https://www.voaafrica.com/z/1434 Every Wednesday, Straight Talk Africa discusses “what’s now and what’s next for Africa.” Discussions go behind the headlines to analyze the news and emerging trends shaping African societies. https://www.voaafrica.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-AFK/img/logo.png https://www.voaafrica.com/z/1434 en 2026 - VOA 60 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 19:01:45 +0000 Pangea CMS – VOA Every Wednesday, Straight Talk Africa goes behind the headlines to analyze the news and emerging trends shaping African societies. The show covers the diverse stories and insights of Africans from across the continent and in the diaspora, using social media to make the show's content more accessible, and bring our audience's views and questions into the conversation. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/8015528.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/8015528.html Wed, 26 Mar 2025 19:12:48 +0000 Straight Talk Africa Every Wednesday, Straight Talk Africa goes behind the headlines to analyze the news and emerging trends shaping African societies. The show covers the diverse stories and insights of Africans from across the continent and in the diaspora, using social media to make the show's content more accessible, and bring our audience's views and questions into the conversation. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/8012764.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/8012764.html Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:09:01 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa host Vincent Makori discusses the phenomenon of corruption that plagues many countries in the world. He is joined by Paul Banoba, Africa regional advisor for Transparency International and by Abdi Mohamud, CEO of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Kenya. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/8008473.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/8008473.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:59:39 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa host Vincent Makori discusses U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress and its significance for Africa. He is joined by political analyst Marisa Lourenço and by Joseph Szlavik, partner at Scribe Strategies and Advisors. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7999037.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7999037.html Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:05:04 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa, host Vincent Makori discusses the challenges of healthcare in Africa. He is joined by Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Nairobi and by W. Gyude Moore, non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development and former Minister of Public Works of Liberia. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7989156.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7989156.html Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:04:36 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa, we are exploring cryptocurrency on the continent. Host Vincent Makori is joined by VOA Africa technology reporter Paul Ndiho, social innovator and entrepreneur Bright Simons and the CEO of Moya Technologies Mussie Haile. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7980877.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7980877.html Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:07:39 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa, host Vincent Makori focuses on South Africa’s recently signed land Expropriation Act which has caused tension with the U.S. Guests include Gaopalelwe Mathiba, a senior lecturer in the Department of Private Law at the University of Cape Town, Joshua Meservey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and Phiwokuhle Mnyandu, the assistant director of the Center for African Studies at Howard University. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7972575.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7972575.html Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:09:38 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa; Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and created the Alliance of Sahel States. Guest host Peter Clottey discusses what this realignment of powers may mean for the region. He is joined by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and by Christopher Ogunmodede, analyst of West African politics, security and international relations. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7964158.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7964158.html Wed, 05 Feb 2025 19:06:42 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa, we focus on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region where M23 rebels seized control of Goma, a key trading city and the capital of North Kivu. Guest host Peter Clottey will be joined by Jean Paul Ruhosha, the executive director of Congo Today, and Mulegwa Zihindura, the former spokesperson for former Congolese President Joseph Kabila. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7955822.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7955822.html Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:06:47 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa, we'll discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to power and what it means for U.S. relations with Africa. Host Vincent Makori speaks with VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson, Yetunde Omede, professor of Global Affairs at Farmingdale State College and Joshua Meservey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7946507.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7946507.html Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:04:01 +0000 Straight Talk Africa On this week’s Straight Talk Africa, guest host Peter Clottey focuses on the ongoing fighting in Sudan between the nation’s army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Guests include: Danica Damplo, policy manager at the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Brian Adeba, senior policy advisor at The Sentry for Sudan and South Sudan and by Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior researcher at the... https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7938074.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7938074.html Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:06:40 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this episode of Straight Talk Africa we take a look at major events that are shaping the political and economic landscape on the African continent in 2025. Vincent Makori is joined by Zainab Usman, director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Phiwokuhle Mnyandu, assistant director of the Center for African Studies at Howard University. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7929948.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7929948.html Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:07:25 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this special edition of Straight Talk Africa we will delve into the tech culture on the African continent. We’ll explore how tech entrepreneurs are building a thriving ecosystem for their industry in Africa and how big tech is supporting that. We look at why the pros want entrepreneurs who walk the talk, and why it’s important for big tech companies, and small startups to be mindful about the choices they make. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7921246.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7921246.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 19:06:36 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this special edition of Straight Talk Africa we’ll examine how tech startups are using "Artificial Intelligence.” Tech giants, such as Google and Microsoft, weigh in on how they support startups using AI. And founders discuss the importance of ethical and strategic uses of artificial intelligence. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7913890.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7913890.html Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:05:07 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this edition of Straight Talk Africa, host Vincent Makori discusses how the new U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump will engage with Africa. He is joined by Ambassador Rama Yade, Atlantic Council's Africa Center senior director, and by Ambassador Tibor Nagy, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African Affairs during the first Trump administration. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7907179.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7907179.html Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:46:17 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this episode of Straight Talk Africa, Vincent Makori discusses the elections in Ghana, where opposition leader and former President John Mahama won with 55,6 % of the vote. He is joined by VOA reporter Paul Ndiho in Accra, professor of international politics at American University Kwaku Nuamah and the director for policy engagement and partnerships at the Center for Democratic Development in Ghana Kojo Asante. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7897825.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7897825.html Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:03:34 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this edition of Straight Talk Africa Vincent Makori discusses the first trip of U.S. President Joe Biden to Cape Verde and Angola. He is joined by VOA Portuguese reporter Mayra de Lassalette, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Witney Schneidman, political analyst Marisa Lourenço and the president of Pro Bono Angola Association Bartolomeu Milton. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7887331.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7887331.html Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:03:48 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this edition of Straight Talk Africa guest host Peter Clottey is discussing the elections in Namibia taking place on November 27. He is joined by Christine Esperanza Aochamus general secretary of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Graham Hopwood executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and political analyst Rakkel Andreas. https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7879217.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7879217.html Wed, 27 Nov 2024 19:07:16 +0000 Straight Talk Africa This week on Straight Talk Africa, Somaliland opposition leader Abdirahman Cirro defeated incumbent president Muse Bihi Abdi in the November 13 elections, with 64% of the vote. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but lacks international recognition. How will the new president navigate this complex political situation? Guest host Peter Clottey is joined by VOA Horn to Africa Service Acting Chief Harun Maruf, political analyst Guleid Ahmed Jama in Hargeisa and by research... https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7871002.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7871002.html Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:05:13 +0000 Straight Talk Africa In this edition of Straight Talk Africa host Vincent Makori discusses the process of the presidential transition in the United States with VOA Chief National Correspondent Steve Herman. He also examines the possible directions of the US foreign policy toward Africa and the world of President-elect Donald Trump. Vincent is joined by national security law and foreign policy expert Johanna Leblanc and visiting researcher at the Lasky Center for Transatlantic Studies of Ludwig Maximilian... https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7862754.html https://www.voaafrica.com/a/7862754.html Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:05:10 +0000 Straight Talk Africa