Africa Here and NOW

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 her best-selling book An African History of Africa. She reminds us that all human beings originate in Africa and until relatively recently (8-12000 years ago), everyone of us was dark skinned. President of SOAS, Zeinab also reveals her love of Italian opera and confesses her guilty pleasure. Is South Africa selling off the family silver? PATRICK updates us on the prospective take-over of Anglo American by BHP. And DONU explains why there’s so much interest in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Nigeria. 

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 communities and are becoming increasingly influential. Just like AYA NAKAMURA, who was born in Mali. PATRICK SMITH, in Accra, updates us on a rather relaxed approach Ghanaian candidates are taking to December elections. And DONU KOGBARA taps into the BOBRISKY affair. Has Nigeria’s celebrity cross-dresser been unfairly penalised for spraying, or ‘naira abuse? And is BOBRISKY’s tough prison sentence softening Nigerian attitudes to LGBQT matters? QUESTION: Is ‘spraying’ practiced anywhere else on the continent? The practice of plastering cash on dancers at parties or events to show approval. Let me know. Contact: martine@africahereandnow.comwww.africahereandnow.comyoutube.com/@AfricaHereAndNOWPodcast

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.comFind us wherever you get your podcasts and on Youtube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Africa Here and Now – the conversation you’ve always wanted to have about the continent.

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 east, we ask if his country will ever vote for an IGBO president.As Ghana hosts the 13th Africa Games, sports journalist GARY AL SMITH tells us why Ghanaians are not impressed by their government's splashing of the cash - which has already seen the country achieve one unenvied title - owner of the world's most expensive hole in the ground.Plus, DRC President Tshishikedi racks up his airmiles

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.

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've now banned the slaughter of donkeys for their skins. We discover ejiao - a Chinese beauty treatment. www.africahereandnow.com Youtube.com/@AfricaHereandNowPodcast

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.

Donu and Gary Al Smith enlighten us...