Focus on Africa: What led to the downfall of Madagascar's president

Summary

Podcast Summary: Focus on Africa

Episode: What led to the downfall of Madagascar's president

Podcast: Africa Daily / Focus on Africa
Host: Nyasha Michelle (BBC World Service)
Date: October 15, 2025

---

Overview

This episode centers around the recent political upheaval in Madagascar, examining the factors behind President Ange Radzoelina’s downfall, particularly the youth-led protests and widespread dissatisfaction over failed reforms. The show also highlights the dangerous work of African park rangers, with testimony from an award-winning Zambian ranger, and celebrates Ghana's success in gaining geographical indication (GI) status for its iconic kente cloth, signifying major cultural and economic implications.

---

Key Segments and Insights

1. Madagascar’s Political Crisis: The Downfall of President Radzoelina

[00:17] - [10:37]

Main Themes:

• Root causes of public unrest in Madagascar.
• The role of Gen Z and youth protests.
• Legacy of President Radzoelina's leadership and unmet promises.
• Future prospects for the country's governance.

Discussion Highlights

• The Trigger: Basic Failures and Broken Promises

  • Chronic electricity and water shortages led to frustration among youth and broader population.
  • President's promises to improve living standards went unfulfilled.
  • Infrastructure projects like a costly cable car overshadow urgent priorities.
  • "He made some promises about everyday standard of life and those haven't been met." — Dr. Luke Freeman, [00:17], [06:35]

• Radzoelina’s Political Trajectory

  • Came to power in 2009 via a military-backed coup at a young age; later officially returned in 2018.
  • Initially seen as a potentially transformative figure due to his youth, but was pulled into the web of old political and military elites.
  • His leadership was marred by focusing on “vanity projects” and accruing unaffordable debts.
  • "He spent a lot of the national budget not on addressing the real root economic problems, but on doing what you might call vanity projects—such as... the cable car system, which cost $175 million... saddled the country with $175 million of debt." — Dr. Luke Freeman, [04:46]

• Unfulfilled Pledges and Public Distrust

  • Despite promising to fix national utilities, problems persisted, worsening public trust.
  • "He'd already had six years since he was last elected to fix them. What was going to change now? So there was no faith." — Dr. Luke Freeman, [07:36]

• Collapse and Aftermath

  • Radzoelina fled the country during unrest, confirmed in a Facebook address.
  • "Some presidents within the African continent offered to send troops... it's not in line with Malagasy values to send troops, which I declined. For that reason, I was forced to find a place and I went to a safe location to protect my life." — Ange Radzoelina, [02:14]
  • The army, with Gen Z protest backing, took control, suspending the constitution and promising a referendum within two years.
  • Radzoelina impeached for dereliction of duty; little chance for a return.
  • "There's no way that he can govern from abroad... So it's impossible for Radziuelina to come back, and it's impossible for him to govern from abroad." — Dr. Luke Freeman, [08:50]
  • "Members of the Capsat military unit... have announced a seizure of power for a maximum duration of two years. That includes a suspension of the constitution..." — Dr. Luke Freeman, [09:52]

---

2. The Life and Risks of an African Park Ranger

[10:37] - [20:28]

Main Themes:

• Extreme dangers and challenges faced by African wildlife rangers.
• Ranger awards and recognition for conservation heroes.
• Human-wildlife conflicts and community relations.

Notable Moments

• The Danger of the Profession

  • Rangers often face “a game of death” with daily risks from wildlife and armed poachers.
  • "When you sign in, I call it a game of death because immediately you go in the field, your family doesn't know whether you are coming back alive or not." — Benson Kanyebo, [14:05]

• Community Engagement and Information Gathering

  • Importance of blending into communities and earning trust to gather information and protect both wildlife and people.
  • "We shouldn't be seeing the community as the enemies. They are not the enemies. If the communities can't buy in in what we are doing, then it is not going to help us. We are going to fail." — Benson Kanyebo, [15:38]

• Personal Sacrifice and Recognition

  • Kanyebo discusses being jailed on false accusations during anti-poaching operations and using his time in jail to recruit others into the cause.
  • "Even when I was in jail for the three months... I was busy recruiting more people that can help me." — Benson Kanyebo, [16:24]
  • Despite low pay and high risk, interest in ranger jobs is growing.
  • "I've got more than 500 applications right now of people wanting to be rangers." — Benson Kanyebo, [18:34]

• Call for Better Pay and Support

  • Rangers are underpaid and often neglected after years of service; some become security risks if not supported.
  • "A lot of rangers in Africa get between $80 and $200 US dollars, which is nothing. And this guy is looking after things worth a lot of money and no one is thinking about him." — Benson Kanyebo, [19:05]

• Award Impact

  • "Receiving this award is... a tribute to every ranger who walks in the bush, who faces poachers, who sacrifice time with the family to defend the voiceless. It is just telling every ranger there that their work, our work, matters." — Benson Kanyebo, [19:52]

---

3. Ghana’s Kente Cloth Gains Geographical Indication (GI) Status

[20:28] - [31:33]

Main Themes:

• Ghana's cultural triumph in securing GI status for kente cloth.
• The economic and cultural ramifications for local weavers and the nation at large.

Key Discussion Points

• Cultural and Economic Significance

  • GI status elevates kente’s place in the world, protecting it from counterfeit and recognizing it as a uniquely Ghanaian product.
  • "Kente is not just a fabric, it's a story. It's an identity. It's a symbol of our culture. And the fact that it's finally getting the protection... is such a proud moment." — Unnamed Ghanaian, [21:50]
  • "It is the country's first certified heritage product protected under international law." — Nyasha Michelle, [23:01]

• Authenticity and Enforcement

  • Only kente made in designated Ghanaian communities using traditional methods can be called kente.
  • New legal tools and awareness campaigns are needed to combat imitations.
  • "Ghana now has the legal tools to challenge misuse... internationally. But... that needs to be backed by awareness campaign [and] digital certification so buyers know what truly an authentic kente is." — Ama Prempa, [25:34]

• Identifying Authentic Kente

  • Real kente is heavier, has a shine, and is more durable compared to imitations.
  • "The real kente... is thick, it’s heavier, there’s a shine to it. The fake ones, there’s no shine." — Ama Prempa, [27:12]

• Impact on Weavers and the Next Generation

  • GI status can boost weavers’ income, preserve traditional skills, and elevate global recognition.
  • "With this GI status, kente can command higher value on both local and international markets, meaning more income directly to the weavers who create it... this could transform weaving into a thriving creative industry." — Ama Prempa, [30:26]
  • Young people are now more likely to enter the profession due to restored pride and better economic prospects.
  • "Now there's going to be competition, the market prices are going to go up for the kente. So now it's going to be a lucrative business." — Ama Prempa, [29:29]

• International Examples and Brand Protection

  • Kente joins products like South African rooibos tea and Cameroon's Penja pepper as African GI success stories.
  • Designer brands can no longer use kente’s name or image without proper cultural attribution.

---

Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | [00:17] | "Electricity outages sometimes last as long as 10 or 12 hours. So businesses suffer. Students who try to study at night suffer. It's not safe to walk home in the dark." | Dr. Luke Freeman | | [04:46] | "When you come to power in Madagascar because of the demographic makeup of the country, where 60% of the country is under 30, you're necessarily dealing with the youth. But... when you exceed to the highest position... you have to deal with the old guard..." | Dr. Luke Freeman | | [14:05] | "A job of a ranger... is a game of death because immediately you go in the field, your family doesn't know whether you are coming back alive or not." | Benson Kanyebo | | [19:05] | "A lot of rangers in Africa get between $80 and $200 US dollars, which is nothing. And this guy is looking after things worth a lot of money and no one is thinking about him." | Benson Kanyebo | | [25:34] | "Ghana now has the legal tools to challenge misuse and counterfeits internationally. But... that needs to be backed by awareness campaign, digital certification so buyers know what truly an authentic Kente is." | Ama Prempa |

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:17] - Madagascar unrest and President Radzoelina's departure begins
• [02:14] - President Radzoelina's address (flight and rationale)
• [02:54] - Dr. Luke Freeman: historical context and causes of crisis
• [06:35] - Failures in water and energy reform, public loss of trust
• [09:52] - Military takeover, future for Madagascan governance
• [11:54] - Ranger dangers and the International Ranger Awards
• [12:36] - Benson Kanyebo: daily ranger life and risks in Zambia
• [14:43] - Ranger/community relationships and anti-poaching strategies
• [19:52] - Emotional impact and meaning of the Ranger Award
• [20:28] - Kente cloth’s GI status: national pride and legal protection
• [23:12] - Ama Prempa: cultural history of kente and implications of GI status
• [25:34] - Challenges in policing authenticity, empowerment of weavers
• [27:12] - Authentic vs. fake kente: tips for identification
• [29:29] - Impact on local weavers and the next generation

---

Tone and Style

The episode was investigative and informative, with a strong journalistic tone, empathetically exploring the lived realities behind each headline. The guests—experts, everyday heroes, and cultural advocates—brought authenticity and a grounded African perspective to each story.

---

Conclusion

This episode of Focus on Africa offers a sweeping yet detailed look at three powerful stories: the youth-driven collapse of Madagascar’s president, the valor and plight of wildlife rangers, and the international recognition and protection of Ghana’s treasured kente cloth. Each segment provides historical context, personal testimony, and a view toward the future, making the episode essential listening for understanding these evolving African narratives.

Transcript

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

FOREIGN.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Hello, I'm Nyasha Michelle and here's what's coming up for you on this edition of FOCUS on Africa. Madagascar's youth called for change and the president fled. We look at where it all went wrong.

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

Electricity outages sometimes last as long as 10 or 12 hours. So businesses suffer. Students who try to study at night suffer. It's not safe to walk home in the dark. He made some promises about everyday standard of life and those haven't been met.

[Nyasha Michelle]

We hear from an African park ranger who is being awarded for his conservation work and for bringing down hundreds of poachers.

[Benson Kanyebo]

A job of a ranger. When you sign in, I call it is a game of death because immediately you go in the field, your family doesn't know whether you are coming back alive or not. So your family is going to be tortured or tormented for the 10 days or 21 days or 30 days that you are in the field.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And what will securing geographical indication status for kente cloth mean for Ghanaians?

[Ama Prempa]

With this new GI status, their pride has been restored and so everybody will rush to be in this profession because now there's going to be competition. The market prices are going to go up for the kente. So now it's going to be a lucrative business.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Its Wednesday, the 15th of October 1st we go to Madagascar and the turmoil in the island country situated off the southeast coast of Africa shows no signs of abating. Thousands of Gen Z protesters who took to the streets were clear that they wanted President Ange Rajualina to resign. The president has since fled the country, although his whereabouts are unknown. In a national address broadcast on Facebook late Monday, he said he had moved to a secure location for his own safety.

[Ange Radzoelina]

Some presidents within the African continent offered to send troops to bring about peace in Madagascar. My response was that it's not in line with Malagasy values to send troops, which I declined. For that reason, I was forced to find a place and I went to a safe location to protect my life.

[Nyasha Michelle]

That was Ange Radzoelina. Dr. Luke Freeman is a leading expert on Madagascar's culture and politics at University College London. He's been telling me how the country reached this turning point. It was once praised for its young leader, but now it's facing yet another major political crisis and he joins me from the capital, Antananarivo.

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

Andrew came to power in 2009 on the back of a military coup, rather similar in nature to the transfer of power which is just happening in Madagascar now. At the time he was mayor of Antananarive, the Capital. Having previously come into politics, having worked in selling advertising space and famously a lot of your listeners will know this, having worked as a disc jockey in Antananarivo's nightclubs, he came into power against the then president, Mark Ravalumanina, who was considered to be overstepping his authority and had created very bad relationships with the military. And he was brought into power on the back of a popular uprising, one could say, although nothing like the scale of the uprising we've seen here over the last few days. And he was supported in that by the French government to a certain extent, who offered him refuge at the French embassy. And he came to power in what was globally acknowledged to be an unconstitutional way. And the international community didn't recognize him declaring himself president even nationally there was a constitutional problem because he was in his 30s at the time and not old enough constitutionally in Madagascar to become president. So that's how he came to power.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Yeah, that is quite a key factor, isn't it? The fact that he was quite a young president. And for some people, they have looked at that with eyes of promise. You know, a young president who to them meant or guaranteed that he's going to understand the young people, he's going to understand the Gen Z generation and their frustrations, but yet things have ended up in the way that they have. What do you think went wrong?

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

When you come to power in Madagascar because of the demographic makeup of the country, where 60% of the country is under 30, you're necessarily dealing with the youth. But you can come to power on the back of a youth vote. But when you exceed to the highest position of the presidency, you have to deal with the old guard and that's the armed forces, the wily seasoned politicians and all of them will be manoeuvring for their influence. And Radzuelner did get dragged very much into those networks and spent a lot of his time working with those people in ways which really did his reputation nationally and internationally no good. And he spent a lot of the national budget not on addressing the real root economic problems, but on doing what you might call vanity projects such as, I'll just give you one example, the cable car system, which cost $175 million but really not affordable by the majority of the population. One ticket on the cable car costs about four times as much as a minibus ticket for the same journey. And it saddled the country with US$175 million of debt. And the Gen Z in particular, who look at their future and see this isn't the person for us we want to change.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And I understand that that cable car system is actually one of the infrastructures of the country that they attacked during protests. So let's just go back a little bit. He first came into power in 2009 and then he returned in 2018. What are the promises that he made and was he able to deliver?

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

The One of his key promises was to fix the national water and electricity company. The blame can't all be laid at his feet. But he did promise to sort out the power cuts and the water shortages and he hasn't managed to do that. When you look at the situation that Madagascar's main cities are living in with regards to water and electricity, you'll understand why they're so frustrated. People have to queue up for hours in the middle of the night to fill jerry cans just to have water for the day. Electricity outages sometimes last as long as 10 or 12 hours. Businesses suffer. Students who try to study at night suffer. It's not safe to walk home in the dark. He made some promises, some key promises about everyday standard of life and those haven't been met for these people who.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Were calling for that systemic change. To them he said give him a year to to fix the problems. Is there any public trust left in that promise?

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

He'd already had six years since he was last elected to fix them. What was going to change now? So there was no faith. I think there's a tipping point which came when the whole population who share the same grievances as the Gen Z, even if they're not Gen Z, the poor services, the lack of water, the lack of electricity, et cetera, when everybody thought that it's time for a change. Now the question is we don't know who will be the face of that change. We don't know what shape that change will take. So this is a step into the unknown. But if you look at the television pictures, the reports of the jubilant youth in the main square of Antananarive celebrating the fact that the capsack regiment had come in and allowed them to reclaim that space. Those people are happy that the guy's gone. And it's up to the Generation Z now, their leaders, to actually make sure they get a seat at the table in the discussions about what's going to happen in the future.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Well, looking ahead, we know as we speak that he has left the country, but his whereabouts are currently unknown. Can a president realistically continue to govern from hiding or from abroad?

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

There's no way that he can govern from abroad. He doesn't have the support of the army. He doesn't have the support of the people. He doesn't even have a government because he dismissed all the members of his cabinet and the prime minister six or seven weeks ago, and he hasn't rebuilt his cabinet since. So no government, no popular support, no army. So it's impossible for Radziuelina to come back, and it's impossible for him to govern from abroad. One can't govern at arm's length like that. And anyway, he's been impeached on the grounds of dereliction of duty, leaving the country on a French plane to a destination undisclosed, and that's seen as a dereliction of duty. That's why he's been impeached. It may not be constitutionally technically correct, but politics deals in pragmatic, radical, real things. He's out the country. Other people are there. There's no way back for Radziilina.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So, in your opinion, Dr. Freeman, what happens next?

[Dr. Luke Freeman]

Well, members of the Capsat military unit who have been instrumental in the events of the last few days and in Rad Zelena leaving the country, have announced a seizure of power for a maximum duration of two years. That includes a suspension of the constitution, a constitutional referendum which will be held within a maximum of two years, and the establishment of a council, a collective body which would assume the role of the presidency, and that would be composed of different branches of the armed forces, along with senior civilian advisers. And here's the question mark. Would it involve Gen Z? The people who set this whole ball rolling with their youth led protests.

[Nyasha Michelle]

That was Dr. Luke Freeman, a leading expert on Madagascar's culture and politics at University College London. Being a park ranger in Africa can be one of the most dangerous professions in the world. According to the International Ranger Federation, 67 rangers died in Africa in the line of duty between June 2024 and May this year. That's a third more than in the same period the previous year. But the real figure is likely to be much higher. Rangers protect elephants, rhinos, lions and other wildlife and often work in remote areas with limited means. They face challenges like accidents and falling ill. But the biggest threats come from armed militias and poachers. Their work was recognized as 13 Rangers and teams from around the world received received the 2025 International Ranger Awards. The prizes were granted by the NGO International Union for the Conservation of Nature in a ceremony held last weekend in Abu Dhabi. Luther Boyce Anuka, its regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, explained to me what struck him most about this year's awards.

[Luther Boyce Anuka]

Two things for me or three came out quite strongly. One of them is the fact that they actually work in very extreme dangerous situations. Especially the story of DRC as you drs is full of so many armed groups, but you find that there's resilience to work under such extreme danger. And this is quite a story of courage. The other story is the one of community engagement and using innovation to do that. Especially the story of using a monitoring app for mangrove restoration again in DRC I thought was quite innovative, especially in engaging communities in a participatory manner.

[Nyasha Michelle]

I also caught up with one of the five African winners who comes from Zambia.

[Benson Kanyebo]

I am Benson Kanyebo, serving as a law enforcement advisor for Conservation South Luangwa. I am in charge of 117 community based rangers. My duty is to supervise, to manage, train, mentor these men and women in uniform who are protecting 9,050 square kilometers of South Ruangwa National park and 4,000 square kilometers of Lupande Management Area. The biggest challenge that we have, I think this is worldwide is the funding because we are an NGO that depends on donations from donors for us to do our job. So the biggest challenge is funding. Then the other biggest challenge that we are facing is the human wildlife conflict. The world is still the same. The human population is growing due to the proper protection that we are putting in. So guarding the wildlife again. The elephant population is growing, but the world is still the same. So it is now a fight between people and the animal. That is the second biggest challenge that we face here in South Ruangwa.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Take me now into your day to day job. I want to know a little bit more of what a ranger encounters. Anytime they are out in the wild, what are the risks that they may face and how have you been managing to overcome those?

[Benson Kanyebo]

A job of a ranger. When you sign in, I call it it's a game of death. Because immediately you go in the field, your family doesn't know whether, whether you are coming back alive or not. So your family is going to be tortured or tormented for the 10 days or 21 days or 30 days that you are in the field. And when you go in the field, there the same elephants that you are protecting, they don't care you're a ra. The poachers that come in, they come in armed, they are ready to kill you, to shoot you.

[Nyasha Michelle]

When you were being attributed for this award that you are receiving, it says here that you transformed community attitudes towards conservation. Tell me more about that.

[Benson Kanyebo]

I come from a community. And when I retire, I'm going to go back to the community. So as a local person from this area, it is important that I continue building the relationship with the community. And I don't go to the village headman or to the chief using the unifor. When I'm going to visit these people, I go in my personal clothes. I'll sit down, chat with them. Not about work, just like a normal visit during that relationship. And from that relationship, I started getting more information from the community on who is coming in, who is marrying here, who is a poacher, who is doing that. And from that I was able, and I'm still able to get more information on how to get rid of people that are trying to come in to cure animals. So it is all about building this relationship, remembering that I am from the community and I'm going, when I retire or when I stop work, I'll go back to the same community. So it is important that I protect the community. I build that relationship. And this is the thing that I've been championing to build this good relationship between the rangers and the community. We shouldn't be seeing the community as the enemies. They are not the enemies. If the communities can't buy in in what we are doing, then it is not going to help us. We are going to fail.

[Nyasha Michelle]

One of the things when I was reading what you do, you have arrested over 800 poachers and you've also trained over a thousand scouts. And I can imagine that if you've arrested so many people, up to 800 of them, some of them maybe even coming from your community or some of them knowing you, does that pose any danger to your life at all? And if it does, how do you grapple with that?

[Benson Kanyebo]

The danger is always going to be there because people are still willing and trying to go and kill animals and sell or make a living out of it. That's why we have got the awareness program where we talk to the people using drama and any other means. We go into schools, educating. If you come at our place in Fuwe, the way MFU was like a village, now because of tourism, if you come here, everyone is driving, everyone has got good houses. It's because of the wildlife that we are keeping that brings in money. So people understand and they know that what I'm doing is not against them, it is going to help them in one way or another. Yes, 800 people have gone in jail. And even when I was in jail for the three months that I was in jail, I was busy Recruiting more people that can help me. Training of 1,000 Rangers. This is now Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. I'm happy that I've done my part because I know that whatever we do against Mother Nature will come back to us in one way or another.

[Nyasha Michelle]

You've mentioned there, Benson, how you were in jail and during that time you were recruiting people to actually help you in the work that you do. What were you in jail for, if you don't mind me asking?

[Benson Kanyebo]

Yeah, me and my friends. Because I've worked as an instructor, I was training people to become investigation and intelligence officers. So we did a live operation where we went and arrested about 20 people with 160 something kgs of ivory. So when we handed over these suspects to the police, one of the suspects died in a police cell four days after handing him over. And me and my team were accused of beating him. And we were sent to jail where I stayed for three months before the court could not find me guilty. You know, being there for three months, the room that I was staying on was a room for 300 people, but we were there like a thousand people. Hey, it was hard.

[Nyasha Michelle]

You've been a ranger for 30 years. What changes have you seen within that? But also, let's try be positive. Tell me the positives and some of the negatives.

[Benson Kanyebo]

A lot of people are willing to come in as a ranger even though the pay is very bad. But I've seen a lot of young stars want to join, which is very good. When I was joining, everyone was against, even my father was against me to become a Ranger. I got the support from my mother. So as of now, three quarters of our young stars are wedding. I've got more than 500 applications right now of people wanting to be rangers.

[Nyasha Michelle]

What about on things that you have seen that kind of make your heart break a little bit?

[Benson Kanyebo]

Yeah. The biggest thing, to be frank with you, is the payment. A lot of lenders in Africa get between 80 and 200 US dollars, which is nothing. And this guy is looking after things worth a lot of money and no one is thinking about him. He retires. A lot of lenders have retired. They haven't been paid their benefits. They are still wallowing in the mud. Others have started working as watchmen. This is not good. This is very bad for somebody with eight years of experience. He knows the path. He can use that knowledge against us. And I've seen it in other areas where the same rangers that are neglected are using that against the system that they used to work for.

[Nyasha Michelle]

You are one of the Five African winners of an International Ranger Award. What does this mean to you?

[Benson Kanyebo]

I would say receiving this award is not just a personal milestone to myself. It is just a tribute to every ranger who walks in the bush, who faces poachers, who sacrifice time with the family to defend the voiceless. It is just telling every ranger there that their wake, our wake, matters. We are being seen and we are being valued. So this award goes to all my fellow rangers, to the communities we serve. This is the promise that we will keep standing strong together. To those who support us, thank you for believing in our mission as rangers. That's what I can say.

[Nyasha Michelle]

That was Benson Kayembo from the South Luangwa national park in Zambia and one of the five African winners of this year's International Ranger Award awards. This is Focus on Africa from the BBC World Service. Kente, Ghana's radiant hand woven cloth, has just woven its name into global history. The country has officially secured GI status. That's geographical indication for kente, marking it as Ghana's first certified heritage product protected under international law. This means that only kente made in designated Ghanaian communities using traditional methods can bear the name Kente. It's a win not just for Ghana's weavers and artisans, but also for the country's creative economy, promising new jobs, fair trade and global recognition for African craftsmanship. Here are some Ghanaians reacting to kente cloth's new protected status. Kente is not just a fabric, it's a story. It's an identity. It's a symbol of our culture. And the fact that it's finally getting the protection and respect it deserves is such a proud, proud moment.

[Ange Radzoelina]

We are more than happy as a country. This is something we've looked forward for so many years and finally it has come to pass. You know, kente is the most exported African fabric in the whole world. It has been our success story and it has been our heritage. So finally being recognized as a GI in the Kinte story is something we don't take it lightly. We are so happy about it and we are so joyous as a country.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Carl Ampa is the head of the Culture UNESCO program in Ghana and summarises the checklist process which Kente was put through in order to receive GI status.

[Carl Ampa]

There are strict regulations concerning nomination dossiers. There's identification, the name of the element, the domains, evidence that is intangible, cultural heritage, community participation, safeguarding measures, community benefit and rights, viability assessment and indicators, supporting materials. Then there's a time for it to be submitted. Then the technical examination by the evaluation body. And then when it meets all the criteria, it looks at it and decides whether to inscribe or refer or defer or not inscribe at all. So basically this is what kente went through.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So how did this achievement come about and what does it mean for Ghana's cultural identity? Ama Prempa is the executive producer of the Kente Culture Story documentary.

[Ama Prempa]

Kente is a cloth interwoven by cloth strips. But to the people of Ghana, it represents more than just a colorful cloth. It's Ghana's most prized treasure. Now, kente is done in specific regions of Ghana. The most popular one is Bonre Weaving Centre in the Ashanti region of Ghana. It's originated from bonri. And then the word kente comes from the Ashanti dialect of Akan, which means basket. And it represents a basket like pattern. So that's where the word kente started from.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Now, Ghana has officially secured geographical indication status for kente and it is the country's first certified heritage product protected under international law, which is pretty major. So what does this status actually mean for Ghana and the story of kente itself?

[Ama Prempa]

This GI status is really a landmark moment for Ghana. It officially recognizes kente not just as a fabric, but a living cultural heritage tied to specific regions of Ghana. It also means that only authentic, traditionally made kente from Ghana can be marketed under the name offering protection against counterfeits and cultural appropriation for the local weavers. It opens up economic opportunities, it encourages fair trade and boosting rural livelihood. And globally is going to elevate kente to the same level as the likes of champagne from France. A product of place, tradition and pride. In essence, Ghana is claiming ownership of its story and kente is now protected as a national treasure on the world stage, as it should be.

[Nyasha Michelle]

What I love is the fact that you used champagne as an example, right? I think some people may be listening and wondering, okay, that sounds great, but really and truly, how is this going to be policed? You say that it now means no one can just sell kente unless it actually is kente. So how is something like that going to be governed? And what would happen if someone, for example, is found to be selling cloths calling it kente, but it is not?

[Ama Prempa]

It's an interesting question. While protecting kente globally starts from strong enforcement and clear branding, with the GI status, Ghana now has the legal tools to challenge misuse and counterfeits internationally. But like I said, that needs to be backed by awareness campaign digital certification so buyers know what truly an authentic Kinti is. And when consumers understand its cultural depth and the craftsmanship behind it. I mean, this kente is made with love. One kente can take a weaver a month or in some cases even six months to make. And so if people understand the whole process of bringing all this lovely pieces together, then they are more likely to value and pay for the real thing. It also empowers the local weavers to reach global markets directly using technology and partnership.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Okay, if I'm in the market and I am looking for some good kente cloth, how am I going to identify it as authentic kente cloth that was made in Ghana?

[Ama Prempa]

That's a good question. Because the market has got a lot of imitations out there. If you look at the ones that normally you can buy abroad, those ones are printed. When you hold an authentic kente, it's heavier. You can feel the thread versus the printed version.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So are you saying to me, if I am holding a cloth in my hand right now and I want to check if it is authentic, original kente, the main only difference is I can feel the thread?

[Ama Prempa]

No, not the thread. The real kente is very heavy. For example, I'm wearing an original kente right now in the midst of Ghana weather. I'm sweating like bullets. So the real kente, they use really expensive threads. So it's thick, it's heavier, there's a shine to it. The fake ones, there's no shine. My mom passed on. When I finished the documentary, my mom gave me an original Kente from 100 years on, passed on from her mom. And it's still in its original state. The colors haven't faded, the threads haven't faded, whereby with the fake one, it would not have lasted in one's closet 400 years.

[Nyasha Michelle]

What you've just described there is quite intriguing, isn't it? Your mother has passed down some kente cloth to you that has been around in your family for about 100 years. That's extremely fascinating. You've essentially described it as a living heritage, not just fabric, a story woven through generations. So how does this new recognition help protect that story for the family future?

[Ama Prempa]

So now with this gi status, only cloth made in this traditional way by Ghanaian weavers in the recognized regions can be called kente. Anything else is not authentic kente that stops mass produced imitations from China.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Do you think that China will stop making imitations of kente cloth because of this?

[Ama Prempa]

I don't believe China will stop imitations of kente, but I believe that gradually the market for the kente, demand for the Chinese market that they sell now is going to reduce because now people will want to seek out the authentic kente and it also ensures that the skills, symbols and meanings passed down through generations are not lost and not diluted. It will encourage younger generations to value and continue their craft and the knowledge woven into every thread keeping the story of kente alive for the future. During my journey I've done a mini documentary called the Kente Weaver Story whereby the weavers requested for the government to help them with workshops and a yarn factory to help the kente weaving industry to advance. Because when majority of the weavers now weave their cloth in the open, so when it rains it has an impact in their industry and so the younger generations coming don't feel encouraged to enter that profession. However, with this new GI status, their pride has been restored and so everybody will rush to be in this profession because now there's going to be competition, the market prices are going to go up for the kente, so now it's going to be a lucrative business.

[Nyasha Michelle]

We've seen other GI success stories, right, like Roy Boise tea in South Africa and Pinja pepper in Cameroon. They've created economic transformation for local producers. But I want to know practically what kind of impact do you expect this to have on Ghana's weavers and artisans for their pockets? What type of impact is this going to have for them?

[Ama Prempa]

I think the potential impact for Ghana weavers is huge. With this GI status, Kinte can command higher value on both local and international markets, meaning more income directly to the weavers who create it. Buyers now know they are getting the real deal tied to a specific region and tradition in Ghana. It also encourages investments in local weaving communities, from training to infrastructure. Over time, this could transform weaving into a thriving creative industry. Like robust pepper that you've mentioned in Kente's GI status can turn cultural heritage into economic empowerment, ensuring those who carry the tradition are the ones who end up benefiting the most. For example, designer brands can no longer use kente in their collection without giving the cultural acknowledgment to Ghana and kente weavers as seen in the LV collection back in 2021 by the late Virgil Abloh in his men's collection. And also the latest Ghana must go LV bag in 20.

[Nyasha Michelle]

That was Amma Prempe, executive producer of the documentary the Kente Culture Story. Today's edition of Focus on Africa was put together by Mark Wilberforce, Afonso Daniels, Rian Johnson and Yvette Tuagueiramaria. Patricia Whitehorn was the senior journalist and Sarah Kimberly, the technical producer. Our editors are Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi. Nyasha. Michelle, thanks again for tuning in.