Best Francophone Podcasts (2024)

1
Beyond the Polls: Insights into South Africa's Coalition Government 44:04

3h ago44:04

44:04

At the end of May, South Africans went to the polls for national and provincial elections that marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape. After more than two decades of waning voter support, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in the National Assembly. This historic change for a party that has held unitary co…

1
Jason Allen-Paisant on Engagements with Aimé Césaire: Thinking with Spirits 1:14:18

3d ago1:14:18

1:14:18

You’re listening to Conversations in Atlantic Theory, a podcast dedicated to books and ideas generated from and about the Atlantic world. In collaboration with the Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy, these conversations explore the cultural, political, and philosophical traditions of the Atlantic world, ranging from European critical theo…

1
Kathleen Spanos and Sinclair Emoghene on Dancing in the World: Revealing Cultural Confluences 1:10:22

4d ago1:10:22

1:10:22

You’re listening to Conversations in Atlantic Theory, a podcast dedicated to books and ideas generated from and about the Atlantic world. In collaboration with the Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy, these conversations explore the cultural, political, and philosophical traditions of the Atlantic world, ranging from European critical theo…

1
The Payments Exchange - Episode 1: Navigating Africa's Foreign Exchange Landscape 24:37

11d ago24:37

24:37

Welcome to the first episode of The Payments Exchange mini-series. Over the course of four episodes, we will explore the payments ecosystem across the African continent with Crown Agents Bank and a guest expert. In this episode, Chris Partridge, VP & Head of Bank and Non-Bank Financial institutions at Crown Agents Bank, and Mark O'Sullivan, CEO of …

1
MENA Region Vibe Check + Lessons from Startup Tunisia 42:50

1M ago42:50

42:50

🎙️ This month's episode takes us to Tunisia, speaking to Mariem Sellami, a founder and former program manager at Startup Tunisia to understand what it’s like running a venture in Tunisia. 🇹🇳 Like most nascent tech ecosystems, the government plays an important role in the Tunisian ecosystem, with legal frameworks like the Startup Act—passed in 2019—…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep14: Charting a Path for Meaningful Impact 31:08

3M ago31:08

31:08

🌍 Creating impact in the African tech ecosystem takes many stakeholders, and while venture dollars might grab the biggest headlines, foundation and impact partners also play a crucial role. You might even argue—correctly—that these impact partners have influenced traditional VC players and shaped how they think about investing on the continent. 🚀 T…

401
Special: This Cultural Life 44:10

3M ago44:10

44:10

George talks to John Wilson about some of his most formative cultural influences including the grammar school that taught him the essay-writing skills he still puts to use when making his podcast. He reveals how Tupac Shakur’s 1998 song Changes ignited his interest in hip hop, and discusses the impact of rap and grime on his own verse. He also reme…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep13: Brain Skills and Mental Health for Founders 30:07

4M ago30:07

30:07

📍 The end of the year's first quarter is typically a time for companies—and their founders—to take stock of what has been accomplished so far. So for public companies, we huddle over investor calls and try to understand performance. For private companies, we hope and pray a media publication somehow finds their numbers and shares them with us. 🎯 Fo…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep12: Choosing The Right Funding in 2024 1:08:46

4M ago1:08:46

1:08:46

💡 Join our host, Loraine Achar, featuring esteemed panelists Bruce Nsereko-Lule (General Partner, Seedstars Africa Ventures), June Odongo (Founder & CEO, Senga Technologies), Jason Musyoka (Chief Financial Officer, Rology), as they go bar-for-bar on the topic of discussion, “The Good and Bad of Funding - Choosing the Right Capital in 2024.” 💸 📍 Cho…

1
Joshua Myers on Of Black Study 1:09:24

4M ago1:09:24

1:09:24

You’re listening to Conversations in Atlantic Theory, a podcast dedicated to books and ideas generated from and about the Atlantic world. In collaboration with the Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy, these conversations explore the cultural, political, and philosophical traditions of the Atlantic world, ranging from European critical theo…

1
Autumn Womack on The Matter of Black Living: The Aesthetic Experiment of Racial data, 1880-1930 1:02:51

4M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

You’re listening to Conversations in Atlantic Theory, a podcast dedicated to books and ideas generated from and about the Atlantic world. In collaboration with the Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy, these conversations explore the cultural, political, and philosophical traditions of the Atlantic world, ranging from European critical theo…

1
Driving Gender Equality Forward: A Conversation with Africa Specialty Risks & Alitheia Capital 38:20

4M ago38:20

38:20

In this podcast, we explore the evolving risk landscape in Africa and its impact on trade, investment, and gender. Genevieve Ahinful, Head of Political Risk and Trade Credit at Africa Specialty Risks, and Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Alitheia Capital, discuss changing perceptions, offering insights into the opportunities and ch…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep11: Balancing Funding Pressure with Solving Customer Pain Points 39:56

5M ago39:56

39:56

🎙️ In this episode, we talk about how founders can focus on solving real problems instead of building ventures that prioritise fundraising first and solving user pain points second. With fundraising harder and founders finding themselves in a pinch, the macro seems to be exerting overt influence on how founders position and build their businesses. …

1
A Critical Examination of the University of Toledo Language Program Cuts with Dr. Linda Rouillard and Dr. Ruth Hotell 48:19

5M ago48:19

48:19

The University of Toledo's recent decision to suspend the French and German programs has sparked widespread debate. This episode delves into the impact of this decision with special guests Dr. Linda Rouillard, Faculty Senate President, Ohio Faculty Council Chair, and Professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and Dr. Ruth…

1
Invest Africa 2024 Regional Outlook Series - Lusophone Africa 44:57

5M ago44:57

44:57

In 2024, Africa grapples with a complex landscape, encompassing supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the persistent impact of COVID-19, rising inflation, and conflicts in the Middle East. Amidst these challenges, African nations are urged to leverage industrialisation opportunities, potentially catapult…

1
Beyond Poutine: Tim Beaulieu's Fight to Save French Education & Challenges to French Education in the US 36:52

5M ago36:52

36:52

Tim Beaulieu, the founder of New Hampshire's beloved Poutinefest, and Dr. Claire-Marie Brisson, a passionate language advocate, join forces to explore the challenges facing French programs in schools from elementary schools to universities. Support the showBy Claire-Marie Brisson / Tim Beaulieu

1
Invest Africa 2024 Regional Outlooks Series - East Africa 44:14

5M ago44:14

44:14

In 2024, Africa is set to be the second-fastest growing major region, with most countries experiencing accelerated economic growth compared to 2023. East Africa, led by Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda, is poised to be at the forefront, contributing to Africa's real GDP increase from 2.6% in 2023 to 3.2%. However, political risks may r…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep10: Lessons from the African Early Stage Investor Summit 2023 1:11:30

6M ago1:11:30

1:11:30

🇿🇦 This month's podcast was recorded at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2023 (AESIS 2023), held in Cape Town between 30 November and 2 December 2023. Featuring sector heavyweights Aly El Shalakany (Advisory Board Member, AESIS), Eleni Gabre-Madhin (Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Africa), Tracy Kimathi (Founder, BARIDI), Ben White (Director a…

1
Invest Africa 2024 Regional Outlook Series - North Africa 50:14

6M ago50:14

50:14

The economic dynamics and political landscape within the framework of Africa’s North markets for the 2024 fiscal year present a nuanced scenario. The growth in North Africa is estimated to have decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 4.1 percent in 2022. This decline was attributed to the sharp contraction in Libya, accounting for 6 percent of the re…

1
Invest Africa 2024 Regional Outlooks Series - Southern Africa 50:17

6M ago50:17

50:17

Southern Africa’s regional economic performance in 2023 compares unfavourably to that of other sub-regions, with growth slowing to 3.3% from 4% in 2022. The outlook for 2024 is uncertain due to the Southern Africa region remaining subject to significant downside risks. Over the 2023-2024 period, six Southern African countries (Botswana, Mauritius, …

1
Invest Africa 2024 Regional Outlooks - Francophone Africa 46:43

6M ago46:43

46:43

The economic dynamics and political landscape in the context of Africa’s Francophone markets for the 2024 fiscal year paint a complex picture. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains the largest intra-African trading nation; its share of total African trade increased by 35.7% from $12.19 bn in 2021 to $16.53 bn in 2022. This is largely a res…

1
Invest Africa 2024 Regional Outlook Series - West Africa 44:39

6M ago44:39

44:39

From supply chain disruptions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the lingering effects of COVID-19 to increased inflation and interest rates, and recent conflicts in the Middle East, 2024 is sure to bring a multitude of challenges and opportunities to Africa. However, against this backdrop of polycrisis, African countries have been urged…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep9: Zambia ecosystem insights + Lessons from Cellulant 32:44

6M ago32:44

32:44

🎙️ In this month’s podcast, the final one for the year 2023, we talk about how iteration leads to success and also touch on the Zambian tech ecosystem. Gilbert Lungu, the Country Manager for Cellulant, one of Africa’s “OG” fintech startups that has raised $55 million to date. Lungu has the chops to help us understand the Zambian tech ecosystem, hav…

1
38. Once Upon a Time in Kampala 26:08

7M ago26:08

26:08

In Uganda’s capital city, a young cab driver forms an unlikely bond with a sex worker during the crippling lockdown of 2021. They are both forced to make tough decisions. Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick & George the Poet Original Music and Sound Design by Benbrick.By BBC Sounds

1
37. Back to Common Ground 40:36

7M ago40:36

40:36

George responds to audience questions taken from Common Ground, the platform he co-created in Chapter 3. Listeners discuss everything from art to race using prompts from previous episodes, reaffirming the importance of the artist/audience relationship.By BBC Sounds

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep8: Investing within Francophone Africa’s tech ecosystem 43:00

8M ago43:00

43:00

African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep8: Investing in Francophone Africa’s tech ecosystem 🎙️ In this month’s episode of the African Pre-seed Podcast, Lorraine Achar speaks to Benoit Delestre, Managing Partner at Saviu Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups in Francophone Africa. Yep, you read that right… Francophone Africa, a…

1
36. Jamaican DemAhCrazy Pt. 2 26:11

8M ago26:11

26:11

Shaken by the passing of his grandmother, George reflects on the post-colonial struggles of her generation. 1970s Jamaica provides an early case study of the weaponised debt that went on to re-colonise much of the global South. A look back on previous episodes illuminates patterns of exploitation and extraction across African/Western relations. Thi…

1
Mark Deets on A Country of Defiance: Mapping the Casamance in Senegal 1:23:23

8M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

This discussion is with Dr. Mark W. Deets, an Assistant Professor of African and World History and the Director of the Center for American Studies and Research at The American University in Cairo. His research and teaching focus on 19 th and 20th century West African social and cultural history, especially in the Senegambian region. His first book,…

1
Marlene Daut on Awakening the Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution 1:08:42

8M ago1:08:42

1:08:42

Today’s discussion is with Dr. Marlene Daut , she is a Professor of French and African American Studies at Yale University and author of the recently published book Awakening the Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution. She is series editor of New World Studies at UVA Press, co-editor of Global Black History at Public Books, and ha…

1
Eziaku Nwokocha on Vodou en Vogue: Fashioning Black Divinities in Haiti and the United States 1:40:26

8M ago1:40:26

1:40:26

This discussion is with Dr. Eziaku Nwokocha, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Miami. She is a scholar of Africana religions with expertise in the ethnographic study of Vodou in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Her research is grounded in gender and sexuality studies, visual and material culture and A…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep7: Is Fintech the one true ecosystem vertical? 57:24

8M ago57:24

57:24

African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep7: Is Fintech the one true ecosystem vertical? On the 2nd of November, the African Pre-seed podcast partnered with the Africa FinTech Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, to host the first-ever edition of APS Live, where our host, Hope Ditlhakanyane had three amazing guests on the couch in front of a live audience to discuss whet…

1
35. Jamaican DemAhCrazy Pt. 1 27:14

8M ago27:14

27:14

When keeping it real goes…wrong? For a moment in the seventies, Jamaican democracy produced an ambitious plan to end inequality between countries. But when the island’s socialist leader, Michael Manley, flew too close to the sun, he got burnt. What was the New International Economic Order? Why did it rattle Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan so mu…

1
Drew Dalton on The Matter of Evil: From Speculative Realism to Ethical Pessimism 1:24:55

8M ago1:24:55

1:24:55

You’re listening to Conversations in Atlantic Theory, a podcast dedicated to books and ideas generated from and about the Atlantic world. In collaboration with the Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy, these conversations explore the cultural, political, and philosophical traditions of the Atlantic world, ranging from European critical theo…

1
34. Francophone Pt. 2 27:03

8M ago27:03

27:03

When is a breakup not a breakup? When your ex controls every aspect of your life. After walking through the freedom struggles of Ghana and the Congo in previous episodes, George turns his attention towards the “former” French colonies of West and Central Africa. What happens when freedom is gifted conditionally, not won through revolution? Is all i…

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep6: Passionate Dissent from Ada Ventures with Ebele Okobi 44:51

9M ago44:51

44:51

African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep6: Passionate Dissent from Ada Ventures with Ebele Okobi In this exciting podcast episode, Ebele Okobi, Venture Partner at Ada Ventures, shares their journey into the tech ecosystem and their insights on leadership, diversity, and more. As someone with many hats, Ebele speaks about the decisions that founders make that…

1
33: Francophone Pt. 1 21:36

9M ago21:36

21:36

The power of Western languages over African economies is undeniable, and nowhere is this more obvious than in Black music. Despite "Francophone” meaning French-speaking, across Africa, it signifies so much more. George looks at the power dynamics between the English-speaking world, the French-speaking world and the Africans forced to navigate both.…

1
32. Drama in Ghana Pt. 2 24:26

9M ago24:26

24:26

After achieving independence, Ghana gave support to freedom fighters across Africa. What went wrong? Written by George the Poet. Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet. Original score by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sound Design by Benbrick.By BBC Sounds

1
African Pre-seed Podcast S2 Ep5: Uganda Vibecheck + Lessons from Roke Telkom with Peter Muhumuza 20:40

9M ago20:40

20:40

This months #APSVibecheck Podcast episode features Peter Muhumuza, CTO of Ugandan telecommunications company, Roke Telkom. In Uganda, home-grown Roke Telkom is one of the first tier three carrier-neutral data center at the forefront of cloud computing revolution, helping businesses to leverage the full potential of telecommunications backed by clou…

1
31. Lumumba Pt. 2 26:03

10M ago26:03

26:03

With enemies lurking in every corner, Patrice Lumumba is trapped in his own home. As the first democratically elected prime minister of the Congo, he planned to use the country’s natural wealth to improve the lives of its people, but secret actions by the US and Belgian governments stopped that from happening. These actions give a small indication …

1
30. Lumumba Pt. 1 27:19

10M ago27:19

27:19

Before Nigeria took over the African music scene, the Democratic Republic of Congo had us in a chokehold. But just like its minerals, the country’s music has yet to produce an industry that eases the economic suffering of its people, despite decades of supply and demand. Why? George goes to the genesis of the DRC’s economic reality by exploring the…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Francophone Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide