A55 Podcast: The Pulse of Africa

Why Ballet is Becoming Accessible Across Africa

Ballet has long been seen as elitist — foreign, inaccessible, and out of reach for many across Africa. But that perception is shifting. As the art form gains popularity, a new generation of African instructors is stepping forward: certified, committed, and determined to make ballet more inclusive. In Ghana, Vivie’s Dance and Theater Academy [https://vdt.academy/] is leading the charge, offering training to children from all backgrounds [https://www.instagram.com/viviesdancetheatre/]. Founder and CEO Vivian Boateng shares why investing in both students and teachers is essential to building a space where every body can belong. Additional audio excerpts: Credit - 7News Australia, BBC Africa News, CBS Sunday Mornings

Closing the Data Gap in African Education

Calls for education reform across Africa are not new, but the one ingredient necessary to facilitate these reforms - data - is not readily available in many countries. The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) has rolled out a five-year initiative aimed at transforming how education data is collected, understood, and used across the continent. Inyang Umoren, Project Manager of the Tackling Education and Skills Data Challenges in Africa project at ADEA, breaks down the challenges associated with collecting education data and how better use of data can help in decision-making and plans for education reform. Click here [https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/qa-what-you-need-know-about-state-education-africa]to read a UNICEF brief on the state of education in Africa. Additional audio excerpt: Credit - TEDxTalk (TEDxIUEA) and BBC News.

The Cost of Africa’s Green Energy Dreams

Africa's green energy transition is underway, but without dedicated funding, some countries may be forced to delay or abandon it altogether. Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa remains vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Research Fellow at the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University and IPPG, Seth Owusu-Mante, unpacks the burden of the green transition: the cost, the politics, and how some African countries are forging ahead with their own limited resources. Read the IPPG paper on emissions levy here [http://www.ippgafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IPPG-Policy-Brief-A-Call-to-President-Mahama-Retain-and-Reset-the-Emissions-Levy-to-fund-Climate-Action.pdf]. Additional audio expert: Credit - BBC News

What Remains When Language Fades

By the end of this century, your native language may no longer exist. Already, over 300 African languages are said to be at risk or have already disappeared. How do we ensure the rest survive? Nigerian writer and linguist, Kola Tubosun, joins us with some thoughts on preservation, the power of archiving, and what happens when we lose what we inherited from generations before us. Read his interview with the African Writer, Renaissance is Badly Needed in African Language Literature, here [https://www.africanwriter.com/kola-tubosun-renaissance-badly-needed-african-language-literature/]. Additional audio excerpt: Credit - TEDx Talks (The Power of Language)

This No Be Broke Art

Defining art may be difficult, but it is visible in nearly everything around us. For many of us, our impressions of art and artists have been ones of struggle, and at times being 'broke'. But today's generation of African artists has proven that art pays. So, what is with the hesitation many of us have about art? Essenam Dabla-Attikpo gives us an insight into the fascinating world of art and tells us how her organization, This No Be Art [https://www.instagram.com/thisnobeart/], is helping move African art to higher heights. Additional audio excerpt: Credit - DW