What if the African history you know is only part of the story?

In Episode 7 of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, SUPERSHARDA sits down with Malawian entrepreneur and creative Mpilo Mizere, founder of Malaika Productions, to explore African history, identity, entrepreneurship and his mission to bring African stories to new generations through comics and gaming.

Born in South Africa with Malawian and Zimbabwean roots, Mpilo grew up across Africa, Europe and the United States. Yet he realized how little African history he had actually been taught, beginning a decades-long journey of self-study.

That journey eventually inspired 14th Century Africa, a graphic novel that uses entertainment to introduce readers to medieval African history. Mpilo discusses Mansa Musa, Ibn Battuta, the Moors, African architecture, international trade and Africa's historical connections with the wider world.

He also shares why he is expanding 14th Century Africa into gaming, his entrepreneurial journey, and his vision for using modern storytelling to reconnect Africans and the diaspora with their history.

This conversation asks a bigger question: Who gets to tell our stories, and how do those stories shape the way we see ourselves?

🎙️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Mpilo Mizere
00:51 The Story Behind His Name
02:43 African Identity & Colonial Borders
05:54 Growing Up Around the World
09:14 Building an African History Community
11:48 Why Africans Are Searching for Their History
18:50 African Renaissance, Identity & Our Roots
20:24 Did Humanity Begin in Africa?
24:32 From African History to Comics
27:33 Ibn Battuta & Creating the Story
29:01 From Netflix Pitch to Graphic Novel
30:47 Why Mpilo Is Moving Into Gaming
33:18 Selling 14th Century Africa
36:46 Comics in the Short-Attention-Span Era
40:07 Why the 14th Century?
41:28 The Moors & Medieval Africa
43:56 Africa's Golden Age
45:58 The Power of Marketing History
50:09 What Mpilo Wants Readers to Learn
51:40 Africa's Connections With China & India
54:38 Lessons From Entrepreneurship
59:49 Africa & the African Diaspora
1:08:25 Where to Find 14th Century Africa
1:09:28 The Game & What's Next
1:11:17 Final Thoughts

Mpilo Mizere is a Malawian entrepreneur, creative and founder of Malaika Productions. He created 14th Century Africa to bring African history to new audiences through entertainment, graphic novels and gaming.

SUPERSHARDA is an international model born and raised in Suriname, working as a strategic bridge between international creators and Suriname through her network, expertise and cultural insight.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA explores identity, consciousness, culture, purpose, human experiences and the stories that shape who we are.

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🎙️ INTERESTED IN BEING A GUEST?
📧 identity.spectrum26@gmail.com

Tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

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Find the SUPER within yourself and put it out there. ✨

Who is SUPERSHARDA, really?

In Episode 6 of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, the tables are turned. After inviting her online community to submit their questions, SUPERSHARDA sits down with guest host Priscilla Sordam for an open conversation about the woman behind the name.

From growing up in Suriname and modeling in China to breaking into the international fashion industry, SUPERSHARDA reflects on the ambition, rejection, self-doubt and determination that shaped her journey.

But this conversation goes far beyond modeling. She opens up about identity, perfectionism, anger, motherhood, national pride, sexual harassment, trauma, therapy and healing. She also shares why she created Identity Spectrum and her mission to bring Suriname and its people closer to the world.

This is more than a Q&A. It's a conversation about the experiences, choices and lessons that shaped SUPERSHARDA.

🎙️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Guest Host Priscilla Sordam
02:12 SUPERSHARDA vs. Sharda Johnn
05:03 Where Did SUPERSHARDA Come From?
07:59 The Reality of International Modeling
12:28 What Makes Me Different?
14:44 What I Wish People Knew About Me
15:45 Did I Always Know What I Wanted?
21:59 How I Broke Into International Modeling
26:44 My Most Unforgettable Runways
29:27 Suriname's Modeling Industry
32:44 Rejection, Criticism & Surviving the “No's”
38:27 Fear, Self-Doubt & Trusting Myself
39:42 Who Taught Me How to Model?
42:29 The Life Lesson That Changed Me
43:37 Ego Death, Expectations & Perfectionism
45:26 How I Process Anger
47:16 Why I Cut Off My Hair
52:29 Do I Want Children?
53:34 Wode Maya, Suriname & What Came Next
55:13 Why I Am So Proudly Surinamese
1:00:34 Why I Took a Break From Modeling
1:01:08 The Experience in Germany That Changed Me
1:05:09 When I Realized I Needed Therapy
1:07:53 Why I Created Identity Spectrum
1:09:41 Africa, Sierra Leone & What's Next
1:11:23 Final Thoughts With Priscilla

ABOUT SUPERSHARDA

SUPERSHARDA is an international model born and raised in Suriname, working as a strategic bridge between international creators and Suriname through her network, expertise and cultural insight.

ABOUT IDENTITY SPECTRUM

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA explores identity, consciousness, culture, purpose, human experiences and the stories that shape who we are.

Follow, like, comment, share and subscribe to join the conversation and be the first to know about new episodes.

🎙️ INTERESTED IN BEING A GUEST?

📧 Email: identity.spectrum26@gmail.com

Tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST
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Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum
Apple Podcasts: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
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Find the SUPER within yourself and put it out there. ✨

In Episode 5 (Part 2) of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, SUPERSHARDA continues the powerful conversation with Grace Karijodiwirijo as she shares the years that followed the loss of her mother and the challenges that shaped her into the woman she is today.

Grace speaks openly about living with grief, supporting a father struggling with depression, financial hardship, mental health, and the difficult journey toward healing. She reflects on the emotional weight of losing both parents, the importance of seeking help, and how friends, family, music, and reconnecting with her Indonesian heritage became part of her recovery.

This conversation explores how childhood trauma, loss, and adversity can leave lasting scars, but also how resilience, forgiveness, identity, and community can help us rebuild our lives.

Topics discussed include:

• Grief and losing both parents
• Depression and mental health
• Childhood trauma and resilience
• Financial hardship and independence
• The importance of support systems
• Healing through music
• Forgiveness and personal growth
• Reconnecting with Indonesian heritage
• Identity, resilience, and hope
  

Grace's story is a reminder that healing is not linear, that asking for help is a sign of strength, and that even after life's darkest chapters, it is possible to find purpose, peace, and hope again.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a deep, inspiring, and consciousness-expanding podcast about who we are, who we have been taught to be, and who we dare to become. From Suriname, the diaspora, and the wider world, SUPERSHARDA explores identity in all its layers: personal, cultural, spiritual, and societal.

Each episode invites listeners to reflect on a deeper question:

How does this story shape who we are, and how can we more consciously choose who we become?

SUPERSHARDA is an international model born and raised in Suriname, working as a strategic bridge between international creators and Suriname through her network, expertise, and cultural insight.

Follow, like, comment, share, and subscribe to be the first to know about new episodes and join the conversation.

Interested in being a guest on the show?
📧 Email: info@supersharda.sr

Tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss, why your story matters, and how it can inspire or educate our audience.

Website: supersharda.sr
TikTok: @supersharda_official
Instagram: @supersharda_official
Facebook: SUPERSHARDA