Podcasts by Africa: Stories in the 55
A monthly programme on African authors, book publishing and news throughout the 55 countries on the continent, hosted by RFI's Laura Angela Bagnetto.
Further podcasts by RFI
Podcast on the topic Gesellschaft und Kultur
All episodes
Camaraderie and Irish attitudes in Nigerian writer’s short story collection from 2019-09-25T19:06:49
Poignant, upsetting, at times quite funny, the short story collection This Hostel Life, from Nigerian novelist Melatu Uchenna Okorie, elicits a response. Okorie’s stories stem from her life an...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Camaraderie and Irish attitudes in Nigerian writer’s short story collection from 2019-09-25T19:06:49
Poignant, upsetting, at times quite funny, the short story collection This Hostel Life, from Nigerian novelist Melatu Uchenna Okorie, elicits a response. Okorie’s stories stem from her life an...
Helon Habila's novel 'Travelers' explores the lives of Africans in exile from 2019-06-26T15:41:02
In Nigerian author Helon Habila’s latest novel, “Travelers”, Habila brings African expat and migrant stories to life in a number of short stories that are woven into a complex narrative of saf...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Helon Habila's novel 'Travelers' explores the lives of Africans in exile from 2019-06-26T15:41:02
In Nigerian author Helon Habila’s latest novel, “Travelers”, Habila brings African expat and migrant stories to life in a number of short stories that are woven into a complex narrative of saf...
Contrasting images of his native Nigeria in Nnamdi Ehirin's debut novel, The Prince of Monkeys from 2019-04-24T18:47:40
In April's Stories from the 55 podcast, Laura Angela Bagnetto speaks to Nnamdi Ehirin from Nigeria about a coming-of-age story called The Prince of Monkeys. The author also reads an extract fr...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Contrasting images of his native Nigeria in Nnamdi Ehirin's debut novel, The Prince of Monkeys from 2019-04-24T18:47:40
In April's Stories from the 55 podcast, Laura Angela Bagnetto speaks to Nnamdi Ehirin from Nigeria about a coming-of-age story called The Prince of Monkeys. The author also reads an extract fr...
South African novelist Mphuthumi Ntabeni shines a light on the Xhosa narrative from 2019-03-27T10:29:34
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, South African writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni describes his twenty-year journey into the mind of Maqoma, a chief in the Xhosa community who lived in the 180...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - South African novelist Mphuthumi Ntabeni shines a light on the Xhosa narrative from 2019-03-27T10:29:34
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, South African writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni describes his twenty-year journey into the mind of Maqoma, a chief in the Xhosa community who lived in the 180...
Life and sensuality in a refugee camp in Suliaman Addonia's "Silence is My Mother Tongue" from 2019-02-27T10:17:22
In "Silence is My Mother Tongue", the latest novel by Eritrean-Ethiopian writer Sulaiman Addonia, teen Saba and her brother Hagos arrive at a refugee camp in Sudan, where she is determined to ...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Life and sensuality in a refugee camp in Suliaman Addonia's "Silence is My Mother Tongue" from 2019-02-27T10:17:22
In "Silence is My Mother Tongue", the latest novel by Eritrean-Ethiopian writer Sulaiman Addonia, teen Saba and her brother Hagos arrive at a refugee camp in Sudan, where she is determined to ...
Somali writer Ubah Cristina Ali Farah speaks of trauma intertwined with beauty in her story "Jujube" from 2019-01-30T15:45:09
In this month’s Africa: Stories in the 55, Somali-Italian writer Ubah Cristina Ali Farah speaks about her character, Ayan, a Somali refugee seeking asylum. Ayan tells part of her own story tha...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Somali writer Ubah Cristina Ali Farah speaks of trauma intertwined with beauty in her story "Jujube" from 2019-01-30T15:45:09
In this month’s Africa: Stories in the 55, Somali-Italian writer Ubah Cristina Ali Farah speaks about her character, Ayan, a Somali refugee seeking asylum. Ayan tells part of her own story tha...
Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga explores post-war trauma in "This Mournable Body" from 2018-10-18T17:19:53
The lasting aftereffects of the Liberation War on Zimbabwe's society creates the backdrop for Tsitsi Dangarembga's new novel, "This Mournable Body". The story is set in 1999, 10 years after th...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga explores post-war trauma in "This Mournable Body" from 2018-10-18T17:19:53
The lasting aftereffects of the Liberation War on Zimbabwe's society creates the backdrop for Tsitsi Dangarembga's new novel, "This Mournable Body". The story is set in 1999, 10 years after th...
The perils for Zimbabweans crossing the border into South Africa personified in Sue Nyathi's new novel, The Gold-Diggers from 2018-10-03T17:38:51
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi delves into the dangers of crossing into South Africa illegally in the hopes of finding work and a better life. The Gold...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - The perils for Zimbabweans crossing the border into South Africa personified in Sue Nyathi's new novel, The Gold-Diggers from 2018-10-03T17:38:51
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi delves into the dangers of crossing into South Africa illegally in the hopes of finding work and a better life. The Gold...
Honoring those who lived through Zimbabwe's Gukurahundi in Novuyo Rosa Tshuma's novel, House of Stone from 2018-06-19T15:45:30
In Novuyo Rosa Tshuma's debut novel, House of Stone, readers are regaled with a story of the Mlambo family, as told by Zamani, their lodger and a master manipulator. In his quest to re-write h...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Honoring those who lived through Zimbabwe's Gukurahundi in Novuyo Rosa Tshuma's novel, House of Stone from 2018-06-19T15:45:30
In Novuyo Rosa Tshuma's debut novel, House of Stone, readers are regaled with a story of the Mlambo family, as told by Zamani, their lodger and a master manipulator. In his quest to re-write h...
Kenyan writer Kiprop Kimutai's short story speaks about the privilege of wealth in a queer environment from 2018-06-01T13:29:58
In his short story "The Man at the Bridge", Kenyan writer Kiprop Kimutai explores the conflicted feelings of a closeted gay man-- a story that has garnered the 2018 Gerald Kraak Fiction prize....
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Kenyan writer Kiprop Kimutai's short story speaks about the privilege of wealth in a queer environment from 2018-06-01T13:29:58
In his short story "The Man at the Bridge", Kenyan writer Kiprop Kimutai explores the conflicted feelings of a closeted gay man-- a story that has garnered the 2018 Gerald Kraak Fiction prize....
Does trauma define the person? Aminatta Forna's latest novel, Happiness, explores love and loss from 2018-04-10T11:20:21
The chance meeting of a Ghanaian psychiatrist and an American urban biologist tracking foxes in London sets the pace for Happiness, the latest novel by award-winning writer Aminatta Forna. Doe...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Does trauma define the person? Aminatta Forna's latest novel, Happiness, explores love and loss from 2018-04-10T11:20:21
The chance meeting of a Ghanaian psychiatrist and an American urban biologist tracking foxes in London sets the pace for Happiness, the latest novel by award-winning writer Aminatta Forna. Doe...
Musician examines his integrity in Nigerian magical realism novel Taduno's Song from 2018-03-20T11:20:32
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Nigerian writer Odafe Atogun, author of the novel Taduno's Song, discusses how he believes the arts, which are usually undervalued, could be the key ...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Musician examines his integrity in Nigerian magical realism novel Taduno's Song from 2018-03-20T11:20:32
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Nigerian writer Odafe Atogun, author of the novel Taduno's Song, discusses how he believes the arts, which are usually undervalued, could be the key ...
The struggle in Ethiopia continues - there's no stopping half way, says political poet Hama Tuma from 2018-02-21T15:38:22
For Ethiopians, the struggle continues, veteran exiled poet Hama Tuma says in this month's Africa: Stories in the 55 literature program. Banned by three Ethiopian governments, Tuma talks about...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - The struggle in Ethiopia continues - there's no stopping half way, says political poet Hama Tuma from 2018-02-21T15:38:22
For Ethiopians, the struggle continues, veteran exiled poet Hama Tuma says in this month's Africa: Stories in the 55 literature program. Banned by three Ethiopian governments, Tuma talks about...
Tense, compelling Zimbabwean tales in Behind Enemy Lines short stories from 2018-01-24T11:59:56
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Zimbabwean author Joe Ruzvidzo explores coming-of-age in the years after the Liberation War, in his short story collection, Behind Enemy Lines.
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Africa: Stories in the 55 - Tense, compelling Zimbabwean tales in Behind Enemy Lines short stories from 2018-01-24T11:59:56
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Zimbabwean author Joe Ruzvidzo explores coming-of-age in the years after the Liberation War, in his short story collection, Behind Enemy Lines.
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Naivo's Beyond the Rice Fields crafts an epic historical tale set in the highlands of Madagascar from 2017-12-12T16:31:47
This month is Africa: Stories in the 55, Malagasy author Naivo, speaks about his historical saga, Beyond the Rice Fields, which weaves the beauty of Hainteny, a traditional form of Malagasy p...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Naivo's Beyond the Rice Fields crafts an epic historical tale set in the highlands of Madagascar from 2017-12-12T16:31:47
This month is Africa: Stories in the 55, Malagasy author Naivo, speaks about his historical saga, Beyond the Rice Fields, which weaves the beauty of Hainteny, a traditional form of Malagasy p...
Karim Miské dazzles readers with award-winning crime novel "Arab Jazz" from 2017-11-30T14:37:17
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we sit down with Karim Miské, author of Paris-set crime thriller "Arab Jazz". The Franco-Mauritanian writer and documentarian speaks about his Paris,...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Karim Miské dazzles readers with award-winning crime novel "Arab Jazz" from 2017-11-30T14:37:17
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we sit down with Karim Miské, author of Paris-set crime thriller "Arab Jazz". The Franco-Mauritanian writer and documentarian speaks about his Paris,...
Characters haunted by memories, prejudice in Nigeria novel "Crocodile Girl" from 2017-11-03T10:15:03
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Nigerian novelist Sam Omatseye talks about his book Crocodile Girl, a modern tale steeped in oral tradition. He tells the story of Alero, a woman too...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Characters haunted by memories, prejudice in Nigeria novel "Crocodile Girl" from 2017-11-03T10:15:03
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, Nigerian novelist Sam Omatseye talks about his book Crocodile Girl, a modern tale steeped in oral tradition. He tells the story of Alero, a woman too...
A glimpse into the lives of Lagosians in Nigerian Ayo Sogunro's short story collection from 2017-09-25T16:49:06
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak with Nigerian novelist Ayo Sogunro, who brings to life- and death - the spirit of Lagos and Lagosians in his collection of short stories and...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - A glimpse into the lives of Lagosians in Nigerian Ayo Sogunro's short story collection from 2017-09-25T16:49:06
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak with Nigerian novelist Ayo Sogunro, who brings to life- and death - the spirit of Lagos and Lagosians in his collection of short stories and...
Love and infertility issues in "Stay with Me", a new novel by Ayòbámi Adébáyò from 2017-06-01T17:06:11
The pain of infertility for a couple is just the tip of the iceberg in Stay with Me, a new novel by Nigerian writer Ayòbámi Adébáyò, published by Cannongate Books. The book, short-listed for ...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Love and infertility issues in "Stay with Me", a new novel by Ayòbámi Adébáyò from 2017-06-01T17:06:11
The pain of infertility for a couple is just the tip of the iceberg in Stay with Me, a new novel by Nigerian writer Ayòbámi Adébáyò, published by Cannongate Books. The book, short-listed for ...
Young Congolese man trying to deal with life and school in JJ Bola's new novel; Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction from 2017-04-25T13:11:35
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at the new Nommo Prize for African Speculative Fiction, which includes fantasy, sci-fi, the supernatural and even horror. We also talk...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Young Congolese man trying to deal with life and school in JJ Bola's new novel; Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction from 2017-04-25T13:11:35
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at the new Nommo Prize for African Speculative Fiction, which includes fantasy, sci-fi, the supernatural and even horror. We also talk...
South Africa's WWI tragedy immortalised in new novel; Rwandan genocide as seen by Djiboutian writer from 2017-04-20T16:22:25
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak to the authors of two historical novels, both set in the 20th century. Fred Khumalo's "Dancing the Death Drill" deals with the South African...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - South Africa's WWI tragedy immortalised in new novel; Rwandan genocide as seen by Djiboutian writer from 2017-04-20T16:22:25
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we speak to the authors of two historical novels, both set in the 20th century. Fred Khumalo's "Dancing the Death Drill" deals with the South African...
Surviving the outbreak of the Somali civil war; academic finds modern-day parallels to 19th century Muslim leader from 2017-02-13T18:54:45
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at two award-winning writers - Somali author Nadifa Mohamed, and Leila Abulela, Sudanese novelist - who speak about the influences on ...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Surviving the outbreak of the Somali civil war; academic finds modern-day parallels to 19th century Muslim leader from 2017-02-13T18:54:45
In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, we take a look at two award-winning writers - Somali author Nadifa Mohamed, and Leila Abulela, Sudanese novelist - who speak about the influences on ...
Dynamic Duo of Bahati e-books for 2017; Congo-Brazzaville author speaks on identity in The Heart of the Leopard Children from 2017-01-31T18:11:07
It's Africa: Stories in the 55's first anniversary, and we are starting off the year with a look at Bahati Books, a dynamic e-book publisher, and what they have to offer readers on the contin...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Dynamic Duo of Bahati e-books for 2017; Congo-Brazzaville author speaks on identity in The Heart of the Leopard Children from 2017-01-31T18:11:07
It's Africa: Stories in the 55's first anniversary, and we are starting off the year with a look at Bahati Books, a dynamic e-book publisher, and what they have to offer readers on the contin...
Life lessons shared in Ghanaian writer Ayesha Harruna Attah's novel, Saturday's Shadows from 2017-01-17T16:25:28
In this month's program, Africa: Stories in the 55 speaks to Ghanaian author Ayesha Harrunah Attah, author of Saturday's Shadows about creating tackling issues from infidelity to illness and l...
Africa: Stories in the 55 - Life lessons shared in Ghanaian writer Ayesha Harruna Attah's novel, Saturday's Shadows from 2017-01-17T16:25:28
In this month's program, Africa: Stories in the 55 speaks to Ghanaian author Ayesha Harrunah Attah, author of Saturday's Shadows about creating tackling issues from infidelity to illness and l...