The China in Africa Podcast

The China-Global South Project

China

Africa

United States

Global South

Critical Minerals

Belt and Road Initiative

China-Africa Relations

FOCAC

South China Sea

South Africa

Climate Change

Kenya

Zambia

Renewable Energy

BRICS

Philippines

Democratic Republic Of Congo

Geopolitics

Donald Trump

Indonesia

Twice-weekly discussion about China's engagement across Africa and the Global South hosted by journalist Eric Olander and Asia-Africa scholar Cobus van Staden in Johannesburg.

548 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	755	Founded	15 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

China, Taiwan and the Somaliland Question

China's engagement across Africa is increasingly shaped by both high-level geopolitics and competition in everyday markets. Somalia's renewed ties with Beijing are being driven in part by the Somaliland question, particularly its growing relationship... more

Yesterday • 42 min

Kenyan President Orders Crackdown on Foreigners in Small Businesses, Including Chinese

Kenya's crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses has put Chinese traders at the center of a wider debate over competition, immigration, and economic opportunity. President William Ruto's targeting of foreign merchants has raised concerns ab... more

11 Sep 2026 • 58 min

Is China Decolonizing African Media or Expanding Its Influence?

China's influence in Africa's media landscape increasingly operates through content-sharing agreements, journalist training, paid placements, and support for local broadcasters. These "below-the-line" strategies give Chinese narratives a pathway into... more

4 Sep 2026 • 54 min • Most popular

Africa Buys From China. What Can It Sell Back?

China-Africa trade is surging and could top $400 billion this year, but the headline figure obscures a relationship that remains heavily concentrated among a small number of countries and increasingly tilted toward Chinese exports.

Much of what Afr... more

27 Aug 2026 • 44 min

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Recent Guests

Emeka Umejei

Senior Research Associate, University of Johannesburg; visiting scholar at Academia Sinica

University of Johannesburg; Academia Sinica

Episode: Is China Decolonizing African Media or Expanding Its Influence?

Piwa Quere Mnando

Associate Director at the Center for African Studies, Howard University

Howard University

Episode: Africa Buys From China. What Can It Sell Back?

Huiyi Chen

Research and Coordination Analyst at Development Reimagined

Development Reimagined

Episode: Why Namibia's China Strategy Is Worth Watching

Ebenezer Obadare

Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations

Council on Foreign Relations

Episode: China Is More Popular Than the U.S. in Africa. Here's Why

Ivor Ichikowitz

Head of The Ichikowitz Family Foundation, sponsor of the African Youth Survey

Ichikowitz Family Foundation

Episode: What Africa's Youth Really Want From China, the U.S. and Europe

Yu Jie

Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House in London

Chatham House

Episode: How China Wants to Rewrite Global Governance

Wei Shen

Senior research fellow at the Institute of Development Studies

Institute of Development Studies

Episode: Why Critical Minerals Alone Won't Make Countries Rich

Anabel Marín

Senior research fellow at the Institute of Development Studies

Institute of Development Studies

Episode: Why Critical Minerals Alone Won't Make Countries Rich

Jing Gu

Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Center for Rising Powers and Global Development

Institute of Development Studies, London

Episode: Africa's China Trade Challenge Isn't Market Access. It's Market Readiness.

Hosts

Eric Olander

Host of The China in Africa Podcast, China Global South Project (CGSP)

Cobus van Staden

CGSP's head of research; Co-host addressing Asia-Africa scholarship and CGSP research

Gérard Nima

Africa Editor, CGSP/Cynica Network; on-the-ground Africa perspectives on China-Africa dynamics

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 548 ratings

May 15 Discussion
Excellent May 15 discussion. Ai will drain fresh water resources from many locations. We are giving it away and will soon learn that corporate control of water is trouble!
Apple Podcasts
5
Terrilynr
Canada4 months ago
Host quality differences
I like Gerraud as a member of the team. And he leads some really interesting research on minerals. But he’s just not a very good host. I skip or fast forward through episodes with him alone talking to a guest.
Apple Podcasts
4
lrhhrl
United Statesa year ago
Overall feeback
Insightful conversations speaking about today’s realities and challenging our thinking ! 👏🏻
Apple Podcasts
4
Sakura.Suzette
Belgiuma year ago
Good Information
It’s likely to challenge some of your ideas, but the hosts make a real effort to get to the truth about PRC investments in Africa, along with those of the West.
Apple Podcasts
5
Listener88888
United States2 years ago
Great informative pod cast
This is a great informative podcast. Can someone tell me did China Africa pod cast stop for a short time?
Apple Podcasts
5
Chunkybutt72
United Kingdom2 years ago

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Listeners Say

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

A go-to resource for staying informed on China's role in Africa and global south diplomacy.

Occasional critiques about climate coverage or host balance, yet overall valuable for listeners.

Guests usually bring Global South perspectives; hosts sometimes perceived as US-centric by some listeners.

High-quality analysis with a strong focus on policy and tangible outcomes.

Insightful and rigorous discussions on Africa-China dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#250	United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#204	Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#40	Russia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#91	Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#98	China/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#119	Denmark/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is China Decolonizing African Media or Expanding Its Influence?

Q: What motivated you to title the book around influence operations and decolonization?

The author explains that the title reflects investigating whether PRC media engagement in Africa represents genuine decolonization or simply a continuation of power dynamics under a different guise, focusing on how narratives are shaped and by whom.

How China Wants to Rewrite Global Governance

Q: Does China want to create a new Sinocentric Order that might not replace the United States as hegemon but place China closer to the center of global decision making?

Yu Jie argues that China seeks to leverage its normative power to craft new vocabulary and standards in global governance, while recognizing that tangible outcomes and resource commitments matter. She suggests a balance of aspirational leadership with pragmatic, targeted action, and cautions that expectations must be managed as the current system evolves.

How China Wants to Rewrite Global Governance

Q: Why was this white paper, in your view, important?

She identifies three reasons: it signals China's attempt to fill the space of global governance previously led by Western powers; it pushes for a holistic approach that includes participation by the Global South in setting rules; and it aims to reform rather than dismantle existing international architecture, positioning China more as a status quo power with a developing-country pathway to modernity.

How China Wants to Rewrite Global Governance

Q: Give us your reaction to it and how does it fit within this larger picture of trying to reshape international norms and governance?

Yu Jie explains that China is using the white paper to tentatively fill gaps in global governance, taking a holistic approach that involves the Global South, and emphasizes a move toward normative power and inclusive rules rather than dismantling the UN system. She notes that while there is nothing entirely new, the packaging signals a strategic shift toward broader participation and governance reform.

Former State Department Insider on Washington's Muddled Africa Policy

Q: What was the underlying strategy for Africa under the Trump administration, and was there a coherent plan beyond episodic actions?

The guest suggests there was no overarching strategy; rather, policymakers relied on tactics without a durable framework, and strategic thinking often lagged behind episodic moves.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The China in Africa Podcast

What is The China in Africa Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers in-depth discussions on China's engagement with Africa and the Global South, featuring expert guests who illuminate trade dynamics, governance, minerals, and development. Episodes frequently center on policy choices, multilateral diplomacy, and practical pathways for Africa to industrialize, diversify value chains, and participate more equitably in global markets. A notable pattern is evaluating Africa's agency amid great-power competition, with practical case studies from debt restructuring, FOCAC, and mineral supply chains. The format often pairs seasoned hosts with regionalists and scholars to translate complex geopolitics into actionable insights for policymakers, business leaders, and researchers. A standout trait is th... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The China in Africa Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The China in Africa Podcast:

1. Sinica Podcast
2. ChinaPower
3. Focus on Africa
4. The Horn
5. Pekingology

How many episodes of The China in Africa Podcast are there?

The China in Africa Podcast launched 15 years ago and published 755 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 The China in Africa Podcast?

Recent guests on The China in Africa Podcast include:

1. Emeka Umejei
2. Piwa Quere Mnando
3. Huiyi Chen
4. Ebenezer Obadare
5. Ivor Ichikowitz
6. Yu Jie
7. Wei Shen
8. Anabel Marín

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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