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Nigeria’s film industry is big business - second only to India in the number of films produced annually. The films generate huge audiences in Nigeria - and many believe there’s an untapped market overseas. But after streamers like Netflix and Amazon Prime moved away from funding films upfront - producers are having to find new ways to get in front of international audiences.  On this week’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to one of the giants of the Nigerian media industry, Mo Abudu, who’s just opened Ebony Life  Place in London, the  UK's first cultural and creative hub dedicated to Black and African cinema. Plus, Bloomberg’s Lagos Bureau Chief Anthony Osae-Brown gives an update on how the industry has fared since the streamers changed how they fund Nigerian films.  For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Formula 1 will return to Africa, with a first race set to take place in Rwanda in the early 2030s. The East African nation will host the F1 African Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement, Formula 1 said in a statement on Tuesday.  Rwanda beat out competition from South Africa and Morocco to win the right to hold the first Grand Prix on the continent since 1993.   On this week’s episode of the Next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg Senior Africa Reporter Loni Prinsloo to find out how Rwanda won the bid, and what the country is building to make it happen. Then Bloomberg Africa’s Deputy Managing Editor Neil Munshi discusses why some have accused Rwanda and Formula 1 of Sportswashing.  For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ethiopian troops have regained control of the city of Mekelle, the capital of the country’s northern Tigray region - after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front - the TPLF had seized the city’s airport and declared war on the government. As Ethiopia’s relationship with its neighbours worsen some fear this could become a broader regional war in a Red Sea region vital to global trade that is already facing geopolitical turmoil. On this week’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by East Africa reporter Simon Marks for the latest on the conflict, and Bloomberg’s Trade Tsar Brendan Murray discusses how global trade and shipping are rewiring the region’s supply lines and infrastructure. Read our latest reporting on Ethiopia, and subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter for more for stories from the region See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discovery of 11 women’s bodies in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has horrified South Africans. Then the last few days provided a stark reminder of the country's violent crime problem:  two separate mass shootings left 28 people dead, just days after 11 people were killed at a house in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province. On this week’s episode, S’thembile Cele joins Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss her reporting on these latest incidents and whether a year after the South African government declared violence against women a national emergency there’s been any sign of any improvement, and how voters could send a message at next month’s municipal elections.  For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has finally launched the much anticipated IPO of part of his refinery business, and it's generated so much hype that many investment apps were overwhelmed by demand. The company hopes to raise as much as $2 billion from retail investors and with a minimum investment of just $4, the firm hopes ordinary Africans will buy shares. On today’s special episode, Deputy Managing Editor for Africa Neil Munshi joins Jennifer Zabasajja. They hear from Bloomberg's Lagos based reporter Yinka Ibukun about the mood among Nigerians, and then speak to analyst Feyi Fawehinmi about why he’s not convinced by the hype. Follow all our coverage of the Dangote IPO across Bloomberg platforms, and you can subscribe to the Next Africa Newsletter for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wanted to bring you one of our favourite episodes from the last 12 months this week. In Ethiopia, the share of electric vehicles on the road has jumped to 6% from just 1% after a 2024 ban on new gasoline-car imports.  Across Africa, EV adoption is now among the fastest-growing globally — with Chinese automakers capturing the lion’s share of the market. On today’s episode, Bloomberg’s Fasika Tadesse joins Jennifer Zabasajja to unpack what this surge looks like on the ground in Addis Ababa, while Asia transport reporter Linda Lew explains why companies like BYD are targeting African markets. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sovereign-rating upgrade and a stabilizing currency are helping restore Kenya’s appeal investors. Two years after deadly protests rattled sentiment, the markets have staged a recovery. Kenya’s all-share index has more than tripled in dollar terms since the start of 2024 making it the world's third-best performer. On this week’s special Next Africa podcast, Tiwa Adebayo is joined by Kenyan investment experts Joel Korir, head of Business Development Retail and Private Wealth at Old Mutual Investment Group in Nairobi and Winnie Koech, head of wealth and investment at Stanbic Bank Kenya. They discuss what's driving Kenya’s markets, where investors see the biggest opportunities, the sectors to watch and risks that could derail the rally. For more information on investing in Kenya, read our special feature on Where to Invest 10 Million Kenyan Shillings. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $200 million project in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, is testing a radically simple approach to aid: giving about $700 directly to as many as 230,000 adults and letting them decide how best to spend it. The hope is that recipients will use the money to start businesses, invest in farms and generate economic activity, providing evidence that direct cash payments can help communities become more self-reliant and reduce their dependence on aid. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s Antony Sguazzin discusses what he found when he visited the project in Malawi, how researchers will determine whether it’s working, and whether similar programs could be replicated in other impoverished countries. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zambia had been the shining light for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, but president Hichilema's recent reelection has been tainted by accusations of irregularities, the killing of a former minister and what the UN has called arbitrary arrests.  On this week’s Episode, Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill who’s been on the ground in Zambia explains how the election became so controversial, and Nicole Beardsworth from the University of the Witwatersrand discusses her group’s analysis of the voting numbers.  For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Iran War broke out and the Strait of Hormuz closed, fuel prices surged and supplies became disrupted. The African countries that thought they had supply deals in place found deliveries being cancelled.  But the world’s largest oil trader turned the Hormuz crisis to its advantage. Vitol was able to strike exclusive deals to become a dominant supplier of fuel to at least five countries in East and Southern Africa covering more than 180 million people. On this week’s next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Chief Commodities Correspondent Jack Farchy to discuss his latest investigation into how Vitol was able to strike these deals, how much countries had to pay for security of supply, and just how long the price premium could last. For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the country’s worst ever, with more than 2,000 confirmed deaths and a fatality rate of more than 46%. The World Health Organization says it's the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, and has warned that contact tracing isn't keeping up with the number of cases. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s global health editor, Jason Gale, joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what’s behind the increasing death rate in Congo, what agencies on the ground are facing, and whether there’s any sign of turning the outbreak around. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's Public Investment Corp., the $220 billion manager of civil servants' pensions and a major shareholder in many of the country's biggest companies, has lurched from one crisis to another. Its chief executive was suspended before a court ordered his reinstatement, while the chairman — who also served as deputy finance minister — resigned amid the fallout. On this week's Next Africa podcast, South Africa Bureau Chief Alexander Parker joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain the turmoil at the PIC, trace how one of Africa's most influential investors became mired in repeated governance crises, and assess whether long-delayed reforms recommended by a judicial inquiry will be implemented. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nigeria's stock market is the world's best-performing equity market this year. Its benchmark index has outpaced every major market, including South Korea, delivering the highest dollar returns to investors. Ghana, Tunisia and Kenya have also ranked among the world's top-performing markets, as economic reforms and improving investor sentiment fuel a rally across parts of the continent. On this week's Next Africa podcast, we explore what's driving Africa's stock market surge, whether the rally can last, and what it means for investors. Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg's emerging markets reporter Ray Ndlovu and Peter Nalitolela, chief executive officer of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. She also speaks to Emre Akcakmak, Head of Frontier Markets at East Capital, on whether Africa's resurgence is attracting global investors. For more stories from the region, Subscribe to the Next Africa podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eighteen months after the Trump administration shut down USAID, a painstaking Bloomberg investigation into abandoned water projects in Kenya using interviews, satellite imagery and data analysis has revealed the stark consequences of that decision. On this week’s Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg’s Senior East Africa reporter, Simon Marks, discusses his findings. Former East Africa USAID director Amanda Robertson then explains what happened when they found out their projects had to be halted immediately.Get the full story here: Trump's Chaotic USAID Cuts Unleashed Floods, Disease and Poverty For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flying has never been easier. Airlines are competing to offer cheaper fares and more routes across Europe, North America and Asia. But while connections to and from Africa have expanded, travelling within the continent remains difficult and expensive. On this week's Next Africa podcast, Ghana-based reporter Bilal Qureshi discusses his latest feature on why intra-African air travel continues to lag behind the rest of the world. Bloomberg Global Aviation Editor Benedikt Kammel also explains the challenges facing Africa's fragmented aviation sector — and what it will take to make flying across the continent easier and more affordable. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.