Spotlight on Africa
An in-depth look at an important story affecting the African continent today.
Young Nigerian entrepreneurs seek to reshape relationship with France
During Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s visit to France in November, he brought a delegation of young leaders to strengthen ties and attract investment in Africa’s largest economy. RFI caught up with some of them. Kolawole Osinowo, CEO of Baobab Plus in Nigeria – a French-Nigerian energy distribution company – highlighted…
How harmful stereotypes and media bias are costing Africa billions
Harmful stereotypes about Africa in the global media are costing the continent billions each year and shaping damaging perceptions, campaigners are warning. A recent report explored the economic impact of biased media narratives, linking them to lost investment opportunities and higher borrowing costs for African nations. “Negative narratives about Africa have…
Africans push food systems and climate justice at Cop29
This week's Spotlight on Africa dives into Cop29’s critical discussions on climate change – focusing on food systems, green energy funding and who should pay for climate disasters. With talks underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, negotiators and experts are grappling with solutions to the growing crisis. Zitouni Ould Dada, representing the FAIRR…
Cultural exchanges beyond borders as African art gains global interest
African contemporary art are attracting increasing interest thanks to a packed season stretching from Europe to Africa. Artists and curators from across the continent and the diaspora reflect on the impact of cultural exchanges beyond their borders – from London to Paris, Luanda to Dakar. October and November are set…
Ghana grapples with crisis caused by world's throwaway fashion
This week's podcast focuses on textile waste from fast fashion. As cheap clothes from China, Asia and Europe increasingly end up in West Africa, pollution is rising – particularly in Ghana. RFI spoke to Greenpeace Africa investigators to understand the scale of the issue and how to combat it. Ghana is…
What are Africa's economic needs amid rising competition between China and the West?
Following a month filled with key summits and continued trade negotiations across Africa, this week's edition of Spotlight on Africa examines the growing rivalry between China and Western nations as they vie for business opportunities on the continent. This week, our focus shifts to the dynamics of Chinese-African-Western relations.In September,…
Zambia leads solar shift amid southern Africa's hydroelectric drought
With a prolonged drought affecting the supply of hydroelectricity all over southern Africa, a growing number of people are turning to solar to fill the energy gap. Spotlight on Africa focuses this week on progress made in Zambia. While floods are devastating West Africa, about 68 million people in southern…
Algeria heads to polls: Tebboune favoured amid rights concerns
Some 24 million Algerians vote on 7 September to elect their next president, with incumbent Abdelmadjid Tebboune the clear favourite of only three candidates. If Algeria has enjoyed economic and social stability in his five years of mandate, human rights organisations warn of a decrease of freedom and rights. This…
Decolonising Beauty campaign honours Africa’s diverse aesthetics
Decolonising Beauty is a campaign designed by the producton company Zikora Media to educate the public and celebrate the rich tapestry of indigenous and local beauty customs across Africa. This week we speak with its founder, Chika Oduah. In a world increasingly dominated by Western beauty standards promoted through pop…
South African artist Gavin Jantjes on his major retrospective
RFI's Spotlight on Africa met with artist Gavin Jantjes to chat about his To Be Free! A Retrospective 1970-2023. The exhibition traces his journey as "a creative agent of change" from South Africa to Europe, celebrating his multifaceted roles as painter, printmaker, writer, curator and activist. In this episode we hear from the artist…
Africa and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
The Paris Olympics are officially open, and athletes from Africa are competing in a broad range of disciplines. In this episode of the podcast, we look at what to expect from the African teams. In total, more than 200 delegations and 10,000 athletes are participating in 36 sports at the…
Kagame poised to extend rule for fourth term as Rwanda heads to polls
2024 is a big election year for the world and especially for Africa, and in July all eyes are on Rwanda. Rwandans will cast their ballots on Monday in an election where President Paul Kagame is expected to secure another term, facing the same opponents he defeated in 2017.Kagame, who…
African displacements and the search for refuge, in life and art
Displacement takes many forms, from refugees forced into exile to returnees who find themselves strangers what was once home. In this episode, we speak to aid workers about the very different experiences of refugees in Sudan and Mauritania, and hear from an artist who draws on his own migrations between…
Global South amplifies calls for compensation for historical injustices
This week, we are addressing the issue of reparations for historical injustices, including slavery, colonial violence, and war crimes. Calls for compensation are gaining momentum, particularly in the Global South, with a strong focus on the Caribbean and Africa. These reparations could take various forms, primarily financial compensation.Activists argue that…
South Africa's ANC on the brink of losing majority, coalition government looms
In this episode of Spotlight on Africa, Melissa Chemam discusses the recent elections in South Africa and the possibility of the ruling ANC losing its overall majority, potentially forcing it into a coalition government. On 29 May, South Africans participated in parliamentary and provincial elections in the most fiercely contested…
South Africa's 2024 Elections: young voters and the legacy of apartheid
South Africa is holding general and provincial elections on 29 May. In this episode of Spotlight on Africa, we look at young people and the elections and how the country has changed since the end of apartheid in 1994. First, we talked to the director of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation,…
After Senegal's success, can Mali and Niger also hope for elections?
The delayed March presidential vote in Senegal confirmed the country remains a beacon of democracy in a region facing increasing instability. RFI looks at how the peaceful victory of Bassirou Diomaye Faye and mentor Ousmane Sonko stands to influence the politics of neighbouring Sahel nations. This edition of Spotlight on Africa…
The long path to Senegal's troubled presidential elections
This is a big election year for Africa, with 16 countries heading to the polls. Close attention is being paid to the delayed presidential vote in Senegal – a West African beacon of democracy that is facing increasing instability. RFI spoke to author and economist Ndongo Samba Sylla in the capital Dakar. …
Spotlight on Africa - Ethiopia's triple threat against locusts
Ethiopia is currently battling one of its worst locust invasions since 1958. But since then, the country has rolled out a defense system to make sure damage is minimal across the country. Find out more in this edition of Spotlight on Africa.
Spotlight on Africa - Searching for answers, 15 years after Ghanaians murdered in Gambia
In Accra, a new documentary out this January sheds light on the 2005 murders of 56 West Africans in The Gambia – most of them Ghanaians. In I cannot Bury My Father, director Nana-Jo Ndow explores the lack of closure – and the lack of information – the families of the victims…