Africa Here and NOW

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, businessman and author OYAMA MBANDLA whose new book ‘The Soul of a Nation’ reflects on where the ANC has gone wrong and proposes a new season of national dialogue.THE SOUL OF A NATION by Oyama Mbandla, published by Tafelberg.WALEED MADIBO, Sudanese Governance and International Development expert, founder and President of Sudan Policy Forum outlines the contours of his country’s civil war. After more than a year of fighting, almost 3 million people in the west are at risk of being shelled or of starving to death. The battle for El Fasher could determine the outcome of this brutal war that is ravaging Sudan.Patrick explains why a slew of African leaders have been feted in Seoul and a handful are invited to Georgia Meloni’s G7 party in Italy.Why is the TV provider, Multi Choice Nigeria being rapped over the knuckles for increasing its charges? It’s been fined $100 million and told to give all its customers a free month….just in time for a big, international football tournament. Is that a coincidence? A question for economist KELVIN EMMANUEL.

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 than he had anticipated.The Road to the Country is his third novel, both of his earlier books made Booker Prize shortlists. The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities were international best sellers. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages. He reveals that he never reads his books once they are written! Plus, he tells us what his next project is likely to be.

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 continent. David’s new book, Breaking Point, is published by Abibiman.Africa is already the continent with the largest number of Christians. By mid-century it’s reckoned that almost half the global flock will live in sub-Saharan Africa. How will African spirituality affect Christianity? We ask eminent BISHOP TREVOR MWAMBA.DONU reflects on the 57th anniversary of THE Biafran declaration of independence. And it’s personal, her dad was Biafra’s ambassador to the UK.

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.

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 Orchestra which was recently performing and recording in London. He has given Africa Here and NOW exclusive access to some of the extraordinary tracks before they are released. You can hear them in this, the final Episode of Season One.The tracks included in this episode are all by the NOK Orchestra:Jairaby BalladJairaby LeKairaLet Elements Mov. III

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.