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New Books in African Studies

Marshall Poe
Colonialism
Decolonization
Rwanda
Africa
Ghana
Pan-Africanism
South Africa
Migration
France
Atlantic Slave Trade
Slavery
British Empire
Apartheid
African Diaspora
Literature
Namibia
Uganda
Egypt
Hakeem Olajuwon
Social Movements

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ge... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes896Founded15 years ago
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Artwork for New Books in African Studies

Latest Episodes

Newport Gardner's Anthem: A Story of Slavery, Struggle, and Survival in Early America (Cornell UP, 2025) explores the remarkable life of Occramer Marycoo, an enslaved African who went on to become one of early America's most important Black leaders. more

Counterrevolution in Egypt: Sisi's New Republic (Verso Books, 2026) is a rare and comprehensive examination of the structures, hierarchies, and methods of the military, police, and intelligence agencies. Drawing on meticulous research, it reveals t... more

"In my home country, they call me a 'bornfree'." Simukai Chigudu was born in Zimbabwe, two years after the end of its bitter war of liberation - a war in which his father had fought. This is the story of his childhood journey through the chaos of tha... more

Soldiers and Bushmen: The Australian Army in South Africa, 1899–1902 (Cambridge UP, 2025) by Dr. Thomas Richardson examines the commitment to what was expected to be a short war. It presents a thematic, analytical history of the birth of the Australi... more

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Recent Guests

Ted Andrews
Professor of History, Providence College
Providence College
Episode: Edward E. Andrews, "Newport Gardner's Anthem: A Story of Slavery, Struggle, and Survival in Early America" (Cornell UP, 2025)
Osam el-Hamalawy
Author of Counterrevolution in Egypt, Sisi's New Republic
Verso Books
Episode: Hossam el-Hamalawy, "Counterrevolution in Egypt: Sisi's New Republic (Verso Books, 2026)
Simukai Chigudu
Associate professor of African politics at the Oxford Department of International Development; author of Chasing Freedom, Coming of Age at the End of Empire
University of Oxford, St. Anthony's College
Episode: Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire with Simukai Chigudu
Tom Richardson
Historian of Australian military history
UNSW Canberra
Episode: Thomas Richardson, "Soldiers and Bushmen: The Australian Army in South Africa, 1899–1902" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Paulina Banas
Assistant Professor of Art History at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Episode: Paulina Banas, "Visualizing Egypt: European Travel, Book Publishing, and the Commercialization of the Middle East in the Nineteenth Century" (American University in Cairo Press, 2025)
Samantha Iyer
Author of Agrarian Superpower, Food Development and the Global Ascendancy of the United States
Fordham University
Episode: Samantha Iyer, "Agrarian Superpower: Food, Development, and the Global Ascendancy of the United States" (Columbia UP, 2026)
Grégory Pierrot
Associate Professor of English; author of Fantômes de la révolution noire
University of Connecticut
Episode: Grégory Pierrot, "Fantômes de la révolution noire: Une histoire culturelle transatlantique" (Ròt-Bò-Krik, 2026)
Kelly M. Duke Bryant
Associate professor, historian focusing on Senegalese history during the colonial period; author of Negotiating Childhood
Rowan University
Episode: Kelly M. Duke Bryant, "Negotiating Childhood: French Colonialism and African Children in Senegal, 1848-1940" (U Mass Press, 2026)
Joseph Parrott
Author and Associate Professor of Diplomatic and Transnational History
The Ohio State University
Episode: R. Joseph Parrott, "Dream the Size of Freedom: How African Liberation Mobilized New Left Internationalism" (U of Pennsylvania Press, 2025)

Host

Miranda Melcher
Host of The New Books Network

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • Colonial, White Perspective

    Just listened to the podcast episode called “The Future of Africa: a Discussion with James A Robinson” and it was the most colonial, white-supremist perspective I’ve ever heard of. James A Robinson needs to read “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” by Walter Rodney and stop acting like it’s Africa’s fault for not having technological and societal advancements in the same way Europe & Asia did. Any “advancement”Europe had was not just happenstance, but entirely because of the domination and extract... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Keahileo
    United States3 years ago
  • Great listening

    👍🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BurtonR
    Australia4 years ago
  • Max Siollun’s book interview!

    Max Siollun carried the interview, he was both enthusiastic and current. I can’t wait to read his latest book “What Britain did to Nigeria.”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T Drinker
    United States5 years ago
  • Reviewer’s tone

    I especially enjoy the reviews given pre-2019. The hosts were better public speakers in the beginning of this series. Any interview conducted by Host Nicholas Walton was a great!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    T Drinker
    United States6 years ago
  • Excellent podcast

    This is an excellent podcast. Always interesting book topics and insightful q

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JasonByrne film
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the rigorous yet approachable treatment of complex topics.
Guests are consistently authoritative and well-published in their fields.
Colossal depth of scholarship and accessible delivery make this a strong pick for researchers.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Paulina Banas, "Visualizing Egypt: European Travel, Book Publishing, and the Commercialization of the Middle East in the Nineteenth Century" (American University in Cairo Press, 2025)
Q: How did reader demand shape the content of these books over the century?
Readers varied from knowledgeable travelers to armchair audiences, leading publishers to produce a spectrum of products—from richly colored chromolithographs to more affordable black-and-white editions—so publishers could tailor content to different wallets, tastes, and levels of knowledge about Egypt.
Paulina Banas, "Visualizing Egypt: European Travel, Book Publishing, and the Commercialization of the Middle East in the Nineteenth Century" (American University in Cairo Press, 2025)
Q: What influenced you to focus on the commercial aspect of the illustrated book industry?
I drew on a range of sources, including archival materials from Émile Prisse d'Avennes and critical frameworks around Orientalism and the publishing market, to show how collaboration, editorial choices, and market demands shaped the final images and texts that circulated in Europe.
Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire with Simukai Chigudu
Q: What are your thoughts on the Ghana UN slavery recognition resolution and its relation to reparations and historical accountability?
The resolution foregrounds the scale and enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism, advocating for reparative justice and a reexamination of modern sovereignty's origins. It's seen as a catalyst for deeper education, policy discussion, and potential reparative measures, while acknowledging the political complexities involved in international recognition and response.
Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire with Simukai Chigudu
Q: What tensions drove the Rhodes Must Fall campaign and what are the ongoing tensions around decolonizing education in Oxford and the UK?
The campaign focused on decolonizing curricula, diversifying the student and faculty body, and rethinking public space monuments to reflect multiple histories beyond Eurocentric narratives. Over time, opposition and support evolved, with some institutions adopting curricular changes and name/portrait reforms, while broader societal debates about national memory and identity persisted.
Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire with Simukai Chigudu
Q: Why did you write this book? What are the central ideas and themes, and why are they important for this time?
The memoir is an intimate, vulnerable narrative that uses family history to illuminate broader political histories—showing how colonial legacies shape personal identities, education, migration, and the struggle for freedom. It ties together themes of violence, memory, and the ongoing impact of imperialism on contemporary life.

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Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in African Studies

What is New Books in African Studies about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features scholarly conversations with authors and researchers about recently published works focusing on Africa, the African diaspora, and related historical, political, and cultural topics. Episodes frequently explore decolonization, empire, colonial legacies, governance, development, and transnational connections, often through a historical or archival lens. Guests are typically university-affiliated academics or researchers presenting in-depth analyses, sometimes paired with practitioners or other experts to discuss methodological approaches, archival recovery, or the cultural implications of literature, architecture, and policy. A standout aspect is the emphasis on nuanced, interdisciplinary inquiry across history, politics, a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to New Books in African Studies?

These podcasts share a similar audience with New Books in African Studies:

1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. Jacobin Radio
3. The LRB Podcast
4. Guerrilla History
5. Focus on Africa

How many episodes of New Books in African Studies are there?

New Books in African Studies launched 15 years ago and published 896 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on New Books in African Studies?

Recent guests on New Books in African Studies include:

1. Ted Andrews
2. Osam el-Hamalawy
3. Simukai Chigudu
4. Tom Richardson
5. Paulina Banas
6. Samantha Iyer
7. Grégory Pierrot
8. Kelly M. Duke Bryant

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