Below is the transcript of a podcast Richard was invited on by Erick Kaglan a year ago, discussing Africa’s path to technological sovereignty through space. If you prefer to listen to the audio conversation (in French), here is the YouTube link.

Host: Hello everyone and welcome to the airwaves of boldness and hope. You’re listening to Big Dreams, the podcast where dreamers from Africa and beyond come together to shape tomorrow’s visions.

I’m Érick Kaglan, and today, we embark on a space odyssey with a remarkable guest: Richard Folly, geospatial data analyst, director of African Geospace, and a lifelong space enthusiast. His childhood dream? To land on the moon. And that dream took him all the way to NASA in 2017.

Today, Richard carries a bold vision for our continent: for Africa to become fully technologically independent, especially in space. For him, space is a locomotive that drives other industries forward.

Host: Why is it crucial for Africa to develop its own navigation and space data systems?

Richard: We can no longer afford to rely on other nations to manage or generate data for an entire continent. It’s paradoxical — Africa is a continent, yet we still depend on foreign powers.

Today, only the U.S., Europe, China, Russia, and even India have their own satellite navigation systems. But Africa? Nothing. This raises serious issues of sovereignty and self-determination.

My dream is to see Africa become fully independent in space technologies — to stop watching from the sidelines and start building our own future.

Host: What are the short- and long-term benefits Africa can gain from advancements in space technologies and artificial intelligence?

Richard: Space is like the head of a train pulling other industries. If we talk about building a satellite launch site, we must also talk about civil engineering, electrical engineering, software development… It creates jobs, expertise, and generates significant revenue.

In agriculture, for example, satellite data helps monitor crops, predict climate impacts, and improve productivity. Space technologies can serve as fuel to stimulate other sectors across the continent.

Host: How can space independence strengthen Africa’s position on the international stage in the current global geopolitical context?

Richard: Right now, Africa has no real voice. Many decisions are made without us, and we simply endure them. Foreign companies — mainly American and European — can monitor our airports, military bases, and critical infrastructure, often without our knowledge.

When African governments need that data, they have to buy it back — at very high prices. In 2022, the African space market was valued at $22 billion. Imagine the impact that could have on the continent if we invested in our own space enterprises.

The simplest solution is to empower African companies to carry out the same operations and take control of our data.

Host: How can private companies accelerate Africa’s technological and space development?

Richard: We have to move beyond policy talk and start taking real action — building infrastructure, forming strong public-private partnerships, and establishing clear regulations.

The private sector must be allowed — and encouraged — to innovate. Africa needs solutions created by Africans, for Africans. But that requires the right foundation: supportive systems, infrastructure, and forward-looking governance.

Host: What impact would technological sovereignty in space have on Africa’s security and independence?

Richard: This all comes back to sovereignty. Let’s say — though we hope not — a geopolitical crisis cuts off our access to satellite data. What happens? We cry. We suffer.

What if WhatsApp or Facebook were cut off tomorrow? We’d be digitally paralyzed.

Most people don’t know this, but our internet comes through undersea cables from other continents, mostly from the U.S. What have we built to ensure our own connectivity?

If access is ever denied at the source, we would simply be offline. That’s why it’s critical for Africa to dream big and create resilient systems. If we miss this window, we risk a new kind of colonization — digital colonization — and it could be worse than anything we’ve known before.

Host: How can African youth take ownership of space innovation and help build a prosperous scientific and technological future for the continent?

Richard: Take Elon Musk for example — he’s South African. He doesn’t have two heads or two brains. If he could do it, we can too. The difference is belief and execution.

We often ridicule dreamers in Africa, as if dreaming is disconnected from reality. But you can’t achieve what you can’t visualize. Dreamers are visionaries — they see what others don’t and show the way forward.

We need to stop this self-sabotage. Saying things like “That’s too ambitious,” or “We just need to eat” limits us. Yes, challenges exist. But this is the time to dream big — and build that dream into reality.

Host: What we’ve just heard is more than a testimony. It’s a call for technological independence. A bold vision carried by Richard Folly, a voice of hope inviting us to explore space and claim Africa’s place in the stars.

Space is not reserved for global superpowers. Africa can — and must — be a key player. Our collective dream of sovereignty begins here.

So to everyone listening: dream big. Dream without limits. And above all, let’s help Africa dream too.