The podcast episodes highlight the concept of 'African agency' by emphasizing the agency and contributions of African individuals and communities, challenging traditional narratives that often overlook their role.
In the first episode, the discussion of the merchant community in Luanda, Angola and the role of women known as 'donas' as cultural brokers demonstrates how African actors adapted to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and the transition to the trade in tropical commodities. Vanessa S. Oliveira, "Slave Trade and Abolition: Gender, Commerce, and Economic Transition in Luanda" (U Wisconsin Press, 2021)
The second episode features the research of Dr. Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi on non-state responses, such as musicians and community activists, to China's environmental impact in Ghana, particularly through illegal gold mining and a proposed coal plant. This emphasizes the agency of African non-state actors in shaping China's presence in Africa. China's Environmental Footprint in Ghana: Non-State Responses