Africa Here and NOW is a podcast hosted by Martine Dennis that offers in-depth conversation and analysis of events and trends affecting the African continent. Drawing on extensive experience and a network of contacts from Cape Town to Cairo and Addis Ababa to Accra, the show provides fresh commentary with wit and style. It aims to meet demand for accurate, incisive information about Africa and asks the questions that matter while offering some answers.
Episodes
Africa's Most Travelled Woman?
Title: 100 Countries on an African Passport | Maria KamauDescriptionMaria Kamau has been to 100 countries on an ordinary Kenyan passport. Her travels began on a school exchange to Germany in 1989, before the Berlin Wall fell. Since then she has climbed Kilimanjaro, bungee-jumped over the Zambezi and finished country number 100 in São Tomé and Príncipe.I talk to the self-described “traveller disgui
2029 South Africa's First Non-ANC Leader?
South Africa's first non-ANC president in 2029?In this interview, Mmusi Maimane discusses South Africa’s political future, coalition politics, non-racialism, and the possibility of the country electing its first non-ANC president in 2029. He argues that South Africa needs reformers focused on the future, not only on addressing the legacies of the past.Key topicsWhy Maimane left the Democratic
PLO Lumumba: Africa Will Be Eaten For Breakfast
PLO Lumumba on ethnicity, Traore's rule, power in the Sahel, and Africa’s future We speak with Patrick Loch Ochieng Lumumba, widely known as PLO Lumumba, about African politics, identity, and the continent’s struggle to build stable, people-centered governance. PLO reflects on his own journey as a public intellectual, from his name and upbringing to his education in Belgium, his martial arts b
Africa Can't Win the A.I Race as 54 Countries
Africa can’t win the AI race as 55 statesProfessor Arthur Mutambara argues that AI is a revolution on the scale of fire, electricity, and the steam engine, and says Africa must respond as one bloc rather than 55 fragmented states. He explains the five layers of the AI industry, the risks of superintelligence and autonomous weapons, and why Africa needs energy, data centers, talent, and continental
My Burkina Faso: Four Years of Captain Ibrahim Traore
My Burkina Faso, Four Years After TraoréThis episode examines Burkina Faso four years into Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s rule, using a conversation with Dr. Lamourdia Thombiano, a soil scientist and writer from eastern Burkina Faso. It explores security, sovereignty, indigenous values, and the political mood in the country, with a strong focus on how many Burkinabe people see the changes firsthand.Dr.
Africa: 18% Global Population but Only 2% the World's Flights: RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo Explains
Africa has 18% of the world's population and only 2% of its air traffic. RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo says the continent did that to itself.I speak to Yvonne about her nine years running Rwanda's national carrier — an airline that still isn't profitable, in a country of 15 million people with almost no outbound travel market, at a time when most African flag carriers have collapsed.She explains why
Brian Mundubile on Zambia's Disputed Election 2026
Days after Zambia went to the polls on 13 August, opposition leader Brian Mundubile sits down with me to describe a night he says he barely survived — soldiers at his gate, gunfire inside his home, and members of his camp shot or missing. What follows is a hard conversation about whether this election can be trusted at all, and what he'll do if the result doesn't go his way. And indeed, if it does
Who Killed MKO Abiola And Why?
A new documentary asks those INVOLVED for ANSWERS to Nigeria's June 12th 1993 Election Question that Won't Go Away.In 1993, Nigeria held what many still call the freest election in its history. MOSHOOD KASHIMAWO OLAWALE ABIOLA — MKO — won it. Everyone accepted the result. Then the military annulled it, locked him up, and five years later he died in detention, collapsing during a meeting with a US
Could Ghana's Finance Minister CASSIEL ATO FORSON Become Leader?
From Crisis to Recovery - Forson's Credited with Turning his Country's Economy Around Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Africa At World Cup 2026
Ten African teams. The most ever at a World Cup. So why aren't the people who actually know the game convinced?Former Premier League striker and Nigerian Super Eagle, EFAN EKOKU and ex-DRC international ,GABRIEL ZAKUAN join me to break down Africa's prospects at the 2026 World Cup — from DRC's first appearance in 52 years, to why Nigeria keeps missing out, to the tiny island nation that recruited
They Tried to Ban Black Women's Hair - It Backfired Spectacularly
Sculptor SOKARI DOUGLAS CAMP focuses on the 1786 TIGNON LAW in Spanish-colonial Louisiana, that effectively tried to OUTLAW BLACK WOMEN'S HAIR. THE TIGNON LAW ordered women of colour — including the roughly one thousand free black women of New Orleans — to cover their heads. It was designed to DEMEAN and to STRIP these increasingly powerful women of their STATUS. It BACKFIRED spectacularly. The wo
The Man Who Bet His Own Money On Nigeria's Skies
I sit down with Wale Babalakin, the entrepreneur behind Nigeria's first privately operated airport terminal — MMA2, the domestic terminal at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. Eighteen years after opening, MMA2 remains one of Africa's most significant examples of successful private airport concession — and the story of how it was built is as remarkable as the terminal itself.Wale tells me how his
The Airline Boss Terrified of Flying:
Air Peace CEO ALLEN ONYEMA breaks down the BRUTAL REALITIES of building West Africa’s largest ai in an actively hostile business environment. Originally driven by a philanthropic mission to solve massive UNEMPLOYMENT in southeast Nigeria, Onyema details how his NAIVETY about the "1,000 jobs per Boeing 737" myth threw him into a ruthless aviation sector.Beyond the economics, Mr Onyema exposes the s
How Women Succeed in Aviation
Guest: Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General of African Civil Aviation CommissionIn this episode, we have a super conversation with lawyer and aviation expert, Adefunke Adeyemi, to discuss open skies in Africa's aviation industry.She outlines signifiicant progress made on the continent towards full implementation of the ambitious Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Adefunke also reveals how
Dangote Refinery Won't Reduce Price of Fuel But No Return to Subsidies
Why Dangote Refinery Won't Lower Jet Fuel Prices: Festus Keyamo on Airfares & SubsidiesIs the era of cheap air travel in Africa over? With Jet A1 fuel prices skyrocketing by 70% to 80%, Nigerian airlines and passengers are feeling the immediate impact on ticket prices. In this exclusive AHAN Special Aviation Series interview, I sit down with Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to as
The BATTLE for 1.4 BILLION airline Passengers
Africa's Aviation Future: Insights from Henok Teffera ShawlExplore the promising growth and ongoing challenges within Africa's aviation sector through an in-depth interview with Henok T. Shawl, a seasoned expert in international relations and aviation, currently supporting Boeing's efforts on the continent. Discover how infrastructure, policy, and training are shaping the future of African aviatio
Why African Airlines Fail - The Challenges and Opportunities with IATA VP
Africa Here and Now Aviation Special - we are asking why the sector is so problematic, what needs to be done to improve it and the huge potential it holds for the continent's development. KAMIL AL ALAWADHI, IATA Vice President for Africa and the Middle East shares insights into the unique hurdles facing African airlines, the impact of government policies, and strategies for sustainable growth acr
Can ECOWAS manage the West African Security Crisis?
Nigeria's Foreign Minister, YUSUF TUGGAR with his Ghanaian counterpart, SAMUEL ABLAKWA sat down with me at Chatham House to explore the complex security dynamics in West Africa, including threats from terror groups, regional cooperation efforts, and the importance of self-reliance and local solutions. Both ministers refuted suggestions that ECOWAS had been severely weakened by the exit of the thre
Botswana's Diamond Dilemma: Bogolo Kenewende on De Beers and the Race for Critical Minerals
At 16, she was a policy volunteer. Today, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo is the economist rewriting the rules for De Beers and her country's diamond trade. In this exclusive interview, Botswana's visionary leader reveals why the "Diamond Era" is shifting—and how the country is racing to unearth a 70% unexplored frontier of critical minerals.We sit down at the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town to discuss Botsw
"Stop Importing Inflation" The AFC's Samaila Zubairu on Africa's Plans to Ban Raw Exports,
SAMAILA ZUBAIRU, CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, explores the strategic importance of African minerals in the context of global economic competition, infrastructure development, and the need for leadership coordination. As we chatted at the 2026 Investment in Mining Indaba in Cape Town, he emphasised the potential for Africa to transform its mineral resources into bankable projects that can dr
Ghana: The Kingdom of Gold, British Looting and the Ashanti Golden Stool
We talk to author, BARNABY PHILLIPS about his new book which details the British looting of Kumasi, the Ashanti heartland, in what is now Ghana. There had been many conflicts in the course of a century between the British and the Ashanti, but Barnaby focuses on the battle of 1874 in which the Asantehene's palace was systematically stripped of its treasures, many of which had sacred value. The loot
WARNING: The Next Pandemic is Coming - Africa CDC Chief on 32% Budget Theft and Survival
COVID-19, Africa, health preparedness, pandemic response, vaccine production, health financing, regional collaboration, conflict resolution, health systems, infectious diseases, ghost workers, corruption, inefficienciesIn this conversation, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the continent. He emphasise
The Ethiopian Blueprint: CEO Mesfin Tasew on $12.5B New Airport and Why Other African Airlines Fail
Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew, aviation leadership, African aviation, airline strategy, Vision 2040, infrastructure investment, MRO Services, airline culture, career achievements In this conversation, Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, shares his extensive journey within the airline, highlighting the importance of leadership, strategic vision and a strong corporate culture in achieving s
Africa's Defiant Rebels: Bobi Wine, Dele Farotimi, Peter Obi, Dora Siliya
Join us for our explosive Year-Ender Special, bringing together the most powerful, controversial and uncensored interviews from across the continent. This is the truth about African power - who's fighting for it, who's paying the price and who refuses to be silenced.In this landmark episode, rounding off 2025, we dive deep into the struggles for democracy, justice and dignity featuring:NIGERIA's D
Zambia's MINING POLLUTION - Artist Stary Mwaba
Zambian visual artist, STARY MWABA, who grew up in the country's Copperbelt, discusses the enduring environmental and human cost of resource extraction in his home region. He details the history and current reality of the infamous Black Mountain in Kitwe - a century-old toxic slag heap - that is now a site of dangerous, informal mining and re-extraction. Stary explains his unique artistic techniqu
The Wood Kitchen: DRIVING Africa's FOOD REVOLUTION
Meet William and Lulu Wood, a Zambian couple known for their work in reframing and promoting Zambian cuisine through a contemporary lens, primarily through their platform, The Wood Kitchen.I went to The Wood Kitchen when I was visiting Lusaka a short while ago and had a fabulous time chatting with the couple. This is a family endeavour that focuses on sharing easy fusion recipes, cooking tips, and
Young, Urban, Digitally Connected - Africa's Youth DEMAND Change
One in four people in the world will soon be African, and the majority will be under 30, urban, and digitally connected. We discuss with MICHELLE GAVIN how the demographic shift represents a new era for the continent —one that is already shaking the foundations of long-standing political power.Is this wave of popular demand a recipe for chaos or democratic renewal? Listen to find out why the "old
Zambian Bank CEO SONNY ZULU on TARIFFS, Job Creation, Leadership and His Biggest Mistake
Standard Chartered Bank's Zambia CEO, SONNY ZULU, shares his journey from aspiring medical doctor, to metallurgist in his country's copper mines to the boss of one of the top banks. He discusses the importance of leadership and management skills, the challenges of job creation in Zambia, which he says, is a collective responsibility, not just for government. This is particularly crucial for a co
Fmr Zambian Minister REVEALS "Slept My Way to the Top" Smears: Sexism, Graft and The Price of Power
Former Zambian minister, DR DORA SILIYA, lifts the lid on the politics of her country. She reveals the vicious campaigns waged against her in the Zambian press and the accusations that she had slept her way to the top. In her book 'Minding My Father's Country' she recounts how she managed to navigate the turbulence of Zambian political life from a young age. "Even just getting the party to adopt m
Africa is REALLY flourishing but measures happiness differently to the rest of the world
Several African countries score very well when tested for characteristics of flourishing, better even than the US, Sweden and the UK. They are Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Egypt. But what exactly is flourishing? And how is it measured? Questions for Dr VICTOR COUNTED, Associate professor at Regent University in the US. His research has revealed the shortcomings of the current idea o
Zambia's President Denies Witchcraft and Being Part of a Secret Society
In this exclusive interview, President Hakainde Hichilema discusses his transition from businessman to the highest political office in Zambia. He reflects on his motivations for entering politics, saying it became clear to him that sound economic policies were vital to allow businesses to flourish, leading to job creation and better opportunities for the Zambian people.'We can't share poverty', he
Africa's Angry Millennials
We speak to Nigerian author NNAMDI CHIEKWU, a millenial who explains why he's angry and what he plans to do about it. Basically, Nnamdi says he is hugely disappointed with the generations who came before him who have left the African continent in such bad shape that he and his cohort need to lead 'a technocratic revolution' in order to revive its fortunes. He's scathing of earlier generations: 'W
South Africa's Karoo Meets Chelsea's Flower Show
A tiny slice of South Africa's semi-arid Karoo region was painstakingly recreated at this year's Chelsea Flower Show in London. It was the first time such an ambitious project had been undertaken to display the world-famous Karoo succulents at Chelsea's annual Festival of Flowers and Plants. I caught up with ERNST VAN JARSVELDT a master botanist who spent a lifetime nurturing these hardy plants an
Nigeria's President-in-Waiting? PETER OBI
PETER OBI believes he would have been Nigeria’s president now, were it not for widespread vote rigging at the last election in 2023. It’s a view shared by many of his fellow countrymen and women. In a wide-ranging interview with Africa Here And Now MR OBI confirms that he plans to run again in 2027 and believes that this time the outcome will be different. He says he’s optimistic that people will
Does Africa Need Democracy?
Has the shine come off the idea of democracy in parts of Africa? The continent's latest crop of military leaders seem to be enjoying immense popularity, like Burkina Faso's Captain Ibrahim Traore. So are Africans prepared to live under the rule of soldiers. Or is there another way?I speak to GILLES YABI, CEO and founder of the West Africa Citizen Think Tank in Dakar. And in Johannesburg, independe
The South African Diplomat Expelled by the U.S
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool discusses the recent efforts to reset relations between South Africa and the United States. President Ramaphosa's recent visit to the White House was a success, the ambassador says. He reflects on the challenges faced during his tenure as ambassador, including the backlash from the Trump administration and the influence of powerful South African figures in the US. He does
Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traore: What's True? What's False?
Why has Burkina Faso's military leader, IBRAHIM TRAORE, garnered such adulation? That's a question for the renowned investigative journalist, DAVID HUNDEYIN who replies that the young captain, he's just 37, symbolises s break from the status quo and offers hop to a youthful continent whose people yearn for a hero.Who, or what, is behind the social media tsunami that surrounds CAPTAIN TRAORE? We c
Gaza, Should Africans Care?
TITLE: Gaza, Should Africans Care? Pro- Palestine Cornell Student Who Fled US Talks to Africa Here & NowTags:Africa, Palestine, Israel, activism, geopolitics, youth, solidarity, African Union, Arab League, liberation We explore Africa's historical support for the Palestinian cause with MOMODOU TAAL, the 31-year-old British Gambian graduate student who fled the US before he was deport
Uganda's Bobi Wine: Fighting for Democracy
I meet Bobi Wine as he visits London. He’s seeking support for his campaign to rid Uganda of what he calls the ‘ brutal rulership’ of President Yoweri Museveni who will have led the country for 40 years in 2026. That’s when Uganda is scheduled to hold its next presidential election. Will Bobi run again? ‘Here I am,’ he says, ‘Not that I’m the Alpha and Omega, not that I’m the ultimate. But I’
What REALLY happened to Mugabe and could it happen again?
We look at recent events in Zimbabwe and the formation of the March 31 movement and ask how significant a threat it presents to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Dr BLESSING-MILES TENDI, a politics professor at Oxford University, is the author of The Overthrow of Robert Mugabe - Gender, Coups, and Diplomats. He takes us through the complex political landscape of Zimbabwe today as well as the historical
Trump's Golden Opportunity to Africa with Thebe Ikalafeng
Marketing guru THEBE IKALAFENG reflects on the current tensions in US-South African relations and suggests that by stopping US aid, President Trump is presenting the continent with a golden opportunity. It's time, Thebe says, for African countries to leverage their resources better and understand their value. The end of western aid should lead to new economic strategies and add urgency to the impl
Muhammad Ali's Boxing Grandson Carrying the Family Legacy
Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, shares his journey into boxing, the emotional connection with his grandfather, and the challenges he faces in the sport. He discusses the legacy of the Ali family, the expectations placed upon him and how his faith influences him.Nico talks openly about the dangers of boxing and details a severe injury he sustained that took months to rec
When Soldiers Came for My Grandpa, Haile Selassie
In this EXCLUSIVE interview with the last emperor of Ethiopia's favourite grandson, we learn the detail of HAILE SELASSIE's overthrow by the military in 1974.When the soldiers came , PRINCE BE'EDE MARIAM, who lived in the imperial palace, volunteered to stay with his grandpa so he wouldn't be alone. Other members of the family left the country.The teenaged prince paid dearly for that act of loyalt
Trump Says America First, We Should Say Africa First
Amidst the global disruption being wreaked by the Trump administration, a new man takes the helm of the African Union. Expectations are high as the continent faces a complex mix of challenges: an increase in the number of conflicts, the damaging impact of climate change, growing poverty and inequality and the shift in global power dynamics.Djiboutian MAHMOUD ALI YOUSSOUF has an overflowing in-tray
Zambia's Lost Football Heroes
We go back to 1993 when the plane carrying Zambia’s national football team crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gabon. Zambia is the only country in the world to have lost its national football team in a plane crash.Journalist and author JAY MWEMBA has detailed the events surrounding the tragedy in his book ‘The Crash of the Buffalo’. Former Nigerian Super Eagle, EFAN EKOKU joined us a
Nigeria's Freedom Fighter
Prominent Nigerian political activist and lawyer, an arch advocate of human rights and good governance, DELE FAROTIMI, speaks to Africa Here and Now about his experience of being imprisoned because he accused a powerful senior lawyer of corruption. The allegation is that in his latest book, DELE FAROTIMI, defames a senior legal luminary AFE BABALOLA by accusing him of subverting justice
Some Lighter moments of 2024
In this special year ender, as we round off season 3 of Africa Here and NOW, we look back at some of the moments that made us smile.The former Nigerian Super Eagle, footballer EFAN EKOKU, made us laugh with his cheeky bet on the winning team in the Africa Cup of Nations.Then Ghanaian football pundit, GARY AL SMITH, encouraged DONU into revealing what really lays behind the infamous rivalry between
Democracy Wins Again in Ghana, The Sahel's Mining Sector Overhauled, Namibia's First Female President
We speak to Ghanaian academic and political analyst, DR MICHAEL AMOAH, about his country's impressive record of holding orderly elections that lead to peaceful transitions of power. It's a record that's all the more impressive when compared with many of Ghana's neighbours.So JOHN MAHAMA returns to power - he served one term in 2012-2016 - and we discuss his to-do list. First up, we hear, he needs
Malawi's VP Means Business in Baku, Africa's Last Colony - Western Sahara
As climate talks enter their second week in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, MICHAEL USI, Malawi's Vice President, says it's time to get serious about past pledges.And Kenyan pastoralist CHARLES EKALELE tells us why those pledges matter. Changing weather patterns in Turkana County are making people in his community poorer.Africa's Last Colony. As the US, Spain and most recently France add their support
Former President IAN KHAMA on Botswana's Political Shift
As Botswana's new government begins its work, former president IAN KHAMA, reflects on the big political changes in his country as the party of independence - his father's party - the BDP is swept away.He discusses the current state of his country, with high unemployment, low growth and a widening gap between rich and poor. He outlines possible first steps for the new UDC administration of presiden
Challenges for Botswana's New President DUMA BOKO, Prospects for Peace inSudan?
We ask political analyst, ADAM MFUNDISI, about the challenges ahead for Botswana's new president DUMA BOKO. He tells us the country is in 'an undeclared recession' brought about by lacklustre diamond sales and corruption.Sudan's war is having horrifying effects on the country's people. The UN has called it 'the world's greatest modern-day famine' with at least 1.5 million people on the brink of st
Are Botswana's diamonds forever? Unrecognised Somaliland, Tarzan - why didn't he have African friends?
Africa here and Now's PATRICK SMITH has rocked up in Gaborone to gauge the mood in diamond-rich Botswana as people prepare to vote. He finds that this month's election could present the most serious challenge to the ruling party's almost 60 years in power.Have the books been cooked in Mozambique's election? The stakes are high, a $150billion gas project is on the cards.Somaliland- the breakaway re
Will Africa Get Seats on the UN Security Council? The Politics Behind Ghana's Illegal Gold Mining, The Return of South Africa's Fallen Heroes.
Talk at this year's General Assembly about reforming the UN has gathered pace. Meeting in the shadow of war: Sudan, Ukraine and the Middle East, the idea of changing the makeup of the Security Council took on more urgency. Support for Africa to get two permanent seats on the Council has grown. We asked Kenya's former UN ambassador, MARTIN KIMANI, if and when that's likely to happen. Ambassador Kim
The Horn on the Brink of War? What could Trump 2.0 mean for Africa?
The complex web of hostilities in the Horn deepen as Egyptian troops prepare to enter Somalia on peacekeeping duties. Ethiopia makes clear its opposition. Some are warning of a coming proxy war fuelled by Ethio-Egyptian animosity. We get the views of Mogadishu-based journalist MOHAMMED SHEIKH NOR.How would a second Trump administration deal with Africa? A question for former Trump Africa ambassado
China's Africa Summit, Djibouti's GM Mosquitos, Morocco's Gnawa Music
Can Africa's leaders gathering in Beijing for the Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) get more out of the relationship than in the past? Historically, China has imported African raw commodities with little or nothing added to the value of the metals and minerals. Now, with demand on the rise for Africa's vast supply of critical metals and minerals that are vital for the transition to net
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST...at 90
Legendary Ghanaian artist, ABLADE GLOVER, talks exclusively to Africa Here and Now on the occasion of his 90th birthday and the opening of his 10th exhibition atLondon’s October Gallery, Inner Worlds, Outer Journeys. He takes us through seven decades of loading his palette knife with oils to create dense, mainly urban scenes. He explains his love of Accra life and the hustle and bustle. His work h
Ecowas’ Uncertain Future, Daddy Hope turns rapper to get Zim youth to vote, How tech is helping Sierra Leone improve its schools and how will the UK’s new Prime Minister change course on Africa?
We talk to ADAMA GAYE, former ECOWAS director of communications, and journalist and Chatham House consulting fellow, PAUL MELLY about the West African bloc’s future as Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali form their own breakaway group. Adama tells us the 15 member ECOWAS is facing a ‘death threat’ because of the loss of three of its founding countries. Senegal’s new president BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE i
Is Somalia at a turning point? How can tech and AI benefit ordinary Malawians? What does the rise of the far right in France mean for Africa and Africans? Cameroon’s insurgents splinter
Battered by drought and flooding, laid low by more than 30 years of civil war, as SOMALIA prepares to accede to a seat on the UN Security Council and joins the East African Community, we ask a senior member of the Prime Minister’s Office could the hostilities between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa over Somaliland descend into all -out war? Plus, why are so many Somali baby girls being named I
A pivotal moment in South African politics Africa’s leaders in demand: South Korea and the G7 Sudan: 3 million lives at risk of shelling and starvation Why is MultiChoice Nigeria being forced to give customers a month free?
In South Africa the race is on to find a government of national unity. Parliament must sit by June 16 to elect a new president. Will the ANC appease the markets and investors by joining with the DA and risk widening the rifts in its ranks? Or will it take the ‘Chernobyl option’ of joining with the leftists of Malema’s EFF and former president Zuma’s MK party? We get the views of lawyer, businessma
In conversation with two-time Booker Prize finalist, Chigozie Obioma
Chigozie talks with Donu about his new novel – The Road to The Country – a war novel which documents Nigeria’s Biafran civil war. In a frank exchange, he tells Donu this is the story he has always wanted to tell even though he was born almost two decades after the war ended. He tells us that it was so emotionally challenging to write this book, that he missed his deadline – it took much longer tha
Ruto’s Red Carpet in DC, Nigerian journalist DAVID HUNDEYIN - why he fled Nigeria and the lamentable state of African journalism, Christianity’s African Majority and, 57 years on – reflections on Biafra
Kenya’s PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO gets the red-carpet treatment in Washington DC. Why has he become the first African leader IN MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS to receive the privilege of a state visit to the US?We’re in conversation with Nigerian investigative journalist, DAVID HUNDEYIN about why he fled his country fearing for his life and (CAN LOSE about) the lamentable state of journalism on the con
Zeinab Badawi’s African History of Africa, The Gerontocracy Running Africa, and Harry and Megan’s Eventful 3 Days in Nigeria
Africa is the world’s youngest continent with a median age of 19. So why does it have the oldest leaders on the planet? And they tend to stick around. Cameroon’s President Biya – in his 90s – is the world’s oldest leader and has been at the top for 42 years and there are plenty of others in their 70s and 80s. We ask independent researcher, DR JOSEPH ADEBAYO why Africa is a continent for old men.&n
Aya Nakamura in France, dressed down for dressing up. Was Bobrisky in Nigeria jailed for cross dressing?
In France, singer, AYA NAKAMURA faces a virulent campaign against the way she sings, the way she dresses, and her language. We ask art curator and film maker, RABI YANSANE what have so many French people got against the most listened to Francophone pop superstar? Migration, particularly from Africa, is being portrayed as a modern day scourge by many western politicians.Yet as DR NICK WES
Season Two - Trailer
Africa Here and Now is back for it's second season with episode one coming next week!We’ll continue looking at the major political and security challenges facing the continent, but we’ll also be looking at what else is going on in Africa including sport, art, film and music, in fact anything that we think you’ll find interesting!Get in touch, let us know what you’d like to hear more of: martine@af
The Kora, the Cello and Violins
In this, our 12th Episode we showcase African classical music. TUNDE JEGEDE is a musical maestro who has mastered the cello and the west African kora. He explains how his training in both instruments has inspired him to produce a style of music that combines elements of African and western classical genres resulting in a unique sound that is thrilling global audiences. Along with some of the
Gazans in Egypt? 'Tribalism is holding back Nigeria ', says Moghalu, The World's Most Expensive Hole in the Ground in Ghana
Five months into the war on Gaza, we ask why Egypt is so unwilling to take in desperate Palestinians. Independent Consultant HAFSA HALAWAtells us Cairo fears letting in Islamist militants.Prominent Nigerian political economist KINGSLEY MOGHALU warns the country's economic troubles have already become a political crisis that will only get worse. And a former president contender himself, from the ea
Dinner with the Mbekis
South Africa political commentator, MOELETSI MBEKI, is a harsh critic of the ruling ANC's record in office. But, he tells us, that hasn't harmed relations with his big brother, THABO MBEKI, a former South African President. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Coups, Conflict, Family Dinners and Donkeys
Former Nigerian President, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, in an exclusive interview, tells us why Western-style democracy doesn't work for Africa and suggests a traditional system of consensus instead.Political economist, MOELETSI MBEKI, explains why the ANC is facing a drubbing in South Africa's next elections; he pays tribute to OBASANJO, the elder statesman, and tells us he doesn't argue with b
Donu's Kidnapping Story
AfricaHere&NOW's panellist, DONU KOGBARA, tells us of the time she was kidnapped from her home in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. For almost 2 weeks she was kept captive in a tiny hut in a mangrove swamp. She was beaten but developed an empathetic relationship with her captors. She grew to understand the reasons why the young men had taken her by force and were demanding $2 millons for her release. Donu t
There's more to South African/Nigerian rivalry than football
Donu and Gary Al Smith enlighten us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From Crises in ECOWAS and Zimbabwe's Opposition, to a fine example of African Leadership. Ghana limbers up for Elections and why South African/Nigerian rivalry is about more than just Football
* We examine the state of ECOWAS, the West African bloc, as Senegal postpones elections and as 3 Sahelian countries announce their decision to leave. ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr ABDEL FATAU MUSAH admits that sanctions against Niger were 'not well handled' and that there's now a need for dialogue to get the 3 states back.@DrFatauMusah*Former top tier ZANU PF member, tu
Is anyone safe in Nigeria? And reparations - should Africa pay too?
Mass killings and kidnappings get closer to Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Expert, Dr CHIDI ODINKALU, tells us it's not a matter of failing security forces, it's because of COLLUSION between some senior politicians and armed groups. And DONU, talks about her own terrifying kidnapping ordeal.Plus, Should Africans who collaborated in the trans-Atlantic slave trade also pay reparations, along w
From Trouble in the Horn to Excitement about AFCON..and some pidgin
* What role does the UAE play in the Horn of Africa? We look at the forgotten war in Sudan and delve into Ethiopia's controversial deal to recognise Somaliland in exchange for access to the sea.* The Christmas killings in Nigeria's Plateau State*The billion-dollar election in DRC where more than half the country didn't vote* A South African tech bro tells of his hopes for 2024* Former
Black Girl from Pyongyang
The fascinating story of a woman from Equatorial Guinea in Central Africa who grows up in North Korea. Monica Macias talks about her identity crisis as a black girl in Pyongyang and being the daughter of "Africa's Pol Pot" and the ward of a North Korean dictator.Her book is Black Girl From Pyongyang' Published by Duckworth.Get in touch: martine@africahereandnow.comInstagram: afri
Can Kenya's Police sort out Haiti? And a Big Blow to the ANC
Why are police officers from Kenya being sent to Haiti where gang violence is tearing the Caribbean country apart? South Africa’s ANC loses a senior figure: MAVUSO MSIMANG, a party stalwart quits over ‘entrenched corruption’ and says his beloved party’s prospects in next year’s elections do not look good. As COP28 wraps up, did Africa get what it wanted? We ask a Nigerian energy consultant and w
Showdown in Dubai and DRC's Crowded Election Starting Line
Africa's Climate Tsar, Carlos Lopes on what Africa wants from COP28A young Nigerian activist warns us that in the rush to kickstart production of Green energy, not to forget the 600 million Africans who don't even have access to electricity.The runners and riders in the DR Congo presidential race - all 25 of them.Get in touch: martine@africahereandnow.comInstagram: africahereandnowX @Marti
Liberia's Close Call and We Follow the Money
Liberians vote in the closest presidential runoff since the civil war -we gauge the mood in Monrovia.Nigerian politician turned academic, Kayode Fayemi, calls for a Marshall Plan for the Sahel.The Africa Investment Forum in Marrakech - almost 35 BILLION dollars is pledged. Who left Morocco happy?The Rugby Africa president persuades us that his sport is more than just fun, it's big business too
The King, the President and The Black Book
King Charles' first overseas trip as monarch is to Kenya - what kind of reception awaits him?What benefit could President Ramaphosa bring to the Israel/Gaza war? He offers his service amid a row over his government's supposed support for Hamas.Has Nollywood finally come of age? The Black Book film smashes records and goes global.Get in touch: martine@africahereandnow.comInstagram: africahe
