Shows
A55 PodcastTrading Legal Briefs for ManuscriptsDiscovering one's true calling in life doesn't always come easily. Awe Ogon learned that the hard way. She studied law to please her father but realized after a few years of practice that she was not as passionate about law as she was about creating art, so she quit law and left her home country, Nigeria. Now, the author of 3 books and a collection of poems, Awe talks to us about how she found her voice as a writer. Plus, an iconic New Zealand landmark has been granted legal recognition as a person. Additional audio excerpt...2025-02-0731 min
A55 PodcastCrafting Box Office Hits in NollywoodBefore Nollywood came calling, Collins Okoh worked for Nigeria's Ministry of Health while nursing a dream of becoming a novelist. But that all changed when Nollywood actor, producer, and director Funke Akindele Bello invited him to collaborate on her 2020 film, Omo Ghetto: The Saga. Since then, Collins and Funke have churned out some of the highest grossing movies in Nollywood history including A Tribe Called Judah. All these movies have all surpassed the 1-billion-naira mark. Collins joins us to share his insights and his formula for writing box office hits. Plus, a Maryland resident trying to renew her driver's...2025-01-2427 min
A55 PodcastConquering New Worlds with EsportsEsports is a multi-billion-dollar industry attracting young people from around the world. International and regional tournaments, including tournaments for university teams, offer players a pathway to becoming professional gamers. In Africa, esports is gaining grounds despite challenges such as the cost of accessing the internet and electricity cost. As many worry about the effect long hours of gaming may be having on the mental health of young people, insiders say there are some advantages to playing video games. President of Esports Association, Ghana, Kwesi Hayford joined us to discuss those benefits. Plus, a Michelin-starred sushi chain restaurant in Japan...2025-01-1037 min
A55 PodcastECOWAS Splinter & West Africa's Shifting Political LandscapeOn January 29, 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will lose three of its members. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger who have formed a new group known as the Alliance of Sahel States say their decision to leave the larger union is irreversible, yet ECOWAS says it will continue to engage their leaders until July 2025. Dr. Lassane Ouedraogo, a professor at Université Nazi Boni and a research fellow at the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) joins us to discuss the impact of the ECOWAS splinter on the sub region and the Sahel states as well a...2024-12-2738 min
A55 PodcastCurtain Up for Commercial Theater in GhanaGhana has a storied tradition of storytelling and a wealth of writers, yet the commercial theater scene experienced a lull between the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2008, playwright, James Ebo Whyte, affectionately called Uncle Ebo, reignited the passion for theater with his play, "Unhappy Wives, Confused Husbands," drawing crowds back to the playhouse. Since then, commercial theater appears to have been revitalized. So, what caused the decline of commercial theater in Ghana? Uncle Ebo shares his insights on the topic, the revival, and sustenance of a vibrant theater culture in Ghana. And a New Zealand Scrabble pro has won...2024-12-1337 min
A55 PodcastGhana's Election '24: What's at Stake?On December 7, voters in Ghana will elect a new president and members of parliament. The presidential race is a rather unique one because for the first time in the country's history, a former president and an incumbent vice president are vying for the highest office in the land. In October, the country nearly ground to a halt as organized labor (union workers) threatened to strike to protest illegal mining and its effect on the environment. Inflation in the country is above 20% and unemployment has hit a new high. In this A55 election special, we speak to voters and election watchers...2024-11-2941 min
A55 PodcastThriving in a Dynamic Business EnvironmentAs the year draws to a close, businesses as well as individuals like to take stock of their activities in the year that's ending and find ways to improve in the coming year. For businesses, it also means finding ways to thrive in an ever-evolving business environment. But what does it mean to thrive in uncertainty and what does it take? Organizational transformation consultant, Benjamin Yaw Manu walks us through some tried and tested ways to get your organization ready to transform and thrive in spite of the uncertainties. And a Youtuber in Argentina makes a stunning and controversial...2024-11-1534 min
A55 PodcastHow Ancestral Teachings Helped 'Find Lalla's Anna'In African tradition, the elderly, especially ancestors are highly revered for their wisdom which they've passed down for generations through proverbs and even folktales. But in our modern world where patience for instance is more of a luxury than a virtue, relying on the wisdom of our elders may appear to be out of sync with our busy lives. Author and teacher of Malian ancestral traditions, Anna Dao, joins us to talk about how the traditional lessons from her grandmother aided her journey of self-discovery and healing. She also talks to us about her memoir, Finding Lalla's Anna, which...2024-11-0131 min
A55 PodcastIs There a Future for Archaeology in Ghana?There's a 50/50 chance for students who gain admission to study a course in humanities at Ghana's premiere university, the University of Ghana, to be offered archaeology as a course of study. Fewer students out of the number minor or major in archaeology in their final year. It is one of the courses at the university many students would rather avoid. So why did Beatrice Darko-Yeboah (PhD) give up her dream of becoming a banker to pursue a career in archaeology to the point of becoming the second female ever in the University's history to obtain a PhD in the...2024-10-1836 min
A55 PodcastNigerian American Rep. Oye's Political Journey & Fight for D.C StatehoodBorn and raised in Boston, Massachusetts to Nigerian parents, Dr. Adeoye Owolewa, popularly known as Rep. Oye, is leading the charge for America's capital city, the District of Columbia, to become the country's 51st state. Having moved to Washington D.C after his doctoral studies in Pharmacy, Rep. Oye made his first foray into politics on a dare which landed him in spot on the D.C Neighborhood Advisory Commission. In 2020, he was elected the D.C Representative to Congress, a position that puts him right at the heart of the fight for D.C statehood. Rep. Oye joins...2024-10-0433 min
A55 PodcastGet Ready for Season 2 on October 4We're all set for the premiere of Season 2 of the A55 Podcast on October 4, 2024! Mark the date on your calendar and make sure you join us for the brand-new season of the show that connects Africa to the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-09-0701 min
A55 PodcastF.I.R.E-ing up the Youth for the FutureWhen Emil Acolatse founded the nonprofit, Free Inspiration Reaching Everyone (F.I.R.E), the goal at the time was simply to expand upon his passion for helping others. He wanted to help young people discover their passion as they prepared for the future. Nearly a decade on, the nonprofit's focus has expanded to include providing a range of resources for young people in different communities in Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Jamaica and Philadelphia where it all began. Emil Acolatse talks to us about the expanded focus and the new initiatives being rolled out to help young entrepreneurs in Africa...2024-08-1635 min
A55 PodcastPlanning Your Next Steps as an International StudentThousands of Africans leave the continent annually to further their education in Europe, North America, Asia, Australia among others. But as immigration around especially in the United States becomes a thorny issue, International Students are struggling to stay abreast of immigration regulations and how they impact their job hunt upon graduation. What should new and prospective students know about studying in the United States? We spoke with Dr. Eric Karikari of Towson University (Maryland) for some tips and asked how studying in the U.S has changed for international students since he went through the process over a decade...2024-08-0237 min
A55 PodcastCreating Safe Spaces for LearningFor close to a decade, Aisha Diori has been supporting education in West Africa through her nonprofit organization, Africa Everything. The organization has over the past eight years provided scholarships to students in schools in five countries across West Africa, renovated school buildings and provided school supplies to students. With a unique twist, funding for the projects comes from the annual Africa Everything Afro Chic event organized by Aisha Diori for members of the African and Carribean communities in the US. But how successful is this approach to fundraising? Aisha Diori tells us more about that and the goal...2024-07-1929 min
A55 PodcastFighting Misinformation: Why Media Literacy MattersAs concerns grow around the world about the spread of misinformation and disinformation, one of the tools to combat the trend - media literacy education - appears to be lacking in Africa. A study by the University of Westminster's Communication and Media Research Institute revealed that media literacy, even in its broadest sense, was barely taught in six out of the seven countries studied. A report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies earlier this year, indicated that there's been a surge in disinformation campaigns targeting African information systems. So, what is media literacy education and why isn't it...2024-07-0530 min
A55 PodcastReggie Rockstone on Hiplife & New PursuitsThirty years ago, a young Reggie Rockstone, having been involved in the hip hop movement for years, returned to Ghana to start a new movement he named hiplife - a fusion of hip hop and Ghanaian highlife music. From the mid 1990s to mid 2000s, hiplife music dominated the Ghanaian music scene. Even as the sound continues to evolve, it's having to compete with newer sounds from Nigeria and South Africa which now dominate the Ghanaian music scene. We speak with the godfather of Hiplife music, Reggie Rockstone about the future of his movement. Audio excerpts...2024-06-2135 min
A55 PodcastTime to Rethink Democracy in Africa?As concerns about the fate of democracy especially in the West, continues to increase, we dedicate this special episode of the podcast to talking about democracy in Africa. Nearly 20 countries on the continent are scheduled to hold elections this year but two countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, have indefinitely postponed theirs even as pressure mounts on their military leaders to do so. Dr. Lassane Ouedraogo, a research fellow at the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) and an assistant professor of Communications at the Université Nazi Boni in Burkina Faso, talks to us about the challenges to democracy i...2024-06-0750 min
A55 PodcastSouth Africa Votes: Could this Election End the ANC's Dominance?South Africa holds it seventh general elections on May 29, 2024. Since the country's first democratic elections in 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela elected president, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has consistently won the majority in parliament thus getting to form a government. But 30 years on, the party has been criticized for failing to deliver on its promises to improve the lives of South Africans, especially its Black population. Amidst the rising levels of unemployment, power crisis, and perceptions of corruption, can the ANC still win power? Journalist Kenneth Mokgatlhe joins us with some thoughts. And, a 17-year-old teenager graduated from...2024-05-2434 min
A55 PodcastLOATAD: Curating Africa's Literary HeritageSylvia Arthur grew up in England. During her years working in Europe, she bought and read books - over 1,000 of them. When Sylvia packed up her life in Europe and moved to Ghana, she opened up her personal book collection to the public. Her move was inspired partly by what she said was the lack of books by Ghanaian and other African authors in bookstores in the country. Sylvia Arthur's personal collection has since morphed into what is today the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora (LOATAD). The library which doubles as an archive is on a mission...2024-05-1032 min
A55 PodcastThe Art of Bamazi Talle's Flying CalabashesAs a young man growing up in Togo, Bamazi Talle discovered he had a talent for art so he learned all he could from his uncle. In the mid 1990s, an invitation to the United States set him on a path to learn more about art. Today, he's a renowned artist whose work has been featured on PBS and in other art magazines and new media. He is also the founder of KIACA, a gallery in Columbus, Ohio, that helps budding African and African American artist hone their craft. He tells us why he founded the gallery and the...2024-04-2636 min
A55 PodcastIwájú: A Journey to the FutureAfter years of reading comic books by non-African writers, Olufikayo (Ziki) Adeola, Toluwalakin (Tolu) Olowofoyeku and Hamid Ibrahim set up Kugali Media to create their own African comic books. In a 2018 interview with the BBC, Hamid called out arguably the world's top animation company, Disney. Today, Kugali Media and Walt Disney Animation have partnered to create an African sci-fi miniseries Iwájú. The series is set in Nigeria's popular city Lagos, one hundred years in the future. Hamid, Tolu, and Ziki tell us more about creating the show. And, an Irish woman loses her $800,000 insurance claim after photo emerges of...2024-04-1225 min
A55 PodcastAfrican Art RenaissanceThere's been a surge in demand for art by African artist in recent years. 2023 was a particularly good year for African artists whose works according to research firm ArtTactic exceeded a combined annual auction worth of $72 million. Gameli Hamel, a Writer and Art & Culture Journalist, summed up the record setting year for African artist in this article for ARTnews. Gameli joined us to explain what's driving the interest in African art around the world. And Zimbabwe's Law Society is urging newlyweds to rectify a mistake on their marriage certificates.Audio excerpts: Credit - BBC, Vox, New...2024-03-2929 min
A55 PodcastShining a 'Brief Tender Light' on African StoriesThousands of Africans leave home each year to pursue higher education abroad. They embark on these journeys with their own dreams and often with high expectations from families and friends. Arthur Musah captures the challenges and daily struggles faced by four young Africans on their quest for world class education at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States in his moving documentary Brief Tender Light. And, Google restricts its AI Chatbot, Gemini, from answering election-related queries in countries holding elections this year.Audio excerpts: Credit - Brief Tender Light, NewsNation, Bloomberg...2024-03-1536 min
A55 PodcastWhat Next for Senegal's Postponed Elections?Senegal was billed to hold an historic presidential election on February 25, 2024. Then on February 3, the incumbent president, Macky Sall, postponed it citing a dispute over candidate list. Mr. Sall has promised he will step down on April 2, 2024, when his term ends. But where does that leave Senegal? Dr. Rama Salla Dieng, a lecturer of African Studies and International Development at the University of Edinburgh, UK, explains the crisis in Senegal and the way forward. Read her paper on land grab in Senegal here.Audio excerpts: Credit - France24, Reuters, AFP Hosted on Acast...2024-03-0132 min
A55 PodcastReady to Roll!After months of preparation and research, we're ready to launch the a55 Podcast on March 1, 2024. Mark the days on your calendar. Join every other Friday after March 1 for brand new episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-02-2001 min
A55 PodcastHello World!Hello and welcome to the a55 Podcast!Africa is a continent with a rich and complex history. But over the centuries, its story has been told through a myriad of lenses, many, not African. The result is an outdated perception of the continent. From this March 2024, the a55 podcast will strive to tell the story of a contemporary Africa and its place in the modern world by engaging experts and Africans who are helping to reshape the continent's narrative. Join us for these remarkable stories and conversations from the continent and the African diaspora.2024-02-0101 min
Current Accounts: The Hinrich Foundation Trade PodcastSpecial Ep. - Decarbonizing the global steel industryIn this special edition of Current Accounts, the Hinrich Foundation’s podcast on global trade, guest host Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA) and Executive Director of Asia Trade Center Deborah Elms, discuss how lack of standardization is proving to be a challenge in decarbonizing the steel industry. Iron and steel production accounts for 8% of annual carbon emissions, according to a WTO climate change brief on decarbonizing the steel industry, and global steel production has tripled in the past 50 years with 1.8 billion tons produced in 2020. This is...2023-08-1625 min
Current Accounts: The Hinrich Foundation Trade PodcastSpecial Ep. - Is globalization under threat?In this special edition of Current Accounts, the Hinrich Foundation’s podcast on global trade, guest host Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA) talks to Hinrich Foundation Research Fellow Stewart Paterson, delving into a discussion centered around the question of whether globalization is under threat. This episode was first featured in the AFPC podcast series. Globalization is often associated with the notion of technology, making the world a global village after the advent of computers. In fact, it is a complex phenomenon showcasing how trade and technology have ma...2023-07-0730 min
OneMicNite Podcast with Marcos LuisS3Ep18 Nii Akrofi Award winning Journalist is the Voice of Ghana & Africa Talk Podcast #african_life-Welcome to another OneMicNite #african_life Series episodes, where we talk with people who empower A continent. OneMicNite continues on it's journey to make global connections through inspirational stories to help guide, answer questions and motivate you in Life and "The business".
**Meet Award winning Foreign Press Journalist/Podcaster Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey ( @NiiSmart )
**Africa Talk Podcast: Extraordinary stories from Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. News and analysis. Hosted by Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey and Benjamin Tetteh.
--IG/Twitter @AfricaTalkPod About the guest: Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey
----- The podcast is a new...2022-09-1441 min