Next Africa - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

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:

Africa Takes Centre Stage at The Qatar Economic Forum May 22, 2025

Show notes

The future of Africa's economic progress, security and stability has been a key topic at this year's Qatar Economic Forum , an event powered by Bloomberg. How can the continent assert itself on global stage and superchage growth against an uncertain backdrop?

On this week's episode Jennifer Zabasajja brings you the best of this year's discussions featuring a deep dive into sovereign investment, a look at some of the region's most exciting start-ups and expert commentary on the roles of sustainability and AI in Africa's growing investment landscape.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nigerian Investors Bet On Nollywood For Blockbuster Returns May 15, 2025

Show notes

Nollywood is bringing a touch of West Africa to the Cannes Film Festival. My Father’s Shadow is making history as the first Nigerian Film to be an Official Selection at the Festival - showing the rising prominence of Nollywood on the world stage. And investors are starting to take notice.

On today’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja talks to our Nigeria Bureau Chief, Anthony Osae-Brown about the growing popularity of Nollywood, how Netflix and Amazon brought new investment to the industry and why asset managers are now starting to take notice.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Sudan Blames The UAE For Port Sudan Drone Strikes May 09, 2025

Show notes

Armed drones struck the airport and harbor in Sudan’s main coastal city Port Sudan, escalating a deadly conflict between the North African nation’s army and the Rapid Support Forces militia.

Sudan has accused the UAE of supporting the RSF and has cut off diplomatic ties and withdrawn its ambassador. The UAE firmly denies any involvement.

On this episode, Bloomberg’s Nairobi based reporter Simon Marks joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why this escalation opens up a new front in the two year long civil war, and what evidence there is that the UAE is backing the RSF.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Russia Recruiting Young African Women To Make Drones? May 02, 2025

Show notes

With influencer ads and high-profile marketing campaigns, Russia’s global outreach program is operating across Africa, offering young women work-study opportunities in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. Fliers and promotional materials for the program feature images of smiling young African women working as technicians and waitresses. However, reports in international media suggest that the reality of working in Alabuga is far grimmer than the version being marketed.

On this week’s episode, Senior Reporter Antony Sguazzin joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explore whether the scheme’s claims hold up under scrutiny and how Interpol is investigating allegations that the program amounts to human trafficking. Instead of providing genuine job opportunities, it may be placing young African women at risk in a war zone.

You can read Antony’s reporting on the Alabuga Start programme here.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IMF Spring Meeting 2025: What the Global Slowdown Means for Africa Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

At the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, DC - the trade war and its impact on the global economy is the centre of attention, and putting more pressure on the African governments trying to negotiate deals with the fund.

Ghana and Zambia have turned their economies around with IMF help — but Kenya, Mozambique and Senegal find themselves having to try and negotiate new IMF programmes at a time when there’s less help to be found.

On this episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill, to find out what’s on the negotiating table, and how a trade war is making life harder for African governments already stuck between angry citizens and a restrictive IMF

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tariffs, Trump, and the Stakes for Lesotho Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

Lesotho was hit with the highest U.S. tariffs on the African continent, a 50% levy on its exports, before President Donald Trump paused the move for 90 days. The kingdom’s trade minister is warning that if those duties go ahead, Lesotho could face a liquidity crisis.

Trump announced this month that tariffs of at least 10% will apply to most imports, with even steeper rates targeting goods from around 60 countries, all in a push to curb what he calls unfair trade imbalances.
Lesotho is now hoping to launch high-level talks with Washington.
On today’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks with Maarten Van Doesburg, Head of Economics at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, about what could be at stake in those negotiations — and what Trump might really want in the long run.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Formula One Finally Come Back To Africa? Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Formula One cars last raced in Africa in 1993, but now a concerted effort from investors and governments are trying to bring the races back to the continent.

Bloomberg’s Senior Africa Reporter has been looking at the proposals bidding for a new a licence and talks to Jennifer Zabasajja about what’s being planned, who’s paying for it, and whether we really will see an African race on the Formula One circuit any time soon

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flash Episode: Assessing The Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Africa Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

President Trump imposed the steepest American tariffs in a century as he steps up his campaign to reshape the global economy. Many African countries have been hit with the so-called reciprocal tariffs including a 31% levy on South Africa and 50% on Lesotho.

Bloomberg Economics Africa Economist Yvonne Mhango joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what the impacts of these tariffs will be on African Economies - and what the global trade war could mean for hopes of growth.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Polo Became the Sport of Business Kings in Nigeria Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Some call it the sport of kings or the passport to the world, and in Nigeria Polo has become a business essential. In Lagos, government ministers and business leaders play side by side while the sport gets sponsorship from global giants such as Coco Cola.

Bloomberg reporter Tiwa Adebayo joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how Polo became such a part of corporate culture in Nigeria, and how much business is taking place on the polo field rather than in the board room

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why West African Cocoa Farmers Aren’t Yet Benefiting From High Prices Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Global cocoa shortages are finally set to ease this season, as harvests improve and demand falls, creating a surplus for the first time in three years. But even with Cocoa hitting record high prices, the industry is taking time to recover, and debt and the need to honour contracts at cheaper prices mean farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast - the world's biggest cocoa producing countries- aren’t yet seeing much benefit from the rising price.

Bloomberg Soft Commodities reporter Mumbi Gitau has just returned from Ghana and Ivory Coast, and joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what the recovery looks like at the cocoa farms, the pressures the industry is still facing and what it means for the price of our chocolate bars.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Related Podcasts