Across Africa

African creatives have global clout, but talent is only part of the picture, and in reality the starving artist is not a romantic figure but an unsupported one. No more. Georja speaks to one of the biggest advocates for the development of the continent's artistic industries – Marie Lora Mungai's new book "Creative Cash Flow" walks African creatives through the financial sense and business practicalities needed for their gifts to keep on giving. 

As one of the biggest events in the global wine scene wraps up in Paris, Georja is joined by Nigerian vine virtuoso, Chinedu Rita Rosa. The French industry is struggling but Africa's growing young, cosmopolitan middle class is the perfect terroir for producers hoping to cultivate new markets.

Emmy Award-winning Nigerian director Joel Kachi Benson is Georja Calvin-Smith's guest this week. He is still journeying alongside the families marked by the horrifying abduction of their daughters 12 years ago by Boko Haram. The violation has faded from international headlines, but Benson has kept the Chibok community in his spotlight. He speaks of the dignity offered by African-crafted documentaries. His film "Mothers of Chibok" appreciates its subjects' determination to be role models for their remaining children.

 A weekly round-up of stories from across the continent with Georja Calvin-Smith.  African scholars update a monumental book that sets out the continent's global contribution across thousands of years.  Also, South Africa's household help sector is in a mess. About 400,000 jobs have disappeared in the sector over the last 5 years. And reports mount of the brutal treatment of civilians caught in the middle of the RSF's battle to seize the Darfuri city of El Fasher from the army. 

In this edition: The UN's humanitarian chief says he is shocked by the world’s indifference to the devastating toll of the war in Sudan, after visiting the ravaged region of Darfur. Also, in Madagascar, authorities have unveiled an enormous 300-kilogram emerald reportedly found inside the palace of the recently toppled president.

Nigerian communities that rely on sales of shea nuts are worried that a six-month export ban aimed at encouraging local use of the crop will leave a worrying crack in the $6 billion global market. Also, Benin's entrepreneurs take on the prickly problem of breakdowns in the pineapple production process. 

In this special edition we take a look at cutting-edge African culture. Peace Hyde, producer of three-season Netflix runaway success "Young, Famous & African" speaks to Georja about tackling myopic views about Africa by tapping into the diaspora to focus on the continent’s innumerably cosmopolitan, sexy and exciting facets. Georja also heads to the Ibrahim Governance Weekend in Morocco to speak to Nigeria's highlife high flyers, The Cavemen. They're doing their bit to level up Africa's creative clout, one goosebump-giving riff at a time. 

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in an interview with FRANCE 24’s Georja Calvin-Smith, denied President Donald Trump’s claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa. Responding to Trump’s scheme to welcome white South Africans to the US as refugees, Mashatile said, “If they want to be refugees, it's their business. But they can’t bad-mouth the country.” Pretoria is also looking to expand its diplomatic ties with Paris. Mashatile said that while relations with the US are positive and valued, Africa’s powerhouse isn’t putting all its eggs in one basket. 

If you can measure it, you can manage it. One of Kenya's metrology heavyweights speaks to Georja Calvin-Smith about how there is might in monitoring. There were no African signatories when 17 countries came together 150 years ago to set measurement standards for time, distance and weight, but as the continent's development has picked up pace, so has its contribution to global metrology. 

The US says that it's in talks with several African countries that might agree to take in migrants expelled by Washington. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson speaks to the State Department about those plans and progress on the Washington-brokered DR Congo peace plans.