Next Africa

Hosted by Bloomberg

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Episodes

133

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 13, 202614 min

Could South Africa’s Governing Coalition Collapse?

South Africa’s biggest political party is considering whether to end its national coalition with its main rival after suffering its worst electoral performance yet, an argument that’s emerging as a fault line in the race to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC won just shy of 31% support in the Nov. 4 municipal elections and failed to win outright control of any of the nation's eight biggest cities, while its coalition partner -- the Democratic Alliance -- increased its backing to almost 25%, retained its majority in Cape Town and got the most votes in several other metropolitan municipalities. On this week’s episode, Tiwa Adebayo is joined by Bloomberg Geoeconomics Analyst Ziyanda Stuurman and Opinion columnist Justice Malala to discuss the election results, what they portend for South Africa’s governing coalition, and who might be chosen to replace Ramaphosa. For more stories from the region, sign up to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 6, 202616 min

How Luanda Will Topple Lagos To Become Sub-Saharan Africa’s Biggest City

The World Bank projects that Luanda is set to topple Lagos as Africa’s largest city. A new report from the bank also suggests that Sub-Saharan Africa could host five megacities with more than 10 million people each, highlighting the rapid urbanization taking place across the continent. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is in Luanda to see whether the city is ready for rapid growth. She hears from Emily Owen, an urban development specialist at the World Bank and one of the authors of the new report, on what’s driving the urbanization and what African governments need to do to prepare. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 30, 202617 min

Senegal’s Debt Crisis: Who Will Pay the Bill?

Senegal’s prime minister said he expects to resolve a standoff over the country’s budget within days, as the authorities seek approval for a new International Monetary Fund program. On this week’s Next Africa Podcast, Bloomberg’s West Africa reporter Katarina Höije discusses her interview with Prime Minister Ahmadou Alhaminou Lo, and explains how Senegal ended up in this impasse. Plus, Bloomberg correspondent Matthew Hill explains how Senegal has become a test case for the Group of 20's updated Common Framework for supporting countries in debt distress. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 23, 202619 min

How Nigeria’s Top Film Producers Are Branching Out Worldwide

Nigeria’s film industry is big business - second only to India in the number of films produced annually. The films generate huge audiences in Nigeria - and many believe there’s an untapped market overseas. But after streamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime moved away from funding films upfront - producers are having to find new ways to get in front of international audiences. On this week’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to one of the giants of the Nigerian media industry, Mo Abudu, who’s just opened Ebony Life Place in London, the UK's first cultural and creative hub dedicated to Black and African cinema. Plus, Bloomberg’s Lagos Bureau Chief Anthony Osae-Brown gives an update on how the industry has fared since the streamers changed how they fund Nigerian films. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 16, 202614 min

How Rwanda Won The Race To Host Africa’s F1

Formula 1 will return to Africa, with a first race set to take place in Rwanda in the early 2030s. The East African nation will host the F1 African Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement, Formula 1 said in a statement on Tuesday. Rwanda beat out competition from South Africa and Morocco to win the right to hold the first Grand Prix on the continent since 1993. On this week’s episode of the Next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg Senior Africa Reporter Loni Prinsloo to find out how Rwanda won the bid , and what the country is building to make it happen. Then Bloomberg Africa’s Deputy Managing Editor Neil Munshi discusses why some have accused Rwanda and Formula 1 of Sportswashing. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 9, 202615 min

Why fighting in the Horn of Africa risks a new Red Sea conflict

Ethiopian troops have regained control of the city of Mekelle, the capital of the country’s northern Tigray region - after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front - the TPLF had seized the city’s airport and declared war on the government. As Ethiopia’s relationship with its neighbours worsen some fear this could become a broader regional war in a Red Sea region vital to global trade that is already facing geopolitical turmoil. On this week’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by East Africa reporter Simon Marks for the latest on the conflict, and Bloomberg’s Trade Tsar Brendan Murray discusses how global trade and shipping are rewiring the region’s supply lines and infrastructure. Read our latest reporting on Ethiopia , and subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter for more for stories from the region See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 2, 202617 min

Why South Africa’s Fight Against Violent Crime Is Failing

The discovery of 11 women’s bodies in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has horrified South Africans. Then the last few days provided a stark reminder of the country's violent crime problem: two separate mass shootings left 28 people dead, just days after 11 people were killed at a house in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province. On this week’s episode, S’thembile Cele joins Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss her reporting on these latest incidents and whether a year after the South African government declared violence against women a national emergency there’s been any sign of any improvement, and how voters could send a message at next month’s municipal elections. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 25, 202624 min

Can Dangote’s IPO Live Up to The Hype?

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has finally launched the much anticipated IPO of part of his refinery business, and it's generated so much hype that many investment apps were overwhelmed by demand. The company hopes to raise as much as $2 billion from retail investors and with a minimum investment of just $4, the firm hopes ordinary Africans will buy shares. On today’s special episode, Deputy Managing Editor for Africa Neil Munshi joins Jennifer Zabasajja. They hear from Bloomberg's Lagos based reporter Yinka Ibukun about the mood among Nigerians, and then speak to analyst Feyi Fawehinmi about why he’s not convinced by the hype. Follow all our coverage of the Dangote IPO across Bloomberg platforms, and you can subscribe to the Next Africa Newsletter for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 18, 202618 min

Replay: China's Growing Grip on Africa's EV Fastlane

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.

September 11, 202615 min

Why Investors Are Bullish on Kenya

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.