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Next Africa — Places & Travel
Next Africa

Next Africa is a weekly podcast about where Africa is going and why it matters to everyone.

Each episode tells a story from the continent and follows it through real life, business, politics and culture. From electricity and climate to jobs, migration, technology, sport and music, the podcast looks at the forces shaping daily life and how those changes connect to the wider world.

The show covers challenges and breakthroughs side by side. It explains the impact of energy shortages and climate risk, but also the rise of new industries, creative economies and young entrepreneurs. Stories are reported on the ground and told with clarity, combining data, context and lived experience.

Hosted by Jennifer Zabasajja and built on original journalism from reporters on the ground, Next Africa puts local voices at the centre of the story, delivering clear, factual reporting without cliché or assumption.

Whether you live on the continent or want to better understand a region shaping the future, Next Africa offers insight, perspective and stories worth listening to.

Copyright: © 2018 Bloomberg LP

Latest Episodes:

Replay: How To Stop Africa's Brain Drain Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

We wanted to bring you one of our favorite episodes from the last few months. Each year, up to 12 million young Africans enter the workforce, but only about three million formal jobs are available. So many Nigerians have left Africa's most populous country in recent years, the Yoruba term "japa" -- or escape -- has become shorthand for young people desperate to put their skills to use. Could the west be doing more to help Africa make the most of it’s talent rather than losing it to places like the UK, US and Canada?
Author, journalist and Bloomberg columnist Ciku Kimeria joins Jennifer Zabasajja to talk about her latest piece on the issue, why so many people are choosing to leave and what future she hopes her young daughter will grow in to. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Africa Is Cashing In On Booming Gold Prices Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

A spectacular gold-market boom is spurring a push by African nations — where the ground is rich in the precious metal — to extract more revenue.

On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s precious metals reporter Jack Ryan and our Africa Mining and Metals correspondent William Clowes join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what’s behind the rising gold price, how African countries are trying to capitalize on the boom and what risks there might be for investors.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Nigeria and South Africa Could Leave the ‘Dirty Money’ List Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

South Africa and Nigeria are poised to exit a global financial watchdog’s “gray list” as soon as this month, marking a change in fortune for two of the continent’s biggest economies.

On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s Africa Economics and Government Editor Monique Vanek and reporter Ben Bartenstein join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how the countries ended up on the list in the first place, what they’ve done to improve their systems and what benefits exiting the list could bring to their economies.
For more stories from the region, you can subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why China Is Winning Over Africa Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

In parts of Africa, public opinion on China is more favorable than in many other regions, according to an Asia Society survey released this month. That enthusiasm contrasts sharply with Beijing’s standing in the West and some of Asia, where views have soured dramatically.

In this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Asia columnist Karishma Vaswani and Africa Economist Yvonne Mhango join Tiwa Adebayo to discuss just why China is winning the diplomacy war in Africa, and how good the deal is for African economies.

You can read Karishma’s column here and for more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Ethiopia’s Giant Dam has Left Egypt and Sudan Angry Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

Ethiopia has inaugurated Africa’s biggest hydroelectric dam, a colossal feat of engineering that could power homes and industries across East Africa. But the dam is also deepening a years-long dispute with Egypt and Sudan over the flow of the Nile.

On this week’s episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer is joined by Bloomberg’s Ethiopia Reporter Fasika Tadesse and our Cairo based reporter Tarek El-Tablawy to discuss what Ethiopia hopes the dam will achieve economically and how downstream neighbours Egypt and Sudan may respond.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Botswana Survive the Lab-Grown Diamond Boom? Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Botswana became one of the richest countries in Africa because it's the world's biggest producer of diamonds by value -- but with lab-grown gems soaring in popularity, the sparsely-populated desert nation is facing a social and economic existential crisis

President Boko has pledged to diversify the economy away from its over-reliance on a single resource, but the changes may have come too late.

On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill and Botswana-based reporter Mbongeni Mguni join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss their latest reporting from the region, and what the impact of the diamond slump looks like on the ground in Botswana.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Africa’s Music Festivals Compete On The World Stage? Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

It’s the summer festival season, and while Europe and North America are seeing declining sales and smaller tours - Africa’s festival scene is on an upward trend.

Eswatini’s Bushfire Festival, and Tanzania’s Sauti Za Busara are growing, bringing jobs, tourism and support for Africa’s music industry.

On this week’s episode, Tiwa Adebayo speaks to Maputo based correspondent Tavares Cebola, who’s been reporting on the summer festival season. They discuss whether the African music industry is able to capitalise on its global popularity and how the region's growing younger middle class are fueling the festival industry.

Jennifer Zabasajja will return next week.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil Workers Recount Yearslong Detention in Equatorial Guinea Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Two South African oil workers who had been detained in Equatorial Guinea prisons for two years have spoken to Bloomberg about their ordeal.

Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter were arrested on drug-trafficking charges and detained in short order in February 2023, days after a South African court ordered the seizure of a yacht linked to Equatorial Guinean Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, known as Teodorin.

In this special episode of the Next Africa Podcast they talk about their arrest, what it’s like inside Equatorial Guinean prisons and how they feel now they are back with their families in South Africa.

And Bloomberg’s Energy reporter Paul Burkhardt speaks to Jennifer Zabasajja about the diplomatic relations between South Africa and Equatorial Guinea, the role of the Vice President, and what this means for international investment in OPEC’s smallest member.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Africa’s Ultra Luxury Hotels Are Booming Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

A private island off the coast of Tanzania, where guests pay around $50,000 a night for an exclusive-use villa, catamaran and helicopter transfers within a protected marine reserve is the latest frontier in Africa’s booming luxury hospitality market.

Bloomberg’s Prinesha Naidoo joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what's behind the boom in ultra luxury tourism, who’s benefiting and whether the economic boost is sustainable.

You can read Prinesha Naidoo's piece here, and for more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's Driving The Protests Over The Ivory Coast Presidential Election? Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Opposition parties are protesting in Abidjan after court rulings blocked key opposition figures from standing in October’s presidential election. The decisions paved the way for 83 year-old President Alassane Ouattara to seek a controversial fourth term.

On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Abidjan-based reporter Kamailoudini Tagba joins Jennifer Zabasajja and talks about what’s behind the process, how President Ouattara is regarded in Ivory Coast and what hopes there are for fair and peaceful elections in October.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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