Kanza, an artist, entrepreneur, and cultural bridge-builder. Born in Kinshasa, raised in South Africa, and now back in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jean Daniel shares his journey of navigating identity, art, and entrepreneurship across two vastly different worlds.

From his early dreams of becoming a filmmaker inspired by Spike Lee and John Singleton to his pivot into music and entrepreneurship, Jean Daniel’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. “I never took myself seriously as a musician, but music gave me the platform to do everything else,” he reflects.

Jean Daniel also delves into his entrepreneurial ventures, from running a school tuck shop in Kinshasa to exporting South African culture to the DRC. “There’s no small job. People need to eat and drink every day,” he emphasizes, highlighting the importance of residual income in building a sustainable future.

This episode offers valuable insights into navigating different cultures, building a business from the ground up, and the impact of sharing your story. Jean Daniel's journey demonstrates that success is rarely a straight line—it's about adapting to change and finding potential where others see roadblocks.

Listen to this conversation if you want insights on how to turn your passions into profit, navigate cultural complexities, and build a legacy that transcends borders.

Subscribe, watch/listen now on ⁠⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠⁠or wherever you find your podcasts. Leave a review, and join the conversation. 🎙️

You can find the latest from Jean Daniel on ⁠⁠⁠any of these social spaces - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, or SoundCloud a taste of his music.For more on my book Listen To Your Footsteps, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kojobaffoe.com/book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Zebra Culture Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ now.

Recorded at: Spotify Africa Joburg Studio

Show Music: Kweku 'Taygo' Baffoe

Producer: Ayob Vania