Fu’ad came into the Wave Podcast studio and made it his own show. Our host, Timi called him an enigma and he wasn’t wrong. No one that can work the room better than Fu’ad, and maybe he knows how to because he’s a master in crafting narratives. As the founder of Archivi.ng, Fu’ad understands the importance of preserving history, and its role in shaping our present. In this episode of The Wave Podcast, he gave an impassioned masterclass on Myth Making and argues that the African tech scene is suffering from a severe case of amnesia.
In Fu’ad’s view, a startup’s true differentiating factor isn’t just its product or market fit, but the compelling narrative (he calles it their myth or lore) it constructs around its existence. Your lore, according to Fu’ad gets you up each morning and makes you transcend the norm to deliver the most original stories.
From Enid Blyton to Ecosystem Lore: The Unexpected Path of a Mythmaker
A hyperactive kid, Fu’ad found his place and purpose in stories pretty early. He was ravenous with books, and, his parents encouraged his insatiable consumption with the little they had. Combined with this consumption, and years of devoting himself to telling excellent stories across all mediums and sectors, Fu’ad has a rare perspective in storytelling that African tech needs right now. Effective storytelling, for Fu’ad, in African Tech is born from an existential obsession with your company’s history. Remembering the lore of a company—its foundational story, its challenges, its vision — gives employees an unwavering belief in its purpose, even when the market is brutal. It quite literally makes you think differently each day. Think about it, everyone is telling the same story of ambition, what makes your different?
An Intervention for African Tech: Stop Being “The First,” Start Building Your Lore
The episode is a powerful call to action for the African tech community, Fu’ad is telling you to:
- Embrace your history: Understand the patterns, learn from past successes and failures.
- Cultivate your lore: Invest in your brand’s unique story, rituals, and symbols.
- Build belief: Give your team and your customers a compelling myth to rally around.
Fu’ad Lawal’s “intervention” is a stark reminder that in a rapidly evolving ecosystem, the most sustainable innovation might not be a new product, but a timeless, well-told stories. As he wisely concludes, “Every sentient being is only sentient as an awareness of itself. And awareness is grounded in knowledge. And knowledge is grounded in memory.”
The Wave Podcast episode, “Where’s the Myth? A Storytelling Intervention in African Tech,” featuring Fu’ad Lawal, is available now on all major podcast platforms.
