Podcast
Next Africa
Hosted by Bloomberg · EN
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.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Can African Founders Adapt as AI Boom Redirects Cash?
6d ago00:17:20Tap to summarizeAfrican 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.
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Did Aid Cuts Make The Ebola Outbreak Worse?
2w ago00:18:37Tap to summarizeAn 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 newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Bobi Wine On The Battle for Uganda's Future
3w ago00:17:22Tap to summarizeUgandan 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.For more stories from the region subscribe to the Next Africa NewsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Is Xenophobia Risking South Africa’s International Reputation
4w ago00:20:20Tap to summarizeAnti-Migrant protests and violence in South Africa have escalated in recent weeks, leading to condemnation from Governments across the continent. On this week’s Next Africa Podcast, Bloomberg’s government reporter Ntando Thukwana gives the latest on the protests, and then political commentator and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Justice Malala explains what he thinks is behind the problem and how the government should tackle it. For more stories from the region subscribe to the Next Africa NewsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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China’s Growing Grip On Africa’s EV Fast Lane
Apr 3000:18:28Tap to summarizeIn 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 hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Could Dangote's Stock Listing Transform African Investing?
Apr 2400:20:16Tap to summarizeAliko Dangote plans to sell about 10% of his oil-refining company on multiple African stock exchanges to help fund the next phase of the tycoon’s business empire. The IPO comes nearly five decades after a landmark share sale in Asia that went on to mint the continent’s richest person. In 1977, Dhirubhai Ambani sold shares in Reliance to thousands of domestic investors and reshaped equity culture in India. In this special episode of the Next Africa podcast, we ask whether Dangote could spark a similar transformation in Africa. Bloomberg’s Managing Editor for Africa, Arijit Ghosh and our Abuja based reporter Nduka Orjinmo join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss what we know about the IPO, why Ambani’s IPO in 1977 was such a game changer and what needs to happen if Dangote is to have the same effect. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why Starlink Is Dividing South Africa
Apr 1700:13:14Tap to summarizeStarlink, SpaceX’s Satellite Internet Service is pushing for changes to South Africa’s equality rules which it says blocks the company from operating in Africa’s most industrialised economy. South Africa requires companies in some sectors to have at least 30% Black ownership. These laws were introduced after the end of apartheid and they compelled companies in industries including banking, mining and telecommunications to sell stakes to Black people who were systematically excluded from the economy during White-minority rule, but now the governing coalition is split on whether to change this law. On this week’s episode - Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg’s Senior Technology Reporter Loni Prinsloo and reporter Rivaldo Jantjies, on how Starlink has been growing across Africa, why South Africa is so important to the company, and how likely it is that rules could change. Read our latest reporting on Starlink and South Africa here, and for more stories from the region subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Could Global Turmoil Make Africa A Safer Bet For Investors
Apr 1000:18:35Tap to summarizeGlobal conflicts from the Middle East to Ukraine are reshaping how investors assess risk — and challenging perceptions about Africa.On today’s Next Africa podcast, Tiwa Adebayo, in for Jennifer Zabasajja, speaks with Zain Latif, founder of TLG Capital, about why he believes the continent is increasingly being seen as a more resilient investment destination. He explains why sectors with steady, defensive returns are drawing interest even as global volatility rises. Plus, Emerging Markets reporter Ray Ndlovu discusses why Africa is starting to look more attractive to investors.Read our special feature on investing in Nigeria here, and subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why Water Is Africa’s Next Precious Commodity
Apr 200:17:32Tap to summarizeLesotho’s abundant water has become one of the kingdom’s most strategic revenue streams. Its landmark deal to provide water for neighboring South Africa underscores the growing importance of water diplomacy across a continent increasingly strained by scarcity. In this episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks with Bloomberg’s Andre-Pierre du Plessis about Lesotho’s push to modernize its four-decade-old water agreement for the 21st century, and then speaks with Olivier Cogels, Professor Emeritus of UCLouvain, and advisor to governments across Africa and Asia, to explore how water-sharing deals can adapt to mounting pressure from climate change and rising demand.For more stories from the region you can subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why the war in Iran Risks a Farming Crisis in Africa
Mar 2600:15:24Tap to summarizeThe ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing turmoil in energy markets, and is also hitting the price and supply of crucial fertilizers. On this week’s episode Bloomberg’s Agnieszka de Sousa and René Vollgraaff join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss why the Strait of Hormuz is so crucial to fertilizer supplies, and how energy shortages and rising costs could have far reaching effects on Africa’s farmers and the price of food For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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