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New Books in African Studies

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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

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Latest Episodes

Author Noam Sienna unveils a vast Sephardic world created by these books. This literary network transcended geographical boundaries, connecting Jewish communities from Fez and Tunis to Salonica, Jerusalem, and Livorno. By examining cultural centers a... more

Over the last two decades, historians have steadily moved away from writing longue durée national histories. Especially in the wake of the global history wave, national histories can seem decidedly 20th century. But what if you’re asked to take up th... more

The immediate postcolonial moment brought both promise and peril for the states of Africa and their security. The process of decolonization generated instability, and the emergent Cold War caught up the still-fragile independent states in a global id... more

Today I spoke with Lesley Nicole Braun to talk about her new book on Congo's dancers. Dance music plays a central role in the cultural, social, religious, and family lives of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Among the various genre... more

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Recent Guests

Noam Sienna
A scholar of Jewish culture in the Medieval and Early Modern Islamic worlds.
Jerome and Lorraine Aresty Visiting Scholar, Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life at Rutgers
Episode: Noam Sienna, "Jewish Books in North Africa: Between the Early Modern and Modern Worlds" (Indiana UP, 2025)
Jeffrey Ahlman
Professor of history and chair of the African Studies program at Smith College, specializing in the history of decolonization and nation-building in Ghana.
Smith College
Episode: Jeffrey Ahlman, "Ghana: A Political and Social History" (Zed Books, 2023)
Dr. Charles G. Thomas
Professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the US Air Force's Global College at Maxwell Air Force Base.
US Air Force
Episode: Charles G. Thomas, "Ujamaa's Army: The Creation and Evolution of the Tanzania People's Defence Force, 1964-1979" (Ohio UP, 2024)
Lesley Nicole Braun
Research associate at the Institute for Social Anthropology, University of Basel, and principal investigator on a Swiss National Foundation grant.
University of Basel
Episode: Lesley Nicole Braun, "Congo's Dancers: Women and Work in Kinshasa" (U Wisconsin Press, 2023)
Bernard Forjwuor
Author and academic specializing in political decolonization
University of Notre Dame
Episode: Bernard Forjwuor, "Critique of Political Decolonization" (Oxford UP, 2023)
Howard French
Professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and author
Columbia University
Episode: Kwame Nkrumah and Pan-Africanism’s High Tide: A Conversation with Howard W. French
Dr. Rachel Jean-Baptiste
Historian of intimacy and scholar of the French-speaking Atlantic world
Cambridge University Press
Episode: Rachel Jean-Baptiste, "Multiracial Identities in Colonial French Africa: Race, Childhood, and Citizenship" (Cambridge UP, 2023)
Peace Medie
Associate Professor in Politics at University of Bristol, author of Global Norms and Local Actions.
University of Bristol
Episode: Peace A. Medie, "Global Norms and Local Action: The Campaigns to End Violence Against Women in Africa" (Oxford UP, 2020)
Dr. Marc Sommers
Researcher, writer, diplomat, teacher, and photographer
University of Georgia Press
Episode: Marc Sommers, "We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror, and War in Sierra Leone" (U Georgia Press, 2023)

Host

Lamis Abdelaaty
Host of New Books and Political Science

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 95 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 States2 years ago
  • Great listening

    👍🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BurtonR
    Australia3 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 States4 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 States5 years ago
  • Excellent podcast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JasonByrne film
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the insightful discussions and expertise of guests, finding the information relevant and educational.
Some criticisms exist regarding specific episodes being more difficult to engage with due to audio quality or presentation styles, but overall feedback remains positive.
The podcast is often praised for its thought-provoking topics and organization, offering listeners a deep understanding of African studies.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Noam Sienna, "Jewish Books in North Africa: Between the Early Modern and Modern Worlds" (Indiana UP, 2025)
Q: What was the broader communal significance of libraries in Jewish culture?
Sienna discusses that North African libraries served elite male scholars, with books circulating among them, but were not public spaces in today's sense, thus reflecting societal exclusivity.
Noam Sienna, "Jewish Books in North Africa: Between the Early Modern and Modern Worlds" (Indiana UP, 2025)
Q: How does the geography change as the decades progress?
Sienna explains that the book focuses primarily on the Maghreb, encompassing the Jewish communities of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and explores how colonial experiences shaped their modern identities and local contexts.
Charles G. Thomas, "Ujamaa's Army: The Creation and Evolution of the Tanzania People's Defence Force, 1964-1979" (Ohio UP, 2024)
Q: What were some of the ways that these leaders tried to then answer these questions, through up to and through the moment of independence into those first few years?
Thomas discusses the various strategies employed by Nyerere as he worked to build a representative and capable military force, including the establishment of national service and educational initiatives.
Charles G. Thomas, "Ujamaa's Army: The Creation and Evolution of the Tanzania People's Defence Force, 1964-1979" (Ohio UP, 2024)
Q: Is there anything further we need to understand then about the extent to which this is an exceptional case study?
Thomas elaborates on the rare success of Tanzania's military versus the struggles seen in other African nations post-independence, including the context of regional instability.
Charles G. Thomas, "Ujamaa's Army: The Creation and Evolution of the Tanzania People's Defence Force, 1964-1979" (Ohio UP, 2024)
Q: Can you introduce yourself a little bit and tell us big picture why you even decided to write this in the first place?
Dr. Charles G. Thomas explains that he is a professor of Strategy and Security Studies and discusses the uniqueness of his research on Tanzania's military evolution after independence.

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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 podcast provides a unique platform for scholars to delve into their recent research related to African studies. Each episode typically features an in-depth conversation between experts, focusing on a wide range of topics such as politics, history, gender issues, and cultural dynamics across different African contexts. Noteworthy discussions include analyses of societal changes, historical narratives, and the impact of international relations on local communities. The format not only promotes the latest academic findings but also aims to ignite discussions around critical contemporary issues in Africa, making it an engaging resource for both academic and general audiences interested in African affairs and scholarship.

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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. Focus on Africa
2. Arts & Ideas
3. Jacobin Radio
4. The LRB Podcast
5. FT News Briefing

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

New Books in African Studies launched 15 years ago and published 842 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. Noam Sienna
2. Jeffrey Ahlman
3. Dr. Charles G. Thomas
4. Lesley Nicole Braun
5. Bernard Forjwuor
6. Howard French
7. Dr. Rachel Jean-Baptiste
8. Peace Medie

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