New Books in African Studies

Marshall Poe

International Assistance

Political Decolonization

Coup

Ghana

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Algeria

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Security Governance

Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Banjo

Electoral Violence

Colonial Famines

French Empire

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Malawi

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Francophone Literature

Interviews with Scholars of Africa about their New Books Support our show by becoming a premium member! newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies

95 ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	823	Founded	15 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Places & TravelSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Two Decades On: The African Union, Power, and Africa’s Democratic Future

When the African Union was founded in 2002, it promised to deliver a more united, prosperous, and people-centred continent. Two decades later, Africa’s political landscape tells a more complex story: one of ambition and frustration, democratic progre... more

10 Nov 2025 • 36 min

Martha Biondi, "We Are Internationalists: Prexy Nesbitt and the Fight for African Liberation" (U California Press, 2025)

Explores forgotten solidarity with African liberation struggles through the life of Black Chicagoan Prexy Nesbitt.

For many civil rights activists, the Vietnam War brought the dangers of US imperialism and the global nature of antiracist struggle in... more

8 Nov 2025 • 42 min

Loic De Canniere, "The Future of Employment in Africa: Demography, Labour Markets and Welfare" (Anthem, 2025)

The Future of Employment in Africa: Demography, Labor Markets and Welfare explores the major trends that will define the face of the sub-Saharan continent in the next three decades. The near doubling of Africa’s population by 2050 will lead to more t... more

4 Nov 2025 • 1 hr 7 min

Claudia Gastrow, "The Aesthetics of Belonging: Indigenous Urbanism and City Building in Oil-Boom Luanda" (UNC Press Books, 2024)

After centuries of colonial rule, the end of Angola’s three-decade civil war in 2002 provided an irresistible opportunity for the government to reimagine the Luanda cityscape. Awash with petrodollars cultivated through strategic foreign relationships... more

31 Oct 2025 • 58 min

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Recent Guests

Dr. Claudia Gastrow

Assistant Professor of Anthropology and author of The Aesthetics of Belonging.

North Carolina State University

Episode: Claudia Gastrow, "The Aesthetics of Belonging: Indigenous Urbanism and City Building in Oil-Boom Luanda" (UNC Press Books, 2024)

Dr. Aria Fani

Assistant Professor and Director of Persian and Iranian Studies at the University of Washington

University of Washington

Episode: Aria Fani, "Reading Across Borders: Afghans, Iranians, and Literary Nationalism" (U Texas Press, 2024)

Kalle Kananoja

Lecturer in Science and Ideas at the University of Oulu

University of Oulu

Episode: Kalle Kananoja, "Healing Knowledge in Atlantic Africa" (Cambridge UP, 2021)

Behnaz Mirzai

Professor of Middle Eastern History at Brock University, Senior Guest Researcher at Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies at University of Bonn

Brock University

Episode: Mahboob Qirvanian and Behnaz Mirzai, "Life of an Enslaved African in the Ottoman Empire and Iran" (U Toronto Press, 2025)

David Shinn

Professor with extensive experience in the US Foreign Service and specializing in African studies.

Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Episode: Joshua Eisenman and David H. Shinn, "China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement" (Columbia UP, 2023)

Joshua Eisenman

Professor of Politics and Senior Fellow specializing in China Studies.

Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

Episode: Joshua Eisenman and David H. Shinn, "China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement" (Columbia UP, 2023)

Erin M.B. O'Halloran

Marie Sklodowska Curie European Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

Episode: Erin M.B. O'Halloran, "East of Empire: Egypt, India, and the World Between the Wars" (Stanford UP, 2025)

Dr. Eric Jennings

Historian specializing in French colonialism and author of "Vanilla: The History of an Extraordinary Bean"

Yale University Press

Episode: Eric T. Jennings, "Vanilla: The History of an Extraordinary Bean" (Yale UP, 2025)

Dr. Rosemary Admiral

Assistant Professor of History with interests in pre-modern Middle East and Islamic family law.

University of Texas at Dallas

Episode: Rosemary Admiral, "Living Law: Women and Legality in Marinid Morocco" (Syracuse UP, 2025)

Host

Caleb Zakarin

Editor at New Books Network, brings expertise in curating discussions related to scholarly publications.

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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Claudia Gastrow, "The Aesthetics of Belonging: Indigenous Urbanism and City Building in Oil-Boom Luanda" (UNC Press Books, 2024)

Q: How does the state use construction projects to establish legitimacy?

The government utilizes large infrastructure projects to reassure the population that they are addressing post-war needs, while also attempting to re-establish legitimacy and care for citizens.

Claudia Gastrow, "The Aesthetics of Belonging: Indigenous Urbanism and City Building in Oil-Boom Luanda" (UNC Press Books, 2024)

Q: Can you tell us about some key neighborhoods in Luanda that are often marginalized?

Many Luandans live in areas referred to as 'Moseques', which policymakers often describe as informal or slums, but they should be understood as a form of indigenous urbanism with deep historical roots.

Claudia Gastrow, "The Aesthetics of Belonging: Indigenous Urbanism and City Building in Oil-Boom Luanda" (UNC Press Books, 2024)

Q: Could you start us off by introducing yourself a little bit and tell us why you decided to write this book?

I'm an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at North Carolina State University with a long fascination with urbanism and how urban planning intersects with politics.

Julia Ross Cummiskey, "Virus Research in Twentieth-Century Uganda: Between Local and Global" (Ohio UP, 2024)

Q: What is the book about?

The book explores the history of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, looking at the complexities of local-global interactions in virus research.

Julia Ross Cummiskey, "Virus Research in Twentieth-Century Uganda: Between Local and Global" (Ohio UP, 2024)

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your research?

I grew up wanting to be a poet and thought I wanted to work in public health due to interests sparked by reading memoirs of disease detectives.

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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 features in-depth interviews with scholars concentrating on African studies, covering a wide array of topics related to history, culture, and politics across the African continent. Each episode typically involves discussions on newly published books, allowing listeners to gain insights into both contemporary and historical discourse surrounding Africa and its diverse societies. The episodes often tackle complex themes such as colonial legacies, feminism, human rights, environmental issues, and the socio-political dynamics within various African nations, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Africa beyond surface-level narratives.

Notably, the guests are often prominent academics with... 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. Africa Daily
3. Arts & Ideas
4. Focus on Africa
5. Jacobin Radio

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

New Books in African Studies launched 15 years ago and published 823 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. Dr. Claudia Gastrow
2. Dr. Aria Fani
3. Kalle Kananoja
4. Behnaz Mirzai
5. David Shinn
6. Joshua Eisenman
7. Erin M.B. O'Halloran
8. Dr. Eric Jennings

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