Lumumba’s Africa focuses on the past and current issues affecting the African continent; Filmed amidst the beautiful landscapes of Kenya and hosted by Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, the show looks at the many dichotomies of Africa: why are some of the economies thriving while others stall; why conflicts emerge and refuse to die down, and why despite colonialism being ‘gone’, it still ruins the prosperity of nations.
First slaves, then gold, always colonial ruination
This week on Lumumba’s Africa, the professor takes us back to the shores of West Africa to unravel the story of the Gold Coast. Before it became the modern nation of Ghana, this land was the epicenter of European colonial rivalry, driven by a relentless hunger for gold, ivory, and human cargo.
Medical experimentation on African slaves
In this sobering episode of Lumumba’s Africa, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba examines one of the most dehumanizing chapters in the history of transatlantic slavery: the use of enslaved Africans as subjects for medical experimentation. The professor dissects the unethical practices of physicians like J. Marion Sims, often glorified as the “father of modern gynecology,” who performed brutal, anesthetic-free surgeries on black women. Tune in for a critical analysis of how this medical exploitation laid the ethical groundwork for centuries of healthcare disparities.
Tirailleurs Senegalais and the Thiaroye Massacre
On this episode of Lumumba’s Africa, the professor honors the Tirailleurs Senegalais – West African soldiers who fought for France in both World Wars, only to return home to exploitation and violence. He unpacks the 1944 Thiaroye Massacre, where French troops turned on their own African soldiers demanding fair pay, exposing the racism and colonial arrogance behind the slaughter. A gripping lesson on sacrifice, betrayal, and Africa’s long fight for dignity.
The Empire of Zulu
Today on Lumumba’s Africa, the professor examines the Zulu Empire – its rise under King Shaka, its military innovations, and its eventual confrontation with colonial forces. The episode moves beyond popular myth to consider the empire’s political structures, its moments of resistance, and its lasting impact. Professor Lumumba also reflects on what the Zulu legacy continues to offer contemporary African thought and unity.
British concentration camps in Africa
This week on Lumumba’s Africa, the professor turns an unflinching lens on one of history’s most suppressed atrocities – British concentration camps across Africa. Beyond the Boer War, he exposes a continent-wide system of terror. Tune in for a sobering, defiant lesson on the scars that remain.
Gaddafi’s vision of United Africa
Today on Lumumba’s Africa, the professor takes us beyond the headlines and controversies to explore one of the most audacious visions for the continent: Muammar Gaddafi’s dream of a United States of Africa. Join us for a look at what Gaddafi’s unfinished dream means for the Africa we are building today.