Into Africa

Rahama Wright, founder of social enterprise Shea Yeleen, speaks with Mvemba about all things entrepreneurship. They discuss Rahama’s journey from Peace Corps volunteer in Mali to the founder of a growing beauty company that sources key ingredients from the African continent. Rahama describes her philosophy around empowering both shea-producing African women and U.S.-based workers, and sheds light on her identity as a member of the African diaspora.

Ken Opalo (Georgetown) joins Mvemba to discuss the strength of public institutions across Africa. How do parliaments, courts, executive offices, and militaries impact the quality of governance? Ken and Mvemba focus on Malawi, Kenya, and Benin with implications for the rest of the region. Plus, Ken’s thoughts on localization of development funding and how U.S. policymakers should think different around enabling environments when it comes to foreign direct investment.

In this episode, Mvemba is joined by Amini Kajunju, Chief Operating Officer of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS) in Monrovia, Liberia. They discuss diaspora, identity, and ESJ’s work in education, training, and human development. Plus, what the hashtag #AdultingInLiberia means to Amini in the context of the country’s post-war development.

Mvemba is joined by Nathaniel Powell (@natkpowell) to discuss instability in the Sahel. In addition to covering some of the conflict’s history, Mvemba and Nathaniel talk about why France failed in Mali, how the United States can be a better partner to Sahelian countries, and how the Russia-Ukraine war is affecting the Sahel and Africa at large. Why France Failed in Mali, by Nathaniel Powell (War on the Rocks) - https://warontherocks.com/2022/02/why-france-failed-in-mali/

Mvemba is joined by Travis Adkins (U.S. African Development Foundation) for a conversation that spans a number of topics, including how Travis’ personal background has informed his professional trajectory; how Travis is taking the USADF from “the best kept secret” to one of the best foreign assistance agencies in the U.S. foreign policy toolkit; and how the USADF is directly funding African partners in 21 countries across the continent.

Mvemba Phezo Dizolele is joined by author Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr to discuss Ubuntu, the African concept of humanity, meaning “I am because we are.” They discuss Akunyili’s recent book, I Am Because We Are: An African Mother's Fight for the Soul of a Nation, which tells the story of her late mother Dora Akunyili who committed her life to fighting fraudulent drug manufacturing as the Director General of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. They also discuss corruption in Nigeria, the growing discontent of young people, and friction between male and female political leaders. House of Anansi: I Am Because We Are: An African Mother's Fight for the Soul of a Nation

This is the first episode of the Into Africa podcast with new host Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, who joined the CSIS Africa Program as director and senior fellow in December 2021. Mvemba speaks with author Howard French about his newest book, Born in Blackness. They discuss French’s research process, the outsized role that São Tomé played in the modernity of the Western world, and how plantations—or, more accurately, prison labor camps—were the most important economic innovation of the modern age prior to the industrial revolution. French also describes the West’s centuries-long attempt to strip Africans of their identity, and how Africans and the diaspora are working together along identity lines to win back their rightful place.Born in Blackness (W. W. Norton & Company)

In Judd Devermont’s last episode as host, he is joined by Nnedi Okorafor (author), Patrick Gathara (journalist and cartoonist), and David Pilling (Financial Times) to discuss why and how the world should think differently about Africa.

What might an African strategy toward China look like, and what are implications for loans, debt management, African exports, and people-to-people flows? Judd Devermont is joined by Hannah Ryder (Development Reimagined), Cliff Mboya (China Africa Project), and Casey Schmidt (VoxCroft Analytics) to discuss African agency and policy formation toward Beijing. They also talk about Zambia’s opposition leader-turned-President Hakainde Hichilema, as well as Kenya’s faltering Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).Background reading:  From China-Africa to Africa-China: A Blueprint for a Green and Inclusive Continent-Wide African Strategy towards China – Development Reimagined Cliff Mboya Author Page – China Africa Project VoxCroft Analytics

What is the history of stolen African artefacts—such as the Benin Bronzes—and what can be done to rectify these wrongs? Judd Devermont is joined by Ciraj Rassool (University of Western Cape), Charlotte Ashamu (Yale University), and Barnaby Phillips (author of Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes), to discuss if restitution is enough, and why the growth of the museum industry in Africa is so critical. Plus, they discuss anti-government riots in South Africa and the #FixtheCountry movement in Ghana.Background readings:Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes - Barnaby PhillipsDistrict Six Museum - Cape Town, South AfricaCharlotte Ashamu, Institute for the Preservation of Cultural HeritageJohn Randle Center for Yoruba History and CultureZinsou FoundationBook BunkThe commemorative state, human remains, and the question of missing-ness- Riedwaan Moosage, Ciraj Rassool, and Nicky Rousseau