Neocolonialism: The Freedom Africa Never Really Had

Neocolonialism: The Freedom Africa Never Really Had

What happened after African countries gained independence? Did colonialism really end, or did it simply change its face? In this episode, we explore the rise of neocolonialism and how powerful foreign nations continued to influence African politics long after the colonial flags came down. We examine the wave of assassinations and military coups that reshaped the continent, including the deaths and overthrows of leaders such as Sylvanus Olympio, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Ahmed Ben Bella, Modibo Keïta, and many others. We also discuss how the Cold War turned Africa into a battlefield for foreign interests, with the United States and the Soviet Union backing different governments and leaders. The conversation also highlights the role of Pan-African leaders like Julius Nyerere, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Habib Bourguiba, and later Muammar Gaddafi, alongside the formation of the Frontline States, whose mission was to help liberate Southern Africa from colonial rule and apartheid. This episode asks one central question: Can a nation truly be independent if others still influence its politics, economy, and leadership?

The Africa We Never Built: What Pan-Africanism Tried to Prevent

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. That African proverb serves as the backdrop for one of the greatest political debates in African history. In this episode of A Little Bit of Everything, we continue our exploration of Pan-Africanism by examining what happened after Ghana gained independence in 1957. We follow Kwame Nkrumah’s unwavering vision for a united Africa, the All African Peoples’ Conference, the ideological divide between the Casablanca Group and the Monrovia Group, the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and the debates that shaped the continent’s political future. We also discuss Nkrumah’s proposal for a continental government, a common African market and currency, a unified defence system, African citizenship, and why he believed Africa’s independence would remain incomplete without genuine political and economic integration. The episode concludes with the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement and the philosophy of Positive Neutralism—the belief that newly independent nations should align neither with the East nor the West, but chart their own path. We look at the leaders who championed this vision, including Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Ahmed Sékou Touré (Guinea), Modibo Keïta (Mali), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Ahmed Ben Bella (Algeria), Habib Bourguiba (Tunisia), Julius Kambarage Nyerere (Tanzania), and Jawaharlal Nehru (India). This episode explores one question that still echoes today: What if Africa had chosen unity first?

Divided We Fall: What Pan-Africanism Tried to Warn Us About

What exactly is Pan-Africanism, and why does it remain one of the most important ideas in African history? In this episode of A Little Bit of Everything, I begin with a simple story about three brothers and a bundle of broomsticks, a lesson on why unity is always stronger than division. From there, we explore the philosophy of Pan-Africanism, tracing its origins from the early Pan-African Congresses led by Henry Sylvester Williams and W.E.B. Du Bois, to the vision of Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere, who believed Africa’s future depended on unity. We also examine the Berlin Conference (1884–1885) and the Scramble for Africa, how colonial powers divided the continent, and why many African leaders saw political and economic unity as the path to lasting progress. Whether you’re a student, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about Africa’s past and future, this episode provides an accessible introduction to one of the continent’s most influential political and cultural movements.

Some Weeks Deserve a Microphone

This week had a little bit of everything. I talk about my roommate, who’s still stuck in school because her exams aren’t even over yet and to make matters worse, she doesn’t even have a date for one of them yet. Then I share my experience watching Call of My Life, where my friend and I practically had the entire cinema to ourselves. The fun didn’t stop there. We surprised my friend’s mum with a cake, spent some quality time together, and somehow found ourselves discussing one of the latest changes in Nigeria, the new NYSC uniform. Let’s just say… I have a few thoughts about that. It’s another Wednesday, another conversation, and another episode filled with random stories, laughter, and a few rants along the way.

Things nobody warned me about in my 20’s

Your 20s are supposed to be exciting, but nobody talks enough about how confusing, humbling, and life-changing they can be. In this episode, I share some of the biggest lessons and realities I've noticed about being in your 20s, from questioning everything you've been taught, dealing with pressure from family, friends, and social media, learning to think for yourself, building meaningful friendships, and realizing that life can humble anyone at any time. I also talk about life after university: the boredom that comes when structure disappears, the pressure to have everything figured out, the temptation to run back to comfort, and why having the right people around you matters more than ever. Whether you're still in school, recently graduated, or simply trying to figure life out one day at a time, this episode is a reminder that you're not the only one navigating uncertainty.