Next Africa

Demand for coffee is growing globally - but despite much of it being grown on the continent, very little is roasted locally to be sold and drunk there. West African Entrepreneur Hadi Beydoun wants to change that.  In this week’s special episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja heads to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to meet Hadi, the founder of Café Continent, to find o...

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to bring an end to conflict in eastern Congo, where millions of people have died and multitudes have been displaced over the past three decades. But fighting continues and scores of armed groups continue to control parts of the region. In this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Congo reporter Michael Kavanagh joins Jennifer Zabasajja to...

Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, has told Bloomberg that US cuts to foreign aid have left the global fight against HIV in crisis.  Bloomberg healthcare reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what the reality is on the ground for HIV treatment in Africa, a continent that is home to 75% of all people living with the...

A year since deadly protests against the Kenyan government saw more than 60 people killed, Kenyans are again taking to the streets to protest police brutality.  These protests, triggered by the death of a kenyan activist in police custody, come as the IMF arrive in the country to assess Kenya's attempts to tackle corruption. On this week’s episode East Africa Bureau Chief Helen Nyambura...

US President Donald Trump is proposing a 3.5% tax on remittances by non-citizens as part of the Republican tax bill currently working through the Senate.   On today’s episode of the Next Africa podcast we look at why this proposal could have major repercussions for African economies, particularly Nigeria, one of the world’s biggest recipients of remittances.  Jennifer Zabasaj...

The return of the Unity Cup after 21 years electrified London’s Brentford Stadium, drawing record crowds and reigniting diasporan pride. With planning already underway for the 2026 edition, the tournament is more than just a celebration of African football. It’s emerging as a catalyst for global connection and economic opportunity. This week, host Tiwa Adebayo sits down with Bloomberg...

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Washington last week to ease tensions amid a barrage of criticism from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly spread false claims that there’s a genocide against White people in Africa’s most industrialized economy. Ramaphosa was intent on focusing on trade relations — the US is the country’s second-largest trading partner...

The future of Africa's economic progress, security and stability has been a key topic at this year's Qatar Economic Forum , an event powered by Bloomberg. How can the continent assert itself on global stage and superchage growth against an uncertain backdrop?  On this week's episode Jennifer Zabasajja brings you the best of this year's discussions featuring a deep dive into sovereign investme...

Nollywood is bringing a touch of West Africa to the Cannes Film Festival. My Father’s Shadow is making history as the first Nigerian Film to be an Official Selection at the Festival - showing the rising prominence of Nollywood on the world stage. And investors are starting to take notice. On today’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja talks to our Nigeria Bureau Chief, Anthony Osae-Brown about...

Armed drones struck the airport and harbor in Sudan’s main coastal city Port Sudan, escalating a deadly conflict between the North African nation’s army and the Rapid Support Forces militia. Sudan has accused the UAE of supporting the RSF and has cut off diplomatic ties and withdrawn its ambassador. The UAE firmly denies any involvement.  On this episode, Bloomberg’s Nairobi...

With influencer ads and high-profile marketing campaigns, Russia’s global outreach program is operating across Africa, offering young women work-study opportunities in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. Fliers and promotional materials for the program feature images of smiling young African women working as technicians and waitresses. However, reports in international media suggest that the...

At the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, DC - the trade war and its impact on the global economy is the centre of attention, and putting more pressure on the African governments trying to negotiate deals with the fund.  Ghana and Zambia have turned their economies around with IMF help — but  Kenya, Mozambique and Senegal find themselves having to try and negotiate new IMF programm...

Lesotho was hit with the highest U.S. tariffs on the African continent, a 50% levy on its exports, before President Donald Trump paused the move for 90 days. The kingdom’s trade minister is warning that if those duties go ahead, Lesotho could face a liquidity crisis. Trump announced this month that tariffs of at least 10% will apply to most imports, with even steeper rates targeting goods fr...

Formula One cars last raced in Africa in 1993, but now a concerted effort from investors and governments are trying to bring the races back to the continent. Bloomberg’s Senior Africa Reporter has been looking at the proposals bidding for a new a licence and talks to Jennifer Zabasajja about what’s being planned, who’s paying for it, and whether we really will see an African race...

President Trump imposed the steepest American tariffs in a century as he steps up his campaign to reshape the global economy. Many African countries have been hit with the so-called reciprocal tariffs including a 31% levy on South Africa and 50% on Lesotho.  Bloomberg Economics Africa Economist Yvonne Mhango joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what the impacts of these tariffs will be on Afri...

Some call it the sport of kings or the passport to the world, and in Nigeria Polo has become a business essential. In Lagos, government ministers and business leaders play side by side while the sport gets sponsorship from global giants such as Coco Cola. Bloomberg reporter Tiwa Adebayo joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how Polo became such a part of corporate culture in Nigeria, and how much bu...

Global cocoa shortages are finally set to ease this season, as harvests improve and demand falls, creating a surplus for the first time in three years. But even with Cocoa hitting record high prices, the industry is taking time to recover, and debt and the need to honour contracts at cheaper prices mean farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast - the world's biggest cocoa producing countries- aren’t...

Two budgets on different sides of the continent this week show the struggle African countries are facing when it comes to growing their economies. In Ghana, the new administration promised 10% spending cuts plus a higher tax on gold revenue, and in South Africa the much-delayed budget -- and its VAT hike -- still needs to find a way through parliament. With the global economy dealing with multiple...

One of President Trump’s first actions after beginning his second term in office, was to take aim at USAID, which doled out $40 billion in foreign assistance each year. Last week the administration cancelled 90% of its funding awards - the bulk of which are focused on projects in Africa such as tackling HIV and tuberculosis as well as responding to poverty and famine. In this special episode...

Nigeria’s Central Bank is allowing banks to increase the amount they charge for withdrawals at ATMs in a bid to tackle cash scarcity at lenders in the country. Nigerians are increasingly turning to cash agents who use card terminals to provide cash, for a high commission. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Nduka Orjinmo joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why these cash agents a...

The first G20 summit on African soil has started in Johannesburg this weekend, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refusing to attend the foreign ministers meeting.  With President Trump’s new administration picking fights with allies and bringing Russia back in from the diplomatic cold, is multilaterialism still alive and will the G20 presidency meet South Africa’s ambitious g...

With global tensions high amid a growing trade war, investors have been continuing to push gold to record high prices, pushing towards the $3,000 mark. With Africa producing a quarter of the world’s supply, will the demand for the precious metal see some of that wealth reach the continent? In this episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow at the South Africa Mining...

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he won’t attend a G20 summit in Johannesburg later this month, after Donald Trump slammed South Africa over a new land law. The president's top ally Elon Musk has long trafficked in conspiracy theories about the Black-majority government seizing White farmers' land and committing a "genocide" against them. To discuss how Pretoria found itself in Trump's...

A Rwanda-backed rebel group effectively captured the vital eastern DRC city of Goma, after a lightning offensive this week that reportedly included support from Rwandan troops. On this week's episode, Bloomberg reporters Simon Marks and Michael Kavanagh, who’s covered the region for 20 years , join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain who the key players in the conflict are, what chance there is fo...

The World Health Organization called on the US to reconsider President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the agency, suggesting the move could undermine global health security. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s health and consumer reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how planned departure would leave the WHO scrambling to replace its top donor, and how losing t...