Africa 4 Dummies

The east African country of Djibouti has 7 foreign military bases from countries east and west, some of which are rival superpowers. The US alone has 29 military bases in Africa whilst France has 15. Do they all want to just keep Africa safe? ....The last few years have seen a military race in Africa between rival and aspiring super-powers. But how about the people? In this episode we discuss the...

On the 26th July 2023 Niger, often regarded as stable was the latest country in Africa to have a military coup. It seems coups are back in fashion as in the last 3 years Chad, Burkina Faso, Guinea (Conarky), Mali and Sudan have all had military takeovers - with Mali and Burkina Faso having two in that same time and one attempted in Guinea-Bissau. The Sahel (border region of north and sub-Sharan Af...

To assist please visit www.eyeonesudan.net Since 15th April Sudan has been embroiled in a power struggle between two Generals. So far at least 700 people have been killed and hope for Sudan’s democracy after the ousting of longtime authoritarian leader Omar Al Bashir seems as bleak as ever. The A4D team discusses this with Dr Nisirin Elamin, Assistant Professor in the Africa Programme at the Unive...

Since 15th April Sudan has been embroiled in a power struggle between two Generals. So far at least 700 people have been killed and hope for Sudan’s democracy after the ousting of longtime authoritarian leader Omar Al Bashir seems as bleak as ever. The A4D team discusses this with Dr Nisirin Elamin, Assistant Professor in the Africa Programme at the University of Toronto.

In recent weeks the south-eastern African countries of Mozambique and Malawi have been hit by the longest cyclone on record, Cyclone Freddy. This cyclone has seen over 400 people dead, many landslides and millions worth of damage. With cyclone Idai in 2017 and cyclone Kenneth in 2019 claiming thousands of lives and billions in damages the annual cyclone seasons are getting more and more devastatin...

On the 25 February Nigeria will be electing its 14th president. As incumbent Muhammadu Buhari's second and final four year term as president comes to close he is barred from having more than two terms. 18 people (1 woman) are vying  to succeed him at Aso Rock (presidential residence). In this four-part episode we talk to Desmond Okumbor, a PhD candidate at Oxford University in Political Scien...

On the 25 February Nigeria will be electing its 14th president. As incumbent Muhammadu Buhari's second and final four year term as president comes to close he is barred from having more than two terms. 18 people (1 woman) are vying  to succeed him at Aso Rock (presidential residence). In this four-part episode we talk to Desmond Okumbor, a PhD candidate at Oxford University in Political Scien...

On the 25 February Nigeria will be electing its 14th president. As incumbent Muhammadu Buhari's second and final four year term as president comes to close he is barred from having more than two terms. 18 people (1 woman) are vying  to succeed him at Aso Rock (presidential residence). In this four-part episode we talk to Desmond Okumbor, a PhD candidate at Oxford University in Political Scien...

On the 25 February Nigeria will be electing its 14th president. As incumbent Muhammadu Buhari's second and final four year term as president comes to close he is barred from having more than two terms. 18 people (1 woman) are vying  to succeed him at Aso Rock (presidential residence). In this four-part episode we talk to Desmond Okumbor, a PhD candidate at Oxford University in Political Scien...

In this episode we discuss the complexities of Africa's relationship with African Americans and the wider African ancestral diaspora.  Our special guest is a young African American entrepreneur who at age 19 decided to pack up and move to Tanzania. Mark Victorian whose YouTube channel is ''Mark Meets Africa' has set up various business ventures in and around Dar Es Salaam. He is currently est...

Five years ago, this month the world's oldest president at age 94 was overthrown by his own military in a stage-managed coup after 37 years at the helm of power. This 2-part episode revisits the perceptions and realities of life during the controversial Zimbabwean president Robert Gabriel Mugabe's rule and what has happened since? Was he a liberation hero or an intellectual tyrant? Was he an anglo...

Five years ago, this month the world's oldest president at age 94 was overthrown by his own military in a stage-managed coup after 37 years at the helm of power. This 2-part episode revisits the perceptions and realities of life during the controversial Zimbabwean president Robert Gabriel Mugabe's rule and what has happened since?   Was he a liberation hero or an intellectual tyrant? Was he a...

Doing Business in Africa Special Season Ep 3 Meet Yebo Ngulube! A young upstart who along with a group of friends started his own construction firm at 23. Soon after finishing his degree in civil engineering, he went on to have several apprenticeships and eventually went on his own starting Urban Space Construction. With ambitions to be a industry disrupter by bringing tech to construction, his fi...

Doing Business in Africa Special Season  Ep 2 In the second instalment of our African Aviation episode we take stock of aviation sector developments that could bring the cost of flying in Africa down. Here we explore Ethiopian airlines growing hubs across the continent and how it could reduce ticket prices and whether or not more airlines means cheaper tickets. We also ask why Africa lacks lo...

Doing Business in Africa Special Season  Ep 2 In the last 10 years African cities have seen a huge facelift in aviation infrustructure, with COVID 19 adversely impacting the sector is this all in vain?  In this first instalment of our two part aviation episode we also ask : Why are new  terminals and new airports springing up across African cities and towns? Why are countries like R...

As people got news of Queen Elizabeth II's death on 9th of September 2022 a debate on how we should think about Africa's relationship with the British monarchy reignited. From cherishing the Queen's relationship with African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah  to holding her responsible for the British Empire atrocities this episode features diverse opinions on how Africans relate to the longest reig...

What does it mean to be an African today? Is race a qualifier, birth, culture, history etc? How do Gen Z Africans define themselves and how do they relate to Africa's contrasting depictions in popular movies like Black Panther to negative media stereotypes of famine and war. Join the A4D team with our special guest Yunia from Wanderings & Musing as we answer and discuss these cultural topics w...

What does it mean to be an African today? Is race a qualifier, birth, culture, history etc?  How do Gen Z Africans define themselves and how do they relate to Africa's contrasting depictions in popular movies like Black Panther to negative media stereotypes of famine and war.  Join the A4D team with our special guest Yunia from Wanderings & Musing as we answer and discuss these cultu...

After a short hiatus, we are back! On the 9th of August Kenyans will select their Governors, legislative decision-makers and the next President and Vice-President.  The next president of east Africa's largest economy will either be the son of it's first vice president, the veteran politician- Raila Odinga (age 77) or its current Deputy President William Ruto  (age 55) who styles him...

Everyone has heard about China in Africa but what happens when African countries recognise Taiwan? Does China care? In fact why should Africans care ?  Taiwan has been losing friends in Africa but the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) not only recognises them but also lobbies for their recognition in the United Nations. Find out why this is the case and how many other African countries...

Doing Business in Africa Special Season  Ep 1 In this new season the A4D team brings you various guests across Africa’s business sector to share insight on what it’s like to do business in Africa.  In this episode, we speak to the Managing Director of Blacksmith Capital Zambia, Mujo Simakoloyi as we bust some myths about youth entrepreneurship and the ‘hustle culture’. Song: Tondo - Disc...

What exactly is Metaverse, is there money to be made and what’s in it for Africa?  Find out in this episode with Sultan Quadri, a Lagos based tech analyst and journalist who is the Editor-in-Chief of fact-checking outlet People’s Check. His work on young people and Africa’s tech start-ups have appeared in media platforms including Stears Business, Quartz Africa as well as The Guardian Nigeria...

Find out as the A4D Team talks to our special guest Dr Awol Allo, senior lecturer in International Law at Keele University and contributor to Al Jazeera.  Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has been at the centre of a conflict with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government since 2020. Although the Tigray forces (Tigray Liberation People’s  Forces - TPLF) were seen to be on the verge of takin...

"Travel apartheid", "vaccine apartheid" and "Omicron". Ever wondered what this was all about? Join the A4D team in this episode as we discuss the implications of Covid politics and its narratives as the world reacted to the Omicron variant and just what exactly this means for Africa. Song: Sponono  - Kabza De Small, Wiz Kid, Burna Boy Casper Nyovest, Madumane  Audio Sources: BBC: https:/...

Many more African young people are trying their luck at getting rich in gambling, but at what cost? Speaking to a Global Health researcher and expert from the University of Manchester, Mr Byron K Y Bitanihirwe the A4D team discuss the side effects, causes and solutions on Africa’s youths in gambling. ALSO INSIDE: A short interview with a Ugandan in his 20s (name withheld) reflecting on his gamblin...