The China in Africa Podcast

The China-Global South Project

China

Africa

FOCAC

Belt and Road Initiative

Zambia

Ghana

Infrastructure

Renewable Energy

Elections

Trade

Global South

African Diaspora

China-Africa Relations

Debt Management

Galamsey Mining

Aisha Huang

Illegal Mining

Chinese Arms Sales

United States

Sino-Congolese Mining Deal

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.

529 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	755	Founded	14 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	NewsPoliticsGovernment

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Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

China at COP30 and the New Politics of Climate Change

With the U.S. absent from two major international summits this month, the G20 in South Africa and the COP30 in Brazil, we got an early look at what the post-American order is starting to look like. In both instances, China moved to fill the void left... more

Yesterday • 48 min

How China Uses Parliamentary Buildings to Build Influence in Africa

China has funded, designed, and built more than 200 government buildings across Africa, including the headquarters of the African Union and Ecowas, foreign ministry annexes in Ghana and Kenya, and at least 15 national parliaments.

Eric and Cobus sp... more

25 Nov 2025 • 41 min

Chinese Nationals' Role in Africa's Illicit Weapons, Mining, and Money Flows

There's mounting evidence from the United Nations and others that Chinese organized crime syndicates are moving more of their operations from countries in Southeast Asia to Africa. These groups are contributing to a surge in illicit crypto mining, s... more

21 Nov 2025 • 54 min

Is China's "Engineering State" the New Development Model for the Global South?

China's rapid ascent from rural poverty to industrial superpower reshaped the global economy and established a new center of gravity for manufacturing. Today, Chinese factories anchor much of the world's supply chains, producing goods at a speed and ... more

14 Nov 2025 • 40 min

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Recent Guests

Innocent Batsani-Ncube

Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in African Politics

Queen Mary University of London

Episode: How China Uses Parliamentary Buildings to Build Influence in Africa

Dan Wang

Author of 'Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future'

Episode: Is China's "Engineering State" the New Development Model for the Global South?

James Kynge

Multi-award-winning journalist and author of Global Tech Wars

Chatham House

Episode: Why China's Ability to Make a $6 Toaster is a Big Problem for the Global South

Gregory Chin

Senior Fellow at Boston University's Global Development Policy Center and Associate Professor of Political Science at York University.

Boston University

Episode: China's Evolution from "Rules Taker" to "Rules Maker" in Development Finance

Yufan Huang

Predoctoral fellow with the China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University

Episode: Kenya's Chinese Debt Swap Comes With a Hidden Currency Risk

Folashadé Soulé

Senior Research Associate at the Global Economic Governance Program in the School of Government at the University of Oxford

University of Oxford

Episode: Folashadé Soulé on the Evolution of African Agency in China Relations

Brian Wong

Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong, author

University of Hong Kong

Episode: China's Play for Global Governance Leadership

Lungani Hlongwa

Newly minted Ph.D. and the author of China-Africa Security Radar

Episode: China's Gradual but Growing Security Influence in Africa

Aggrey Mutambo

Africa Editor at The Nation newspaper in Nairobi; expert on China-Kenya relations

The Nation

Episode: Kenya Caught Uncomfortably Between the U.S. and China

Hosts

Eric Olander

Host and Co-host of the series with a focus on China-Africa relations and regional issues.

Cobus van Staden

Co-host and managing editor, with expertise in Asia-Africa dynamics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 529 ratings

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 States7 months ago
Overall feeback
Insightful conversations speaking about today’s realities and challenging our thinking ! 👏🏻
Apple Podcasts
4
Sakura.Suzette
Belgium7 months 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 States9 months 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 Kingdoma year ago
Cobus the lefty
Is anything fair in Cobus’ mind? Risk premiums in Africa are unfair? Geeze. I guess a socialist can’t ever fairly analyze a financial transaction but cmon. Maybe Kenya deserves debt relief but not because the situation they got themselves into is unfair.
Apple Podcasts
4
lrhhrl
United Statesa year ago

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Listeners Say

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

Despite high quality, some episodes may feel repetitive with similar themes and arguments being revisited.

There's an ongoing discussion about the need for more representation of African voices among guests.

Hosts exhibit strong knowledge and present diverse perspectives highlighting the complexities of geopolitics.

Covers a wide range of issues, making it a valuable resource for understanding China-Africa relations.

Insightful conversations challenging conventional thinking regarding PRC investments in Africa.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#232	Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#214	Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#20	China/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#94	South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#120	United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#157	Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How China Uses Parliamentary Buildings to Build Influence in Africa

Q: Why don't they build their own parliament?

African governments often prioritize the relationship with China over their own agency, even when they have the resources to build their own parliamentary buildings.

Is China's "Engineering State" the New Development Model for the Global South?

Q: What do you mean by saying that forced technology transfers actually stifle innovation?

Forced technology transfers can hinder innovation, as companies may not share their most advanced technologies, leading to limited growth.

Is China's "Engineering State" the New Development Model for the Global South?

Q: How much of what you saw and what you outlined in the book do you think is unique to China and how much of it do you think could be exported to other developing countries?

China's model has elements continuous with East Asian development traditions, but skepticism exists about how much can realistically be exported to other countries today.

Is China's "Engineering State" the New Development Model for the Global South?

Q: When you say that China is an engineering state, can you just kind of flesh that out a little bit and explain what you mean?

China is focused on big projects and infrastructure, which has been a key to its success, being very intent on engineering the environment, economy, and even social aspects.

Why China's Ability to Make a $6 Toaster is a Big Problem for the Global South

Q: Is there any hope that you're going to be able to manufacture something that's going to rival the cost and scale of what China can produce?

It's challenging for any country to rival China's manufacturing speed, cost, and technology, which defines the challenge for both global competitors and the countries in the Global South.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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 podcast offers insightful conversations focusing on China's multifaceted engagement across Africa and the Global South, reflecting on the geopolitical implications and nuances of this relationship. With expert guests from diverse backgrounds, the discussions cover critical topics such as security strategies, economic partnerships, infrastructure projects, and media narratives surrounding Chinese investments and influence in Africa. The hosts, Eric Olander and Cobus van Staden, bring a robust journalistic lens and academic insight to these discussions, making it a vital resource for listeners interested in understanding the dynamics of China-Africa relations and the broader implications for global politics.

Additionally, the program sta... 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. Pekingology
3. ChinaPower
4. ChinaTalk
5. Focus on Africa

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

The China in Africa Podcast launched 14 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. Innocent Batsani-Ncube
2. Dan Wang
3. James Kynge
4. Gregory Chin
5. Yufan Huang
6. Folashadé Soulé
7. Brian Wong
8. Lungani Hlongwa

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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