Into Africa

What role does Africa's private sector play in the continent's inclusive growth? Cina Lawson, Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation in Togo, and Lucy Nshuti Mbabazi, Head of Africa Advocacy and Partnerships at The Better Than Cash Alliance, join Mvemba to discuss the rise of digital payments in Africa's spurred by COVID-19 restrictions. This episode explores the opportunities presented by the pandemic, the role of individual financial services, and how to drive the narrative away from a cash-strapped Africa and toward its leading mobile innovations. 

Mvemba is joined by African investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu to discuss the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s work in empowering youth entrepreneurs across the continent. They talk about the philosophy of Africapitalism, how African governments can build robust enabling environments, and the importance of eradicating dependency syndrome.

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.