Best Kim Yi Dionne and Rachel Beatty Riedl Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 197: Nisrin Elamin on the Conflict in Sudan (rerun) 58:48

43m ago58:48

58:48

It’s never too late to pay attention to what is happening in Sudan. The international community should be supporting everyday people’s needs as they navigate this humanitarian disaster and should also be supporting a way forward out of the war. We're re-upping our conversation with Nisrin Elamin about the conflict in Sudan. Elamin is an assistant p…

1
Ep. 196: Fellow Expédit Ologou and Mamadou Seck on Senegal's Election (French) 1:01:14

5d ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Today we have an extremely timely French-language episode on Senegal and the newly elected president, which is hosted by one of our non-resident fellows, Expédit Ologou. He talks with Mamadou Seck, who is the regional manager of the Natural Resource Governance Institute for Francophone West Africa and Central Africa, and is based in Dakar. Seck's w…

1
Ep. 195: Fellow Gopolang Botlhokwane and South Africa's Case Against Israel 43:42

20d ago43:42

43:42

Fellow Gopolang Botlhokwane speaks to political analyst and media expert Dr. Metji Makgoba about the domestic implications of South Africa's recent case against Israel at The Hague in the Netherlands, and the country's upcoming elections in which the ruling African National Congress is expected to lose its majority. Makgoba is also an academic and …

1
Ep. 194: Fellows Fu Asiedu and Ami Tamakloe and a People's Political History of Ghana 27:16

27d ago27:16

27:16

Imagine other worldly visitors have landed on Earth and are trying to learn about and understand Ghana and its politics. This episode from our new fellows, Fu Asiedu and Ami Tamakloe, provides a people’s political history and Ghanaian voices about its political present and their dreams for the country’s future. They don’t just share what they think…

1
Ep. 193: Lawrence Were and Access to Health Insurance 50:44

1M ago50:44

50:44

Lawrence Were is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Boston University, where he does research on public health. In a conversation with Kim, you'll hear more about the impact of health insurance and how access to it would improve health outcomes for individuals and communities. In the news wrap, we catch up on President M…

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Ep. 192: Takondwa Semphere and Khaleelah Logan on Black African Diaspora and the Continent 45:56

2M ago45:56

45:56

Black African diaspora and their relationships with the African continent is the topic of today's episode. One of last year's fellows, Takondwa Semphere, spoke with Khaleelah Logan, a creative strategist, art director, curriculum developer, and storyteller with a background that ranges across the global social impact sector. With the emphasis in re…

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Introducing Our New Fellows 3:38

2M ago3:38

3:38

Meet our new non-resident podcast fellows! Tune in today to hear short introductions to our fellows: Ami Tamakloe and Afua "Fu" Asiedu, Gopolang Botlhokwane, Expédit Ologou, and Basil Ibrahim. We're looking forward to sharing their amazing episodes this spring - stay tuned! Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this episode on our web…

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Ep. 191: Bamba Ndiaye and Michelle Gavin on Democratic Crisis in Senegal 53:16

2M ago53:16

53:16

Senegalese President Macky Sall has postponed the presidential elections originally scheduled for February 25. It's part of a series of concerning moves by Sall to extend his stay in power. We talk with experts on the topic: Bamba Ndiaye and Michelle D. Gavin. Bamba Ndiaye is an assistant professor of African studies at Emory University's Oxford Co…

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Ep. 190: 2023 Year in Review 37:21

3M ago37:21

37:21

We're looking back on 2023 and forward to 2024 in this week's episode! Kim and Rachel talk about elections, democracy, and more on the continent. Next week, we're excited to introduce you to our new non-resident fellows! Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this episode on our website, ufahamuafrica.com.…

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Ep. 189: Paul Friesen on Local Democratic Resilience 33:36

3M ago33:36

33:36

We're wrapping up our panel on democracy from the African Studies Association with a presentation from Paul Friesen on local democratic resilience under national autocracy. Friesen is a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University, part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies's Democratic Threats and Resilience research team. His researc…

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Ep. 188: Dominika Koter on Democracy in Benin 35:57

3M ago35:57

35:57

Dominika Koter, political scientist at Colgate University, presents the next case on democracy from our African Studies Association panel. You’ll hear her presentation on Benin and a news wrap from Kim and Rachel on South Africa's accusations of genocide against Israel, the current events in the Red Sea, and recent court cases involving Ousmane Son…

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Ep. 187: Alexandra Blackman on Democracy in Tunisia 37:18

4M ago37:18

37:18

Our African Studies Association panel continues this week with a case study on democracy in Tunisia from Cornell University's Alexandra Blackman. You'll hear her presentation on current events in Tunisia and a news wrap from Kim and Rachel on elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a recent news story on a valuable mask from Gabon. Th…

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Ep. 186: Democracy in Malawi 35:50

4M ago35:50

35:50

Today, we have part one of our African Studies Association panel on African democracy, focusing on democratic backsliding and sites and actors that have worked for democratic endurance, strengthening, and democratic governance. You'll hear Rachel's introduction on democratic backsliding on the continent and a case study from Kim on Malawi, written …

1
Ep. 185: Kwadwo Owusu on Environmental Health and Well-Being 43:10

4M ago43:10

43:10

Kwadwo Owusu, professor of geography and resource development at the University of Ghana, is our guest this week. He sits down with cohost Rachel Beatty Riedl for a conversation on climate and society, politics, and public policy around environmental health and well-being. They discuss what issues are on the horizon as we consider natural resource …

1
Ep. 184: Fellow Maseke Rioba and Yasah Musah on Identity as a Human Right 36:08

5M ago36:08

36:08

Yasah Musah, program manager with the Nubian Rights Forum and member of the Nubian community, joins our 2021-22 podcast fellow Maseke Rioba for a conversation about identity and citizenship in Kenya. Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this episode on our website, ufahamuafrica.com.By Yasah Musa

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Ep. 183: Nisrin Elamin on the Conflict in Sudan 58:38

5M ago58:38

58:38

This week we feature a conversation with Nisrin Elamin, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Toronto. Her work investigates the connections between land, race, belonging, and empire-making in Sudan and the broader Sahel region. In our conversation, we focus on the conflict in Sudan. Find the books, links, and articles we mention…

1
Ep. 182: Mandela Fellows Sandile Mnikati, Lindah Chavuya, Eunice Shapange, and Matshidiso Lencoasa on Public Policy 1:17:17

5M ago1:17:17

1:17:17

Sandile Mnikati, Lindah Mbaisi Chavuya, Eunice Ndeyapo Shapange, and Matshidiso Lencoasa are experts on public policy, planning, and governance from across the continent. We spoke with them about their visions for just governance while they were at Cornell University this summer completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders…

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Bonus: Zimbabwe's 2023 Elections 10:30

6M ago10:30

10:30

"Few were surprised as, near midnight on August 26, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s reelection in yet another of Zimbabwe’s tendentious contests," writes David B. Moore. "His inauguration on September 4 sanctified his return to power." In this article by Moore, first published in The Conversation…

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Ep. 181: Mandela Fellows Aisha Namugga, Bashiru Koroma, and Louise Tekapso on Sustainability 36:20

6M ago36:20

36:20

Aisha Namugga, Bashiru Koroma, and Louise Tekapso are climate experts from across the continent—Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon, respectively. We spoke with them about their expertise in climate change and sustainable environments while they were at Cornell University this summer completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Lea…

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Ep. 180: Mandela Fellows Dede Barpeen, Gibson Maina, and Ruth Sulaimon on Health 1:03:11

6M ago1:03:11

1:03:11

Dede Barpeen, Gibson Mainaon, and Ruth Sulaimon are health professionals from across the continent—Liberia, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau, respectively. We spoke with them about their expertise in public administration and health while they were at Cornell University this summer completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YAL…

1
Ep. 179: #OccupyJulorbiHouse Protests in Ghana 1:06:16

6M ago1:06:16

1:06:16

A three-day protest in Accra, Ghana, in late September addressed the economic strife faced by Ghanaians. Demonstrators were met with large numbers of arrests and pushback from police. In today's episode, - the launch of season 8! - our graduate podcast fellow Ami Tamakloe speaks with three guests who were involved with the protests: Antoinette Boam…

1
Ep. 178: E. Tendayi Achiume and Eleanor Paynter on race, refuge, and border justice (rerun) 47:20

7M ago47:20

47:20

E. Tendayi Achiume is a professor of law at UCLA and a newly announced 2023 MacArthur Fellow. Her research focuses on international migration, refugee displacement, and especially the role of international law in shaping the way that borders work. Today's episode is a rerun in celebration of her recent fellowship announcement and covers a broad sco…

1
Student Essay Winner: The Nigeria 2023 Election 7:31

8M ago7:31

7:31

Our student essay competition winner is Wisdom Adediji, an undergraduate student at the University of Ibadan! Wisdom reads his essay, "The Nigeria 2023 Election, Aftermath, and Way Forward to National Development," for this bonus episode. Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this episode on our website, ufahamuafrica.com.…

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Become an Ufahamu Africa Podcast Fellow 1:01

9M ago1:01

1:01

Apply now to become an Ufahamu Africa non-resident fellow! Working remotely, fellows host and produce 4 unique episodes that are aired on the podcast with the support of a $3,500 stipend. Apply by August 30 on our website: https://www.ufahamuafrica.com/call-for-applications-podcast-fellows. Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this e…

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Ep. 177: A conversation with fellow Bamba Ndiaye and journalist Borso Tall on uprisings in Senegal (part 2) 1:01:18

10M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

Our conversation with fellow Bamba Ndiaye and journalist Borso Tall continues this week, picking up where we left off on the sexual assault allegations against Ousmane Sonko and the uprising happening in their wake. In case you missed it, listen to episode 176 and part 1 of the conversation. Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this …

1
Ep. 176: A conversation with fellow Bamba Ndiaye and journalist Borso Tall on uprisings in Senegal (part 1) 54:20

10M ago54:20

54:20

In our latest episode from fellow Bamba Ndiaye, Bamba speaks with journalist Borso Tall who has been covering the current socio-political and judicial unrest in Senegal. Today's episode is part 1 of a conversation on what's been happening in the country. Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this episode on our website, ufahamuafrica.…

1
Bonus: Laura Seay's review of "Roadblock Politics," "The War That Doesn't Say Its Name," and "Batman Saves the Congo" 9:04

10M ago9:04

9:04

Roadblock Politics, The War That Doesn't Say Its Name, and Batman Saves the Congo all examine the seeming perpetual violence in the Congo and dispel misconceptions surrounding Congolese conflicts. These books were reviewed by Laura Seay, who wrote “No, Batman didn’t save the Congo, and other book reviews” for The Monkey Cage as part of the 2022 Afr…

1
Ep. 175: A conversation with fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi, Mpho Tjope, Rhulani Baloyi, and Kamohelo Sebudi about marginalized identities 50:40

11M ago50:40

50:40

In our latest from fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi, we talk about the representation of minority groups in South African art. Mainstream media often tells the story of majority groups and those who don’t fit into those stories are often considered outsiders. Kamo talks to guests Mpho Tjope, Rhulani Baloyi, and Kamohelo Sebudi for this conversation.…

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Ep. 174: A conversation with Maseke Rioba and Njuguna Macharia on the sport of debate 35:21

11M ago35:21

35:21

Today's episode from fellow Maseke Rioba is a little different! Maseke interviews guest Njuguna Macharia about the sport of debate as a valuable development tool for African youth. Macharia is a lawyer, an experienced debater, and debate coach in Kenya. He speaks to the skills learned by debaters and how these tools benefit students beyond school. …

1
Ep. 173: A conversation with fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi on arts funding and corruption 1:05:49

11M ago1:05:49

1:05:49

From fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi comes this episode on arts funding and corruption in South Africa. Kamo speaks with multiple guests about South Africa's Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture, a group that announced a relief fund of 150 million rand ($8.3 million) for artists, athletes, and others in these industries. Most of the money, howev…

1
Ep. 172: A conversation with E. Tendayi Achiume and Eleanor Paynter on race, refuge, and border justice 47:27

11M ago47:27

47:27

E. Tendayi Achiume is a professor of law at UCLA. Her research focuses on international migration, refugee displacement, and especially the role of international law in shaping the way that borders work. Today's episode covers a broad scope of Achiume's work, including colonialism, human rights, and migration. This episode is a podcast mashup betwe…

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Ep. 171: A conversation with Mai Hassan, Nisrin Elamin, and Deen Sharp on Sudan 1:14:04

12M ago1:14:04

1:14:04

On April 15, fighting broke out in Sudan between the army and a powerful para-military group known as the RSF. Khartoum is the site of much of this fighting and its citizens have been fleeing amid a humanitarian crisis. Three scholars speak about the crisis for this episode, which first aired as a webinar called "Sudan: Insight into Current Events.…

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Ep. 170: A conversation with activist Fatima Derby on Uganda's anti-gay bill 1:02:11

12M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Ami Tamakloe, our graduate podcast fellow, is today's host! Ami speaks with activist Fatima Derby about Uganda's anti-gay bill, passed by its parliament on March 21. The bill criminalizes people who identify as LGBTQ and compels citizens to report those who do to authorities. Find the books, links, and articles we mentioned in this episode on our w…

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Bonus: Miriam Anderson reviews "War, Women, and Post-conflict Empowerment" 7:23

12M ago7:23

7:23

“War, Women, and Post-conflict Empowerment: Lessons from Sierra Leone depicts the everyday struggles of women trying to improve their lives, while illuminating the political, legal and economic conditions of Sierra Leoneans after civil war," writes Miriam Anderson. This week's episode is Anderson's full review of the book, originally published in T…

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Bonus: Carolyn E. Holmes reviews "The Inheritors" and "Until We Have Won Our Liberty" 8:28

1y ago8:28

8:28

Carolyn E. Holmes writes for The Monkey Cage about two books that take different roads to understand South Africa:The Inheritors: An Intimate Portrait of South Africa’s Racial Awakening by Eve Fairbanks and Until We Have Won Our Liberty: South Africa after Apartheid by Evan Lieberman. "It is not that Fairbanks’s account of the New South Africa is p…

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Ep. 169: A conversation with Oumar Ba, Marame Gueye, and Bamba Ndiaye on Senegalese democracy 1:07:49

1y ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Today's episode is a roundtable discussion with Rachel and guests Oumar Ba, Marame Gueye, and Bamba Ndiaye who shed light on the state of Senegalese politics and democracy. We discuss Senegalese president Macky Sall and his unwillingness to say whether or not he will run again, leading opposition politician Ousmane Sonko's rape and defamation cases…

1
Bonus: Laura Seay reviews "These Are Not Gentle People" 8:22

1y ago8:22

8:22

Laura Seay writes for The Monkey Cage that These Are Not Gentle People takes a deep look at community fear and mistrust. “Harding explores questions of fear, race and equality in post-apartheid South Africa, drawing a portrait of a community in which individuals of different racial groups are still very much afraid of one another," writes Seay. "Th…

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Ep. 168: A conversation with fellow Takondwa Priscilla Semphere and Keith Mundangepfupfu on African school culture 1:10:16

1y ago1:10:16

1:10:16

Takondwa Priscilla Semphere, one of our non-resident fellows, brings us a conversation about what it is like to be an African student and eventually a teacher. Takondwa is now a secondary school teacher in South Africa and she invites fellow teacher Keith Mundangepfupfu into a conversation about their own experiences in school and about school cult…

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Ep.167: A conversation with Prince Guma, Astrid Haas, and Patience Mususa on urban Africa 1:12:09

1y ago1:12:09

1:12:09

It's a mashup! We join up with the Governance Uncovered podcast from Jeffrey Paller and the Governance and Local Development Policy Institute to talk to Prince Guma, Astrid Haas, and Patience Mususa. Each is an expert on the urbanization of the continent. We respond to Jeffrey's recent article in This Week in Africa, "Five Trends that will Shape Ur…

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Ep. 166: A conversation with fellow Bamba Ndiaye and Ugandan activist Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire 1:08:04

1y ago1:08:04

1:08:04

Fellow Bamba Ndiaye explores the policing of protest in Africa and the mechanisms used by African governments to repress social movements and activists, alongside guest and Ugandan activist Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire. Mwesigire teaches at Emory University's Institute of African Studies and is completing a PhD in English at Cornell University. He is als…

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Ep. 165: A conversation with fellow Kamo Tinyiko Theledi, Solly Moeng, and Sthembiso Sithole about social media and elections 52:20

1y ago52:20

52:20

Social media has an undeniable influence on politics and elections across the globe. Today, fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi speaks with expert guests Solly Moeng and Sthembiso Sithole about the use of social media by politicians and its effects on voters and elections. Solly Moeng is a brand reputation management expert and Sthembiso Sithole is a s…

1
Ep. 164: A conversation with fellow Maseke Rioba and human rights lawyer Diakhoumba Gassama about FGM 51:20

1y ago51:20

51:20

Diakhoumba Gassama is a human rights lawyer and program officer for the Hewlett Foundation's Gender Equity and Governance Program. She speaks with Ufahamu Africa fellow Maseke Rioba this week about the practice of FGM, or female genital mutilation. Listen for a conversation that incorporates both personal experience and the cultural and legal conte…

1
Bonus: Travis B. Curtice's review of "Policing and Politics in Nigeria" 8:05

1y ago8:05

8:05

In this review from The Monkey Cage's African Politics Summer Reading Spectacular, Travis B. Curtice tells us that Policing and Politics in Nigeria: A Comprehensive History "is a must read" for anyone trying to understand #ENDSARS, militarization, and the lingering effects of settler colonial dynamics on police. The book was reviewed by Curtice in …

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Ep. 163: A conversation with fellow Takondwa Priscilla Semphere and her students on how we define Africa 47:33

1y ago47:33

47:33

What does Africa mean to us today? Fellow Takondwa Priscilla Semphere teaches at the African Leadership Academy, a school where approximately 35 African countries are represented at one time. Takondwa speaks with her students about the complicated question of how we understand and define Africa and its people for this episode. In the news wrap, Kim…

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Ep. 162: A conversation with Idayat Hassan about the upcoming Nigerian elections 1:02:38

1y ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Idayat Hassan is the director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an Abuja-based policy advocacy and research organization focusing on deepening democracy and development in West Africa. She talks to Rachel this week about the upcoming Nigerian elections and all there is to be hopeful about - the possibility for change, engagement fr…

1
Ep. 161: A conversation with fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi and guest Momo Matsunyane about South African load-shedding and its effects on artists 1:05:42

1y ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Fellow Kamogelo Tinyiko Theledi sheds a light on the problem of load-shedding and its impact on independent theater companies in South Africa for this episode. "Load-shedding" refers to the deliberate shutdown of electric power in a part or parts of a power distribution system, generally to prevent the failure of the entire system when the demand s…

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Bonus: Dan Eizenga's review of "The Islamic State in Africa" 9:33

1y ago9:33

9:33

In this review from The Monkey Cage's African Politics Summer Reading Spectacular, Dan Eizenga tells us that The Islamic State in Africa "offers a wealth of information, contributing a great deal to the scholarly body of work focused on militant Islamist groups in Africa." The book was reviewed by Eizenga in July 2022. Review read by Ami Tamakloe. …

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Ep. 160: A conversation with fellow Bamba Ndiaye and guests Sophia Denise Sow and Zachariah Mampilly about African activism 44:44

1+ y ago44:44

44:44

Fellow Bamba Ndiaye talks to two very exciting guests this week about political uprisings and social activism on the continent, from both activist and scholar perspectives. Sophia Denise Sow is a founding member of Senegal's Y'en a Marre movement and Zachariah Mampilly, cofounder of the Program on African Social Research (PASIRI) and the Marxe Endo…

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Ep. 159: A conversation with Mayor Manuel de Araújo on urban governance, community, and climate resilience 1:18:05

1+ y ago1:18:05

1:18:05

Happy new year from the Ufahamu Africa team! We're back with a conversation with Manuel de Araújo, mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique about how he became mayor, why he switched political parties in 2018, and what motivates voters in Mozambique. In the news wrap, Kim and Rachel share updates on Nigerian elections, the famine in Somalia, and more. Find t…

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Ep. 158: A conversation with Joe Muturi about urban politics 1:13:07

1+ y ago1:13:07

1:13:07

Joe Muturi is president of the SDI Network, a social activist, and leader of Muungano wa Wanavijiji, the national federation of slum dwellers in Kenya. Muungano is the largest social movement in Kenya, which for over 20 years has campaigned against forced evictions and in support of secure tenure and improved services for Kenya's poor communities. …

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