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Artwork for New Books in African Studies

New Books in African Studies

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

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 weeklyEpisodes904Founded16 years ago
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Artwork for New Books in African Studies

Latest Episodes

At its core, China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization (Bloomsbury, 2026) is a book about power, journalism, geopolitical influence, and knowledge production in China–Africa relations. It examines how the People’s Republ... more

Arts of the Border: Fugitive Bodies at Europe’s Edges (Fordham, 2025) investigates the consequences of unfolding catastrophes across the world and the displacement they continue to produce. Through recent narratives and media representations of the r... more

What went wrong with global mental health?

Under the Gaze of Global Mental Health: A Critical Reflection (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025) critically examines how the globalisation of mental health through the dominant medical model has created barriers to... more

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, governments around the world have expelled, en masse, more than 30 million people. Yet despite its prevalence, mass expulsion remains an understudied phenomenon as scholarly attention has been directed to... more

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Recent Guests

Emeka Umejei
Senior Research Associate in the Department of Communication and Media at University of Johannesburg, South Africa; author of China in African Media, Between Influence Operation and Decolonization
University of Johannesburg
Episode: Emeka Umejei, "China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Meghan Garrity
Assistant Professor of International Security and Law at George Mason University
George Mason University
Episode: Meghan Garrity, "Mass Expulsion: The Politics of Forced Population Removal" (Oxford UP, 2026)
Karin Barber
Emeritus Professor of African Cultural Anthropology, University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Episode: Karin Barber, "Much Matter in a Penny Paper: Early Yoruba Print Culture in Lagos, 1910–1930" (Ohio UP, 2026)
Courtney Weikle‑Mills
Author of Sugarcoated Ethics, Children's Literature and Atlantic Enslavement
Johns Hopkins University Press
Episode: Courtney Weikle‑Mills, "Sugarcoated Ethics: Children’s Literature and Atlantic Enslavement" (Johns Hopkins UP, 2026)
Bernadette Ludwig
Sociologist; assistant dean at Western Connecticut State University; affiliated with the New School Zolberg Institute on Migration & Mobility
Western Connecticut State University; New School Zolberg Institute
Episode: Bernadette Ludwig, "Unwelcome Shores: Black Refugees in America" (Rutgers UP, 2025)
Mhoze Chikowero
Author of The Military Entertainment Complex, Chimurenga Afrosonic Making of Zimbabwe
MIT Press (author)
Episode: Mhoze Chikowero, "The Military Entertainment Complex: Chimurenga Afrosonic Making of Zimbabwe" (MIT Press, 2026)
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

Host

Miranda Melcher
Host of The New Books Network

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 99 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

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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.

Bernadette Ludwig, "Unwelcome Shores: Black Refugees in America" (Rutgers UP, 2025)
Q: Can you set the stage and talk about refugee admission policies in the US and how they relate to Black refugees?
Policies have long structured refugee admissions with complex priorities that have consistently disadvantaged Africans, particularly under Priority Two, while broader racialized dynamics shape outcomes in housing, language access, and labor markets.
Mhoze Chikowero, "The Military Entertainment Complex: Chimurenga Afrosonic Making of Zimbabwe" (MIT Press, 2026)
Q: How does Chimurenga music function in post-independence Zimbabwe beyond mere entertainment?
Chimurenga music is a site of reclamation and remapping of the nation; it carries political memory, challenges state narratives, and helps people articulate desires for land, democracy, and open participation, often blending celebration with critical voices.
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.

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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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1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. The LRB Podcast
3. The Lawfare Podcast
4. The Horn
5. Jacobin Radio

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

New Books in African Studies launched 16 years ago and published 904 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. Emeka Umejei
2. Meghan Garrity
3. Karin Barber
4. Courtney Weikle‑Mills
5. Bernadette Ludwig
6. Mhoze Chikowero
7. Ted Andrews
8. Osam el-Hamalawy

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