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Published by Bloomberg
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.
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From the feed
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We wanted to bring you one of our favourite episodes from the last 12 months this week. In Ethiopia, the share of electric vehicles on the road has jumped to 6% from just 1% after a 2024 ban on new gasoline-car imports. Across Africa, EV adoption is now among the fastest-growing globally — with Chinese automakers capturing the lion’s share of the market. On today’s episode, Bloomberg’s Fasika Tadesse joins Jennifer Zabasajja to unpack what this surge looks like on the ground in Addis Ababa, while Asia transport reporter Linda Lew explains why companies like BYD are targeting African markets. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A sovereign-rating upgrade and a stabilizing currency are helping restore Kenya’s appeal investors. Two years after deadly protests rattled sentiment, the markets have staged a recovery. Kenya’s all-share index has more than tripled in dollar terms since the start of 2024 making it the world's third-best performer. On this week’s special Next Africa podcast, Tiwa Adebayo is joined by Kenyan investment experts Joel Korir, head of Business Development Retail and Private Wealth at Old Mutual Investment Group in Nairobi and Winnie Koech, head of wealth and investment at Stanbic Bank Kenya. They discuss what's driving Kenya’s markets, where investors see the biggest opportunities, the sectors to watch and risks that could derail the rally. For more information on investing in Kenya, read our special feature on Where to Invest 10 Million Kenyan Shillings . For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A $200 million project in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, is testing a radically simple approach to aid: giving about $700 directly to as many as 230,000 adults and letting them decide how best to spend it. The hope is that recipients will use the money to start businesses, invest in farms and generate economic activity, providing evidence that direct cash payments can help communities become more self-reliant and reduce their dependence on aid. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s Antony Sguazzin discusses what he found when he visited the project in Malawi, how researchers will determine whether it’s working, and whether similar programs could be replicated in other impoverished countries. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Zambia had been the shining light for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, but president Hichilema's recent reelection has been tainted by accusations of irregularities, the killing of a former minister and what the UN has called arbitrary arrests. On this week’s Episode, Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill who’s been on the ground in Zambia explains how the election became so controversial, and Nicole Beardsworth from the University of the Witwatersrand discusses her group’s analysis of the voting numbers. For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the Iran War broke out and the Strait of Hormuz closed, fuel prices surged and supplies became disrupted. The African countries that thought they had supply deals in place found deliveries being cancelled. But the world’s largest oil trader turned the Hormuz crisis to its advantage. Vitol was able to strike exclusive deals to become a dominant supplier of fuel to at least five countries in East and Southern Africa covering more than 180 million people. On this week’s next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Chief Commodities Correspondent Jack Farchy to discuss his latest investigation into how Vitol was able to strike these deals , how much countries had to pay for security of supply, and just how long the price premium could last. For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the country’s worst ever, with more than 2,000 confirmed deaths and a fatality rate of more than 46%. The World Health Organization says it's the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, and has warned that contact tracing isn't keeping up with the number of cases. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s global health editor, Jason Gale, joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what’s behind the increasing death rate in Congo, what agencies on the ground are facing, and whether there’s any sign of turning the outbreak around. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
South Africa's Public Investment Corp., the $220 billion manager of civil servants' pensions and a major shareholder in many of the country's biggest companies, has lurched from one crisis to another. Its chief executive was suspended before a court ordered his reinstatement, while the chairman — who also served as deputy finance minister — resigned amid the fallout. On this week's Next Africa podcast, South Africa Bureau Chief Alexander Parker joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain the turmoil at the PIC , trace how one of Africa's most influential investors became mired in repeated governance crises, and assess whether long-delayed reforms recommended by a judicial inquiry will be implemented. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nigeria's stock market is the world's best-performing equity market this year. Its benchmark index has outpaced every major market, including South Korea, delivering the highest dollar returns to investors. Ghana, Tunisia and Kenya have also ranked among the world's top-performing markets, as economic reforms and improving investor sentiment fuel a rally across parts of the continent. On this week's Next Africa podcast, we explore what's driving Africa's stock market surge, whether the rally can last, and what it means for investors. Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg's emerging markets reporter Ray Ndlovu and Peter Nalitolela, chief executive officer of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. She also speaks to Emre Akcakmak, Head of Frontier Markets at East Capital, on whether Africa's resurgence is attracting global investors. For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Eighteen months after the Trump administration shut down USAID, a painstaking Bloomberg investigation into abandoned water projects in Kenya using interviews, satellite imagery and data analysis has revealed the stark consequences of that decision. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s Senior East Africa reporter, Simon Marks, discusses his findings. Former East Africa USAID director Amanda Robertson then explains what happened when they found out their projects had to be halted immediately. Get the full story here: Trump's Chaotic USAID Cuts Unleashed Floods, Disease and Poverty For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Flying has never been easier. Airlines are competing to offer cheaper fares and more routes across Europe, North America and Asia. But while connections to and from Africa have expanded, travelling within the continent remains difficult and expensive. On this week's Next Africa podcast, Ghana-based reporter Bilal Qureshi discusses his latest feature on why intra-African air travel continues to lag behind the rest of the world. Bloomberg Global Aviation Editor Benedikt Kammel also explains the challenges facing Africa's fragmented aviation sector — and what it will take to make flying across the continent easier and more affordable. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The man who helped turn Morocco into a World Cup contender is now being urged to take on an even bigger challenge: becoming the country’s next prime minister. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, we examine the Atlas Lions’ impressive run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and why two political parties are courting Fouzi Lekjaa to lead them into the next election. Jennifer Zabasajja speaks with Bloomberg North Africa reporter Souhail Karam about football’s growing influence in Moroccan politics, the controversy over the billions being spent to co-host the 2030 World Cup, and whether sporting success can translate into political capital. We also hear from former Morocco international footballer Hassan Kachloul on what the Atlas Lions’ historic campaign has meant to fans back home. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa Newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thousands of people joined anti-migrant protests in South Africa on Tuesday, watched over by a massive police contingent that was deployed to prevent violence and intimidation. The rallies, which marked the culmination of weeks of protests that have displaced thousands of mainly African expatriates, were mostly peaceful bar a few isolated incidents. In this week’s Next Africa Podcast, Bloomberg’s Ntando Thukwana gives the latest update on this week’s protests and then Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to Professor Loren Landau, a senior researcher at Witwatersrand University’s African Centre for Migration & Society on the impact these protests could have on the regional economy and South Africa’s standing in the continent. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Iran war has put billions of dollars in remittances at risk as conflict disrupts the incomes of migrant workers across the Gulf. For many African economies, where money sent home helps pay for food, healthcare and education, a prolonged slowdown could weigh on growth well beyond the battlefield. On this week's episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks with Bloomberg's Prinesha Naidoo about her reporting on the disruption to remittance flows and what's at stake as the ceasefire and peace talks take shape. She is also joined by Onafriq Managing Director Rachel Balsham, who explains where the company is seeing the sharpest declines in cross-border money transfers. Read Bloomberg’s latest report on Remittances here , and subscribe to the Next Africa Newsletter for more stories from the region See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
An El Niño weather pattern forming in the Pacific Ocean is expected to bring hotter, drier weather to much of east and southern Africa while increasing flood risks in parts of West Africa, stoking fears of another difficult spell for the continent’s farmers. On this week’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja talks to Bloomberg weather reporter Lauren Rosenthal about how El Niño is shaping up, and to soft commodities reporter Mumbi Gitau about what it could mean for Africa’s crops, food supplies and rural economies. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ethiopia’s ruling party has established a commanding lead in preliminary election results, leaving Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on track to secure another five-year term. On this week’s episode, Tiwa Adebayo speaks with Bloomberg Senior East Africa Reporter Simon Marks and Ethiopia Reporter Fasika Tadesse about why the election outcome was rarely in doubt, the political and security risks that persist, and what Abiy’s renewed mandate means for the Horn of Africa and Ethiopia’s international partners. For more stories from across the continent, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here's a bonus episode from another Bloomberg podcast we think listeners to Next Africa might enjoy Could Africa’s long-misunderstood population boom become its greatest economic advantage? Economist and author Joe Studwell joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss his book, How Africa Works: Success and Failure on the World's Last Developmental Frontier. He argues that rising population density is already transforming the continent by creating deeper markets, boosting agricultural productivity, supporting urbanization and making manufacturing more viable. While governance, debt and commodity dependence remain risks, he sees a more diverse, locally driven growth story emerging across Africa. Find more episodes from Merryn Talks Money here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The 2014-16 Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone triggered one of the most severe health-related economic shocks in modern African history. While the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a serious concern, analysts expect its economic impact to be far more contained. On today’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg Economics Africa Economist Yvonne Mhango joins Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss her latest research on the outbreak, why the West African epidemic dealt such a heavy blow to growth, what makes the situation in Congo different, and the key risks policymakers and investors should still be watching. You can read Yvonne’s analysis on Bloomberg Economic Insights, and for more stories from across the continent, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
African startups are rewriting their funding playbook as the global artificial intelligence boom channels venture capital toward the US, leaving founders across emerging markets scrambling for capital. As Bloomberg publishes its 2026 list of 25 African Startups to Watch, Bloomberg Senior Technology Reporter Loni Prinsloo joins the podcast to discuss the state of the continent’s startup ecosystem. We also speak to Tendekayi Katsiga, co-founder of Deaftronics, the solar-powered hearing aid company featured on this year’s list, about building a business in a tougher funding environment. You can read the full African Startups to Watch list on Bloomberg.com, and subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter for more stories from across the continent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has already killed more than 130 people, may have been spreading for months, according to the World Health Organization. On this week’s episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by healthcare reporter Janice Kew and Congo Country Director for the Danish Refugee Council, Caitlin Brady who is on the ground in Goma. They discuss how this Ebola outbreak compares with previous ones, the impact of aid cuts and how serious the crisis could get. For more stories from the region get the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ugandan lawmakers have passed a contentious new law that imposes steep fines and jail terms for those receiving foreign funding without state approval. On this week's Next Africa podcast opposition leader Bobi Wine, who fled the country earlier this year, speaks to Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja about the legislation and his plans to challenge Uganda’s political status quo after January elections that he says his party won. Bloomberg Senior Editor for the Europe, Middle East and Africa news desk, David Malingha, also discusses what lies ahead for Bobi Wine and Uganda. Correct: This podcast has been updated with a new version to include a response to the claims made by Bobi Wine from a representative of the Ugandan Government. For more stories from the region subscribe to the Next Africa Newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 15, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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