The Africanist Podcast
This podcast investigates political, socio-economic, and cultural issues in contemporary Africa and the African Diasporas. It engages Africanist scholars, artists, activists, athletes, opinion leaders, business people, and ordinary citizens in a critical conversation about the challenges facing Africans and people of African descent.
Episodes
Hospitality and Power in the Teranga Republic
In this episode of The Africanist Podcast, host Bamba Ndiaye sits down with Dr. Emily Jinan Riley of El Colegio de México to explore her groundbreaking book, Teraanga Republic (Indiana University Press 2025)—a sharp, intimate, and deeply layered examination of Senegalese hospitality, politics, and everyday life. Dr. Riley unpacks how “teraanga,” often celebrated as a national ethos of generosity a
Mapping Defiance: Dr. Mark Deets on the Casamance Conflict
This episode of The Africanist Podcast features a rich and thought‑provoking conversation with Dr. Mark Deets of the American University in Cairo, whose award‑winning monograph A Country of Defiance (Ohio University Press 2023) has reshaped scholarly understanding of the Casamance conflict in Senegal. In this episode, Dr. Deets walks listeners through the spatial and historical dynamics that have
Tanzania’s Political Crisis: State, Protest, and Consequences
In this installment of our series Podcasting African Democracy, we sit down with Dr. Aikande Kwayu to unpack the turbulent aftermath of Tanzania’s recent presidential election. Marked by allegations of irregularities and contested legitimacy, the election sparked a wave of protests that revealed both the resilience and fragility of democratic practice in the country. Dr. Kwayu guides us through th
Textual Life: Shaykh Musa Kamara and the Politics of Knowledge
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Wendell H. Marsh (Mohammad VI Polytechnic University) to explore his groundbreaking book Textual Life: Islam, Africa, and the Fate of the Humanities (Columbia University Press, 2025). Marsh takes us deep into the intellectual world of Shaykh Musa Kamara, a towering figure of West African Islamic scholarship, whose bilingual manuscript History of the Blacks bec
Insistent Presence: Reimagining the Human Figure, Histories & Identities
In this episode, Ph.D candidate, (in Art History) Margaret Nagawa discusses "Insistent Presence", her curated exhibition at Emory University's Michael Carlos Museum. "Drawn from the collections of the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and curated by Emory PhD candidate Margaret Nagawa, Insistent Presence features works of sculpture, painting, ceramics, and printmaking b
Taxed to the Limit: Kenya’s Youth Uprising and the Fight for Economic Justice
This episode is the first installment of a new series entitled Podcasting African Democracy. It was recorded on August 5th, 2025.
In this episode, we speak with Wairimu Gathimba — writer, researcher, and longtime organizer within Kenya’s social justice movement — about the mass protests that erupted in June 2025 following the commemoration of the 2024 controversial Finance Bill protest. From Nairo
Sonic Scholarship: Teaching, Research and the Academic Podcast
In this special episode recorded live at the 2024 African Studies Association's Conference in Chicago, we delve into the vibrant world of academic podcasting with scholar-creators: Peter Alegi (Michigan State University), Bamba Ndiaye (Emory University), Reginold Royston (University of Wisconsin), Dean Rehberger (Michigan State University) and Michael Green. Drawing on their deep experience as res
Africanfuturism vs. Afrofuturism
Step into the imaginative realms of Africanfuturism in this insightful episode featuring Prof. Kimberly Cleveland of Georgia State University in conversation with Bukunmi Bifarin (Emory University). Centered around Prof. Cleveland’s groundbreaking monograph, Africanfuturism: African Imaginings of Other Times, Spaces, and Worlds (Ohio University Press 2024), the discussion traverses speculative aes
Projections of Dakar: A Conversation with Devin Bryson and Molly Krueger Enz
In this episode, Profs Devin Bryson (Illinois College) and Molly Krueger Enz (South Dakota State University) discuss their co-authored monograph, Projections of Dakar: (Re) Imagining Urban Senegal Through Cinema (Ohio University Press 2024). “Projections of Dakar studies the audiovisual creations and practices of twenty-first-century Senegalese filmmakers living, working, and distributing their fi
Shadows of Conflicts: Eastern DRC's War and Regional Tensions
NB: This episode was recorded on February 8, 2025. Since then, the conflict in Eastern DRC has dramatically evolved with more than 7000 fatalities, thousands of displaced and sanctions against Rwanda.
In this episode we delve into the intricate and ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with our esteemed guest, Dr. Patrick Litanga (Eastern Kentucky University). Dr. Lita
Mozambique: Political Protest & Electoral Violence
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Natàlia Bueno, researcher at the Center for Social Studies (Coimbra University), to explore the recent political turmoil in Mozambique. The country has been gripped by violent protests and electoral violence following the contested election results that saw the ruling Frelimo party retain power.
Natàlia Bueno provides an in-depth analysis of the disputed elect
Perfect Marriage: A Conversation with Ba Mulenga Kapwepwe
This episode is a conversation with distinguished Zambian writer and activist Ba Mulenga Kapwepwe, who was recently invited to Emory University's Institute of African Studies to discuss her latest novel, Perfect Marriage. In this conversation facilitated by Dr. Bamba Ndiaye, Kapwepwe dissects the complexities of Bemba society, ritual practices, and social relationships in a gripping narrative that
Coup Attempt in The Democratic Republic of the Congo
On May 19, 2024, an attempted coup occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The assailants targeted President Félix Tshesekedi and the Economy Minister, Vital Kamerhe. They attacked both the Palais de la Nation and the Kamerhe's residence before they were swiftly pushed back by security forces. The commando's leader, Christian Malanga, was killed as a result of the security forces'
Insignificant Things: A Conversation with Matthew Rarey
In this episode, Nyaradzai Mahachi (Emory University) discusses with Dr. Matthew Rarey (Oberlin College) about the latter's first monograph, Insignificant Things: Amulets and the Art of Survival in the Early Black Atlantic (Duke University Press, 2023) The book "traces the history of the African-associated amulets that enslaved and other marginalized people carried as tools of survival in the Blac
The Demise of Senegalese Democracy?
In this conversation, Michelle Gavin (CFR), Rachel Beatty Riedl (Cornell University) and Bamba Ndiaye (Emory University) discuss the ongoing political crisis in Senegal. "On Saturday, February 3, Senegalese president Macky Sall informed the nation that he was postponing the presidential election scheduled for February 25. The move was necessary, he claimed, to prevent “a new crisis” from erupting
Islam & Anarchism: A Conversation with Mohamed Abdou
Co-Host: Eman Ghanayem
In this episode, we discuss Mohamed Abdou's (Columbia University) Islam and Anarchism. "Islam and Anarchism is a highly original and interdisciplinary work, which simultaneously disrupts two commonly held beliefs - that Islam is necessarily authoritarian and capitalist; and that anarchism is necessarily anti-religious and anti-spiritual. Deeply rooted in key Islamic concepts
Seeing the Unseen: A Conversation with Susan Elizabeth Gagliardi
In this episode, Chelsy Monie and Dr. Susan Gagliardi (Emory University) discuss, the latter's recent monograph entitled Seeing the Unseen: Arts of Power Association on the Senufo-Mande Cultural "Frontier" (Indiana University Press, 2023)
In this book, "art historian Susan Elizabeth Gagliardi examines tensions between the seen and unseen that makers, patrons, and audiences of arts in western West
Decolonizing the Mind: In Conversation with Ngūgī wa Thiong’o
In this episode, renowned Kenyan writer and thinker Ngūgī wa Thiong’o discusses crucial issues in African literature including the 1962 African Writers Conference in Kampala, language use and the specter of (neo)colonialism in literary productions and African development. He also talks about sociopolitical issues in contemporary Africa as well as personal challenges he’s faced in the past few year
PART-TWO: The Sentencing of Ousmane Sonko & Another Uprising in Senegal
On June 1, 2023, a criminal court in Dakar found opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko guilty of corrupting the youth while dropping the rape and death threats charges in a historic case opposing him to Adji Sarr. The verdict plunged the country into another popular uprising resulting in more than two dozen fatalities, hundreds of injured protesters, and detentions. In this conversation, journalist, Bo
PART-ONE: The Sentencing of Ousmane Sonko & Another Uprising in Senegal
On June 1, 2023, a criminal court in Dakar found opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko guilty of corrupting the youth while dropping the rape and death threats charges in a historic case opposing him to Adji Sarr. The verdict plunged the country into another popular uprising resulting in more than two dozen fatalities, hundreds of injured protesters, and detentions. In this conversation, journalist, Bo
PART-TWO: Why The Current Politico-Legal Unrest in Senegal?
PART-TWO: What happened in Ngor last week, a small fishing village on the coast of Dakar, Senegal? What do we know about the death of Adji Diallo, a 15-year-old inhabitant of the village? Is the Senegalese justice system being weaponized against Ousmane Sonko and the opposition to invalidate his presidential bid? How can the legal saga against Sonko impact the 2024 presidential election in Senegal
PART-ONE: Why The Current Politico-Legal Unrest in Senegal?
PART-ONE: What happened in Ngor last week, a small fishing village on the coast of Dakar, Senegal? What do we know about the death of Adji Diallo, a 15-year-old inhabitant of the village? Is the Senegalese justice system being weaponized against Ousmane Sonko and the opposition to invalidate his presidential bid? How can the legal saga against Sonko impact the 2024 presidential election in Senegal
Dispossession, Slavery and Inequality in West-Central Africa
In this episode, historian, Mariana Candido (Emory University), discusses her recent book entitled Wealth, Land, and Property in Angola: A History of Dispossession, Slavery, and Inequality (Cambridge University Press, 2022).
In this conversation, Prof. Candido elaborates on the issues of women's land ownership, theories of "unoccupied lands and land surplus" as well as the power of written documen
Written Out of History: A Conversation with Joel Cabrita
In this episode, historian, Joel Cabrita (Standford University), discusses her recent monograph Written Out: The Silencing of Regina Gelana Twala (Ohio University Press 2023) She explains how a Black South African woman (Regina Twala) was systematically erased from history and from the scholarly works she helped produced. Dr. Cabrita also discusses the issues of positionality, historical erasure,
Policing Social Activism in Africa
In this episode, Ugandan social activist and scholar, Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire (Institute of African Studies, Emory University), discusses the policing of social activism in contemporary Africa. He also shares his personal experience in an environment where violent attacks against activists are recurrent.
This conversation is part of a series on "Social Activism in Contemporary Africa" produced in
Opposing Apartheid on Stage: A Conversation With Historian Tyler Fleming
In this episode, Associate Professor of History, Tyler Fleming (University of Louisville) discusses his book Opposing Apartheid on Stage: King Kong the Musical (University of Rochester Press 2020).
"In 1959, King Kong, an interracial jazz opera, swept across South Africa and became a countrywide phenomenon. Its performances sold out, its LP record was widely heard, and its cast became recognized
Discussing Scripts of Blackness with Dr. Noémie Ndiaye
In this episode, Dr. Noémie Ndiaye (University of Chicago) discusses her recent monograph, Scripts of Blackness: Early Modern Performance Culture and the Making of Race (University of Pennsylvania Press 2022). The book chronicles the representation of Blackness in early modern Europe (with a focus on England, France, and Spain) through theater and performance culture. In addition to unpacking the
Military Coup and Political Impasse in Burkina Faso
The recent coup in Burkina Faso continues to raise many questions about the political future of the country as well as the relationships between Burkina Faso and its external partners in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. In this episode, Dr. Lassane Ouédraogo (Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo de Ouagadougou) discusses the recent military coup in Burkina Faso and the removal of President S
Challenging the Executive: Legislative Election in Senegal
On July 31, 2022, Senegal held its legislative election which resulted in a historical "split" parliament between the presidential coalition Benno Bokk Yakkaar (BBY) and the political opposition led by the inter-coalition Yewwi Askan Wi (YAW) and Wàllu. Out of the 165 members of parliament (MPs) that will constitute the National Assembly, BBY won 82 MPs, YAW-Wàllu won 80 MPs while the political fo
Popular Uprising in Senegal: A Year Later
In this episode, the Drs. Oumar Ba (Cornell University) and Marame Gueye (East Carolina University) discuss the recent developments following the 2021 popular uprising in Senegal including the preliminary hearings in the Sonko vs. Adji Sarr case. We also talk about the recent municipal and departmental elections in Senegal and their potential implications in the upcoming legislative (July 2021) an
The Lemba People of South Africa and Jewish Genetic Ancestry Studies
In this episode, Dr. Noah Tamarkin (Anthropology, Cornell University) talks about his recent book, Genetics Afterlives: Black Jewish Indigeneity in South Africa (Duke University Press 2020).
The book chronicles the politics of race, religion and recognition among the Lemba people of South Africa who were the subject of Jewish genetic ancestry studies in the 1980s and 1990s. He delves into the noti
The Muridiyya on the Move: Islam, Migration and Place Making
In this episode, Prof. Cheikh Anta Babou (University of Pennsylvania) discusses his latest book, Muridiyya on the Move: Islam, Migration and Place-Making (Ohio University Press 2021). He talks about how mobility and memorialization constitute integral parts of the Murid identity. He also delves into the feminization of Senegalese migration to the United States and the impact of gentrification on A
”Decolonizing Diasporas”: A Conversation with Dr. Figueroa-Vásquez
In this episode, Dr. Yomaira Figueroa-Vásquez (Associate Prof. at Michigan State University) discusses her recent book entitled Decolonizing Diasporas: Radical Mappings of Afro-Atlantic Literature (Northwestern University Press 2020). She breaks down the notions of intimacy, dispossession, and the "peripheralizing" of Hispanophone Afro-Atlantic aesthetics in the context of coloniality and dictator
Military Coup in Guinea and the Arrest of President Alpha Condé
In this episode, Professor Mohamed Saliou Camara, Chair of the African Studies Department at Howard University discusses the recent military coup in Guinea Conakry that ousted President Alpha Condé. He analyses the circumstances under which the event happened as well as provides an overview of the different military coups and takeover attempts in Guinea since its independence in 1958.
Idriss Déby's Death and the Political Transition in Chad
"If you were to look closely at his time in power, it is punctuated by rebellions, it is punctuated by coup attempts, it is punctuated by civil unrest, human rights abuses; there is no way to look at the domestic political situation in Chad, under Déby and walk away thinking this is a stable, prosperous regime." Daniel Eizenga
In this conversation, Dr. Daniel Eizenga, Research Fellow at the Africa
The Current Popular Uprising in Senegal
Senegal, one of the model democracies on the African continent has been experiencing an unprecedented popular uprising following the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on disorderly conduct and call for insurrection charges. Prior to that, Ousmane Sonko has been accused of rape followed by death threats by a young masseuse named Adji Sarr. While Sonko continues to claim that the accusations
The Evolution of Hip Hop in Urban Senegal_A Conversation with Dr. Catherine Appert
"One thing I push back against a little in the book is the sort of emphasis on resistance in scholarship on hip hop. Not because resistance isn't, or hasn't often been an important facet of hip hop cultures in various places throughout the world but because sometimes a sort of understanding of resistance as so integral to hip hop can elide the other ways in which hip hop is important to people." D
Graduate/Doctoral Research Amidst a Global Pandemic
"The Pandemic started when I was finishing my dissertation. I have done a lot during this pandemic, it kind of forced me to finish."
"I was supposed to start my fieldwork over the summer, I was supposed to be gone by the end of May, I had already made my travel arrangements and then the pandemic hit."
COVID-19 has affected every aspect of life including the possibility to conduct dissertation fi
#EndSARS: Protest Against Police Brutality in Nigeria
In this episode, Ph.D candidate and #EndSARS protest facilitator, Shamsudeen Abubakar, talks about the origin and manifestations of the #ENDSARS protest that has been taking place in many Nigerian cities/States and abroad. He also delves into his personal involvement with the organization of a peaceful protest against Nigerian police brutality in Louisville, Kentucky back in October 2020.
African Philosophy and the "Existential" Quest
In this episode, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Dismas Masolo (University of Louisville) revisits historical attempts to deny the existence of African Philosophy as well as African scholars' response to these attempts. He also discusses Ubuntu philosophy and the concepts of personhood and community as understood by scholars such as Menkiti.
Pan-Africanism Today: Linking Africa & the Diaspora for Cultural, Economic and Social Empowerment
This episode is the outcome of a Zoom panel that The Africanist co-organized in the framework of the annual African Heritage Festival of Louisville, Kentucky. In this panel, Stacy Bailey-Ndiaye, Amos Azerimana, Dr. Babacar Mbaye, Dr. Nicholas McLeod, and Aukram Burton discuss the origin and the relevance of Pan-Africanism in the 21st century. They walk us through some of the cultural, political, a
On Black Liberation Movement, Capitalism and Spirituality
In this episode, Dr. Tony Van Der Meer from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, talks about his activism and his involvement with the black liberation movement. He also invokes some of the obstacles that have historically impeded the struggle of Black folks in Africa, the United States and other parts of the Black Atlantic.
Ajamization, Islam in West Africa and Racism in the Arab World: A Conversation With Prof. Fallou Ngom
Professor Fallou Ngom (Boston University) discusses his award-winning work on Ajami and the diffusion of Islam in West Africa. He also talks about racism in the Arab world and the use of Islamic texts to justify racist and discriminatory actions towards people of Africa descent.
Tragedies, Solidarity & Black Social Protest Part 2
Aukram Burton, Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, discusses Black activism in the 1960s and 1970s in relation to the recent protest movements following the death of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. He also talks about his own experience as a freedom fighter in the 60s and his encounter with prominent civil rights activists including Robert F. W
Tragedies, Solidarity & Black Social Protest Part 1
Aukram Burton, Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, discusses Black activism in the 1960s and 1970s in relation to the recent protest movements following the death of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. He also talks about his own experience as a freedom fighter in the 60s and his encounter with prominent civil rights activists including Robert F. W
Postcolonialism in Theory and Practice
Dr. Mawuena Kossi Logan discusses Postcolonial Theory in relation to literary productions and the African experience. He also examines how a postcolonial thought process can help in the COVID-19 pandemic management on the African continent.
Discussing an Africa and African Diaspora-centered non-profit organization: Bridge Kids International.
In this episode, we talk with Stacy Bailey Ndiaye, founder, and director of Bridge Kids International, a global non-profit organization that serves Africans and people of African descent. We also talk about the meaning and importance of reconnecting with African cultural heritage as well as the economic opportunities Africa can offer to people of African descent. www.bridge-kids.org
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