Africa Here and NOW

Zambian visual artist, STARY MWABA, who grew up in the country's Copperbelt, discusses the enduring environmental and human cost of resource extraction in his home region. He details the history and current reality of the infamous Black Mountain in Kitwe - a century-old toxic slag heap - that is now a site of dangerous, informal mining and re-extraction. Stary explains his unique artistic technique, which literally perforates newspaper headlines to make space for the 'little narratives' of the exploited people and children whose suffering fuels the world's 'green' revolution.His signature method is creating a surface by collecting newspaper stories, stacking them on transparent baking paper' and then perforating the newsprint with minute holes. The idea came from an earlier installation in which he used vegetables and colour to demonstrate how plants absorb water and minerals - a critique of Chinese engagement.The physical act of 'removing words' and perforating the paper is to symbolically 'create space for the little stories' - the marginalised, human narratives. The work is 'painstaking' requiring intense concentration, which Stary describes as a form of 'therapy'.Stary paints from the reverse side of the perforated paper. He imposes the image so the paint literally 'seeps through the holes' and onto the front side, making the portrait a physical breakthrough of the headline.He displays the paintings by suspending them so that the viewer can 'see both sides of the story.'Follow Stary on instagram: starymwabaYou can see some of his works at the 37d Gallery, Lusaka#starymwaba#Zambianartist#copperbelt#coppermining#coblatmining#greenenergy#greeneconomy#evironmentaljustice#acidrain#pollution#zambia#kitwe#blackmountain#africanart#socialcommentary#artivism#untoldstories

Meet William and Lulu Wood, a Zambian couple known for their work in reframing and promoting Zambian cuisine through a contemporary lens, primarily through their platform, The Wood Kitchen.I went to The Wood Kitchen when I was visiting Lusaka a short while ago and had a fabulous time chatting with the couple. This is a family endeavour that focuses on sharing easy fusion recipes, cooking tips, and celebrating Zambia's diverse and delicious foods. As you'll hear, Lulu and William are acutely conscious of the cost of food in today's Zambia - food inflation, although down from July's figure, was in August this year at just under 15%. So affordability is an essential element of their recipes. They use digital media (like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube) to showcase their work.Speaking to William and Lulu, I soon discovered that their main goal is to promote an under-explored cuisine by elevating and showcasing traditional Zambian dishes, which they feel are often underrated on the global stage.Fusion Cooking: They blend traditional Zambian foods from their respective heritage (Tonga and Lozi tribes) with techniques and flavours they've encountered while visiting various countries, creating a unique fusion style.Championing Local Ingredients: They emphasize using local, ethically sourced Zambian ingredients. They grow many of their own vegetables and herbs, a practice they recommend.Food Influencers: They've gained a growing online following and have been recognized as SME change-makers by META for harnessing digital media. They have also represented Zambia internationally in food events.Cultural Preservation: They see food as a powerful tool for celebrating and preserving Zambian heritage, educating both younger generations and wider audiences about their culture through cooking and sharing recipes.I hope you enjoy this show as much as I did making it. MD#zambiancuisine#chikanda#africanfood#culturalpreservation#food #foodies#foodinfluencers#fusioncooking#thewoodkitchen#

One in four people in the world will soon be African, and the majority will be under 30, urban, and digitally connected. We discuss with MICHELLE GAVIN how the demographic shift represents a new era for the continent —one that is already shaking the foundations of long-standing political power.Is this wave of popular demand a recipe for chaos or democratic renewal? Listen to find out why the "old playbook" for African politics is obsoleteThe conversation explores the transformative potential of Africa's youth in shaping the continent's political landscape. With a significant portion of the population being young and urban, there is a growing demand for change that challenges the existing political elite. The discussion delves into the implications of demographic shifts, economic challenges, migration patterns, and the role of external actors in Africa's future. It highlights the potential for both unrest and democratic renewal as young people assert their rights and seek opportunities for a better life.takeawaysOne in every four of the world's population will be African.Political volatility is going to shake up the region.Young people are increasingly urban and connected.Demographic dividend comes when the transition comes.Migration is going to be a part of the story.The future of work is uncertain for Africa.External actors are not the main factor driving change.Violence and unrest will happen, but not everywhere.Senegal could end up as an upholder of constitutionalism.We can learn a lot from these young societies.Michelle Gavin's book: How Urban Youth are Transforming African Politics

Standard Chartered Bank's Zambia CEO, SONNY ZULU, shares his journey from aspiring medical doctor, to metallurgist in his country's copper mines to the boss of one of the top banks. He discusses the importance of leadership and management skills, the challenges of job creation in Zambia, which he says, is a collective responsibility, not just for government. This is particularly crucial for a country like Zambia which has a median age of just 17. We talk about the bank's role in fostering economic growth. Sonny says the bank's focus is on empowering marginalised communities, especially women and young people. Training in financial management is as important as giving grants, he says, for successful entrepreneurship. I ask Sonny about the impact on African economies of American tariffs. He stresses the importance of intra-African trade. He identifies energy as one of the country's greatest challenges going forward, which is essential to fuel the ambitious increase in copper production which has been outlined by the government. Finally, Sonny tells us about his biggest professional mistake....We used data and graphics from KASI INSIGHT, Africa's leading decision intelligence company. They provide data-driven insights by combining high frequency data with AI to unpack markets.Chapters:00:00 From Medicine to Metallurgy: A Career Journey04:55 The Importance of Leadership and Management Skills10:45 Creating Jobs and Economic Growth15.05 Standard Chartered's Role in Economic Development19:56 Navigating the Retail Banking Landscape30:28 Impact of Global Tariffs on African Economies34:00 Learning from Mistakes: A Leadership Perspective

Former Zambian minister, DR DORA SILIYA, lifts the lid on the politics of her country. She reveals the vicious campaigns waged against her in the Zambian press and the accusations that she had slept her way to the top. In her book 'Minding My Father's Country' she recounts how she managed to navigate the turbulence of Zambian political life from a young age. "Even just getting the party to adopt me, to put my name on the ballot paper..was so difficult. I just felt I was being discriminated because I'm a woman."During her two decades in politics, DR SILIYA headed six ministries. "I had some of the worst headlines that you've ever heard of. I remember people saying the reason she's always appointed minister is because she uses her 'back power'."At one point, she was even arrested: "I was arrested purely because I made a very tough decision, which I thought was the right decision, supported by two presidents, Levy Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda. We needed to sell a stake in the national telecoms because it was not doing well...Even when the final transaction was done, I wasn't there at all. It was one of the saddest periods of my time."Since writing the book, DORA says, many women have told her how afraid they are of entering Zambian politics. "It's too much because instead of issues, people believe that it must be about you the person."Zambia, she says, is becoming increasingly polarised along ethnic, tribal lines, and this she contends, couold be catastrophic for the country that has enjoyed more than 60 years of peace. "I think for the first time in my life this tribal tension is is real...whether it's the Tongas versus the Bembas, the Bembas and the Easterners...it is quite dangerous. If we are not careful, this is the first time we would have a civil war in this country."Corruption is another of DORA's concerns: "Corruption is endemic in Zambia...it has become such a way of life that people expect to pay at the traffic stop, they expect to pay to get their passport on time, they expect to pay somebody at the hospital to get an appointment quickly.."Minding My Father's Country by Dora Siliya, Reach Publishers

Several African countries score very well when tested for characteristics of flourishing, better even than the US, Sweden and the UK. They are Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Egypt. But what exactly is flourishing? And how is it measured? Questions for Dr VICTOR COUNTED, Associate professor at Regent University in the US. His research has revealed the shortcomings of the current idea of well-being which are heavily based on western values. There is an emphasis on the individual - job satisfaction, wealth, status etc. REAL well-being however, he says, should include how you relate to the people around you, the context in which you live, how valued you feel by your community etc areas in which African countries tend to perform well. It's about more than GDP.So how can these positive indices be used to enhance the view of African countries? Development goals, Dr COUNTED says, should be adapted to harness the positive attributes of African life and policies tailored to fit individual countries, working to their strengths.Find out more about Dr Counted's work:DR VICTOR COUNTED, THE HUMAN FLOURISHING PROGRAMMEwww.vcounted.com

We speak to Nigerian author NNAMDI CHIEKWU, a millenial who explains why he's angry and what he plans to do about it. Basically, Nnamdi says he is hugely disappointed with the generations who came before him who have left the African continent in such bad shape that he and his cohort need to lead 'a technocratic revolution' in order to revive its fortunes. He's scathing of earlier generations: 'Why didn't they take up the fight? They didn't have the courage. They wanted to ...ingratiate themselves into a western-led world. They had no confidence...in what...an African-led world looked like.'There's so much to do in a very short time. NNAMDI believes that Africa has a mere 5 years in which to turn itself around or face dire and irreversible consequences. 'We've reached our last chance as Africans, as civilisations. And that last chance is 2030' he says.NNAMDI feels so strongly that he's written a book ' AFRICA ON THE PRECIPICE' in which he lays out his theory of Afro-hegemony - a time when Africa and its peoples will dominate global affairs. But in order to reach that state of greatness, Africa's sub-Saharan nations have to come together as one in a kind of loose federation, Nnamdi says. 'The first thing that needs to happen...is that what we call African countries and governments are really colonial constructions....they were never intended for African innovation, liberation let alone dominance....they have to be collapsed.'NNAMDI puts the case for his generation: '..When we millennials look at the Africa we've inherited, we're saying, why are we listening to you? You people are lost. You don't have a direction. You don't have a plan for us. So we're going to take the power.'In NNAMDI's plan of action, out goes the Africa Union (AU) and in would come the African Defence and Advancement Federation - 'a technocratic entity that is dedicated to the defence and advancement of Africans'.NNAMDI acknowledges that the vast majority of Africans are more concerned with their daily struggles with poverty to buy into his plan, but, he believes, there's a 5% critical mass that is ready. His book, AFRICA ON THE PRECIPICE, is Nnamdi's blueprint. 'History is replete with civilisations that have disappeared...Native Americans, Aborigines, Afro Argentines...none of them know when their end was beginning.'AFRICA ON THE PRECIPICE, by Nnamdi Chiekwu is available on Amazon. It's in audiobook form on Spotify.Find out more about Nnamdi on his website: https://nnamdichiekwu.com

A tiny slice of South Africa's semi-arid Karoo region was painstakingly recreated at this year's Chelsea Flower Show in London. It was the first time such an ambitious project had been undertaken to display the world-famous Karoo succulents at Chelsea's annual Festival of Flowers and Plants. I caught up with ERNST VAN JARSVELDT a master botanist who spent a lifetime nurturing these hardy plants and trees. ERNST's passion for succulents is infectious; his knowledge is second to none. When he's not in London, ERNST is at the Babylonstoren Estate in South Africa's Franschhoek wine vally with its world-renowned botanical diversity.