Africa 4 Dummies

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 himself as a 'hustler' due to his lack of being in a political dynasty. 

Expert Guest: Sylvanus Wekesa (PhD) a researcher at King's College London's(KCL) Africa Leadership Centre (ALC). 

We discuss the who's who in this election and how it impact's the pressing issues from youth disinterest in the election, Kenya's corruption problem, rising cost of living to its foreign policy in relation to Ukraine, Congo and Chinese debt. 

Music: Twende Twende by Eric Wainaina ft Oliver Mtukudzi 

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 deal with the well known China-Africa relations when it comes to Taiwan. 

Join the hosts Zenge and Nathan with Zeng-Ee (Darill) Liew, a Malaysian PhD candidate at Surrey University who specialises in East Asian international relations. As an avid scholar he has also featured in the Journal of Global Faultlines. 

Music: Gambia by Sona Jobarteh 

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 - Disclosure 

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 - Disclosure 

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 among others.

Music : Water No Get Enemy - Violaaa, Pat Kalla

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 taking Addis Ababa, Abiy Ahmed on 28 November 2021 announced victory over Tigray.

[The views expressed in this episode belong to the guest and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Africa 4 Dummies ]

Song : የኔ አለም - Yene Alem by YONZIMA

"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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfwoROrBiVE&t=3s

Al Jazeera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3LSzVtDfL4&t=5s

CGTN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrWY1Nw7gQg&t=24s

CNN Fareed Zakaria GPS: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3z1LYhfMy6hnxwH0UdFISF?si=4628bd54ab8e4d4b

France 24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jL_-eSy7JE&t=23s

Bloomberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOsg-N4IImI

Global Justice Now:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e97XFM2WmQ0&t=133s

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.

Song: Good Morning Riddim - Sarz

Over 100 years ago in what is now Namibia, a genocide saw 80% of the Herero and 50% of the Nama ethnic populations killed by German colonialists. 

Often known as Germany’s first Holocaust, the Africa 4 Dummies team talks to Prof Henning Melber from the Nordic-Africa Institute and member of SWAPO (Namibia’s ruling party) on how Germany and Namibia are dealing with their past and why youths should care about it.

Music: Ras Sheehama - Shohela Oshaile Shaya

Asking an expert

Everyone has heard of the IMF,  but what exactly is it and why should Africans care about it? The Africa 4 Dummies Team discusses these and other issues like Special Drawing Rights (SDR) with International Development and Financial Law expert  Professor Daniel Bradlow from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Prof Daniel Bradlow's article:

How Africa can seize the moment and start resetting its relationship with the IMF (theconversation.com)

To learn more about how citizens can participate in financial accountability in these banks check out the links below :

The IMF at a Glance

Special Drawing Rights (imf.org)

Frequently asked questions | African Development Bank - Building today, a better Africa tomorrow (afdb.org)

Accountability Mechanisms

independentaccountabilitymechanism.net

Other Independent Accountability Mechanisms | African Development Bank - Building today, a better Africa tomorrow (afdb.org)

Song: Point and Kill by Little Simz & Obongjayar