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. ZEINAB BADAWI tells us about Africa’s often overlooked ancient civilisations that she has covered in ...
May 15, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 2
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 WESTCOTT of SOAS explains, many Africans who’ve settled abroad are contributing successfully to their new communi...
May 01, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 1
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@africahereandnow.com Find us wherever you get your podcasts and on Youtube , Twitter , Instagram and...
Apr 25, 2024•43 sec
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 finest young musicians on the continent, like DAVID ETIM and VINCENT HAASTRUP, Tunde has created the NOK ...
Mar 19, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Five months into the war on Gaza, we ask why Egypt is so unwilling to take in desperate Palestinians. Independent Consultant HAFSA HALAWA tells 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 east, we ask if his country will ever vote for an IGBO president. As Ghana hosts the 13th Africa Gam...
Mar 06, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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.
Feb 21, 2024•45 sec
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 big brother, THABO MBEKI. Plus, How the fate of the humble mule reached the in-trays of Africa's leaders; they'v...
Feb 21, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 tells us of the impact her kidnapping has had on her life, and on that of her family. Hosted on A...
Feb 15, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Donu and Gary Al Smith enlighten us... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 07, 2024•58 sec
* 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, turned independent presidential contender, SAVIOUR KASUKUWERE tells us about the shrinking democratic space in Z...
Feb 07, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 with their European business partners? One of the questions for British-Ghanaian MP, BELL RIBEIRO ADDY. We a...
Jan 24, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 7
* 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 Nigerian Super Eagle, Efan Ekoku tells us who he thinks might win the Africa Cup of Nations, and why Premier...
Jan 10, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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.com Instagram: africahereandnow X @MartineDennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 10, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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 we hear from a rather frustrated Ghanaian delegate who’s there in Dubai. Plus Tinubu’s enormous delegat...
Dec 13, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Africa's Climate Tsar, Carlos Lopes on what Africa wants from COP28 A 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.com Instagram: africahereandnow X @MartineDennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 29, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 3
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. Get in touch: martine@africahereandnow.com Instagram: africahereandnow X @MartineDennis Hosted on A...
Nov 14, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 2
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.com Instagram: africahereandnow X @MartineDennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 31, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 1
