Africanist Press Podcast Service

The Africanist Press
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The Africanist Press Podcast Service examines how global and continental events have affected communities in the African region, and how indigenous communities are developing strategies to overcome conflict, instability, and other challenges in the region. The overall goal of the Podcast Service is to give voice to marginalized communities through the production of weekly audio broadcasts that analyzes ongoing events in Africa as part of an effort to contribute to better understanding of key developments in the region.

  1. Foreign Debts, Corruption, and Sierra Leone's Electricity Crisis

    09/23/2025

    Foreign Debts, Corruption, and Sierra Leone's Electricity Crisis

    In this episode, Dr. Chernoh Alpha Bah, editor of Africanist Press, discusses the ongoing political crisis in Sierra Leone, focusing on issues of accountability, extrajudicial killings, and the recent resignation of U.S. Ambassador Bryan David Hunt, whose involvement in local politics has raised concerns amongSierra Leoneans. The conversation also delves into the implications of foreign debts, particularly from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the lack of progress on a promised power plant project in Freetown, raising questions about the use of development funds and the need for transparency and justice in Sierra Leone. This episode is part of our "New Democracy Project," sponsored by Northwestern University's Program of African Studies, Write4Justice and SolidarityForAfrica campaigns.

    50 min
  2. Debts, Disease, and Dilemma of the Maada Bio Regime

    09/14/2025

    Debts, Disease, and Dilemma of the Maada Bio Regime

    In this episode, we explore Sierra Leone's political landscape, focusing on the crisis marked by corruption, extrajudicial killings, and ongoing debt and development challenges since Maada Bio took office in 2018. We highlight the implications of these human rights violations for the 2028 elections and the future of democracy in the country.

    43 min
  3. The 2028 Agenda of the Maada Bio Regime

    09/07/2025

    The 2028 Agenda of the Maada Bio Regime

    In this episode, we discuss the increasing legitimacy crisis facing the Maada Bio regime in Sierra Leone. We examine the regime's agenda as it prepares for the upcoming 2028 elections. Additionally, we highlight why the 2028 elections pose a significant challenge to the political and elite alliances that have maintained power in Sierra Leone since 1961. This episode is part of the Voice from Exile series of the Africanist Press.

    39 min
  4. USAID Cuts and the Need to Rethink Future US-Africa Relations

    05/03/2025

    USAID Cuts and the Need to Rethink Future US-Africa Relations

    In this exclusive interview, Africanist Press editor, Dr. Chernoh Alpha Bah talks to journalists Ryan Grim and Emily Jashinsky of the Counter Point Show about "USAID Cuts and the Need to Rethink Future US-Africa Relations.” You can order the book, The Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Corporate Gangsters, Multinationals, and Rogue Politicians, here: https://www.amazon.com/Ebola-Outbreak-West-Africa-Multinationals/dp/0996973923

    26 min
  5. From Elections to Coups: Journalism in an Era of Instability in Africa

    04/24/2025

    From Elections to Coups: Journalism in an Era of Instability in Africa

    This episode presents RSF's Sadibou Marong's keynote address at the conference on “Media and Democracy in Africa” held from April 17-18, 2025 at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University.  The conference, which brought together journalists, academics, and press freedom advocates from Africa, Europe, and USA, was organized by Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah and sponsored by the Africa Initiative at Brown University.

    1h 7m
  6. Challenges to Investigative Journalism in Africa: The Africanist Press Experience in Sierra Leone

    04/20/2025

    Challenges to Investigative Journalism in Africa: The Africanist Press Experience in Sierra Leone

    This episode is a presentation by Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah during a two-day conference on "Media and Democracy in Africa" held from April 17-18, 2025 at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. The conference, which brought together journalists from Africa, Europe, and United States, was organized by Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah and sponsored by the Africa Initiative.

    51 min
  7. Sierra Leone: Challenges to Free Speech and Academic Freedom in Sierra Leone

    04/07/2025

    Sierra Leone: Challenges to Free Speech and Academic Freedom in Sierra Leone

    In this episode, Africanist Press editor, Dr. Chernoh Alpha Bah gives a report on free speech and academic freedom violations in Sierra Leone. The presentation, which highlighted the harassment and attacks on the Africanist Press by Sierra Leone politicians, is part of 2025 annual meeting of the Committee of Concerned Scientists (CCS). To watch the full video of the proceedings, click here.

    30 min

  8. 03/31/2025

    Cameroon: Cyrille Roland Bechon Speaks on Threats to Human Rights Defenders

    In mid-January, unidentified individuals broke into the offices of a human rights organization, Nouveaux Droits de l’Homme (NDH) in Yaoundé, Cameroon taking away essential documents and office equipment. The looted materials included laptops and desktop computers, hard drives, projectors, video cameras, and other data storage devices. In this exclusive interview, NDH's executive director, Cyrille Roland Bechon, highlights the dangers faced by human rights defenders in Cameroon. The interview is conducted by Africanist Press editor, Dr. Chernoh Alpha Bah.

    59 min
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About

The Africanist Press Podcast Service examines how global and continental events have affected communities in the African region, and how indigenous communities are developing strategies to overcome conflict, instability, and other challenges in the region. The overall goal of the Podcast Service is to give voice to marginalized communities through the production of weekly audio broadcasts that analyzes ongoing events in Africa as part of an effort to contribute to better understanding of key developments in the region.

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