The return of the Unity Cup after 21 years electrified London’s Brentford Stadium, drawing record crowds and reigniting diasporan pride. With planning already underway for the 2026 edition, the tournament is more than just a celebration of African football. It’s emerging as a catalyst for global connection and economic opportunity.

This week, host Tiwa Adebayo sits down with Bloomberg reporters Olatomiwa Tobi and Nduka Orjinmo to explore how sport is becoming a powerful force in uniting African communities abroad, as well as a billion-dollar opportunity for brands willing to invest.

(Regular host Jennifer Zabasajja returns next week.)

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Washington last week to ease tensions amid a barrage of criticism from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly spread false claims that there’s a genocide against White people in Africa’s most industrialized economy. Ramaphosa was intent on focusing on trade relations — the US is the country’s second-largest trading partner after China — but the US leader quickly turned the meeting into an interrogation. Bloomberg's South Africa Government Reporter S'thembile Cele was in the room and recounts the full story of the face-to-face Oval Office meeting.

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The future of Africa's economic progress, security and stability has been a key topic at this year's Qatar Economic Forum , an event powered by Bloomberg. How can the continent assert itself on global stage and superchage growth against an uncertain backdrop?

On this week's episode Jennifer Zabasajja brings you the best of this year's discussions featuring a deep dive into sovereign investment, a look at some of the region's most exciting start-ups and expert commentary on the roles of sustainability and AI in Africa's growing investment landscape.

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Nollywood is bringing a touch of West Africa to the Cannes Film Festival. My Father’s Shadow is making history as the first Nigerian Film to be an Official Selection at the Festival - showing the rising prominence of Nollywood on the world stage. And investors are starting to take notice.

On today’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja talks to our Nigeria Bureau Chief, Anthony Osae-Brown about the growing popularity of Nollywood, how Netflix and Amazon brought new investment to the industry and why asset managers are now starting to take notice.

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Armed drones struck the airport and harbor in Sudan’s main coastal city Port Sudan, escalating a deadly conflict between the North African nation’s army and the Rapid Support Forces militia.

Sudan has accused the UAE of supporting the RSF and has cut off diplomatic ties and withdrawn its ambassador. The UAE firmly denies any involvement.

On this episode, Bloomberg’s Nairobi based reporter Simon Marks joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why this escalation opens up a new front in the two year long civil war, and what evidence there is that the UAE is backing the RSF.

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With influencer ads and high-profile marketing campaigns, Russia’s global outreach program is operating across Africa, offering young women work-study opportunities in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. Fliers and promotional materials for the program feature images of smiling young African women working as technicians and waitresses. However, reports in international media suggest that the reality of working in Alabuga is far grimmer than the version being marketed.

On this week’s episode, Senior Reporter Antony Sguazzin joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explore whether the scheme’s claims hold up under scrutiny and how Interpol is investigating allegations that the program amounts to human trafficking. Instead of providing genuine job opportunities, it may be placing young African women at risk in a war zone.

You can read Antony’s reporting on the Alabuga Start programme here.

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At the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, DC - the trade war and its impact on the global economy is the centre of attention, and putting more pressure on the African governments trying to negotiate deals with the fund.

Ghana and Zambia have turned their economies around with IMF help — but Kenya, Mozambique and Senegal find themselves having to try and negotiate new IMF programmes at a time when there’s less help to be found.

On this episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill, to find out what’s on the negotiating table, and how a trade war is making life harder for African governments already stuck between angry citizens and a restrictive IMF

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Lesotho was hit with the highest U.S. tariffs on the African continent, a 50% levy on its exports, before President Donald Trump paused the move for 90 days. The kingdom’s trade minister is warning that if those duties go ahead, Lesotho could face a liquidity crisis.

Trump announced this month that tariffs of at least 10% will apply to most imports, with even steeper rates targeting goods from around 60 countries, all in a push to curb what he calls unfair trade imbalances.

Lesotho is now hoping to launch high-level talks with Washington.

On today’s episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks with Maarten Van Doesburg, Head of Economics at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, about what could be at stake in those negotiations — and what Trump might really want in the long run.

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