Host Adesoji Iginla is joined by Aya Fubara Eneli and Milton Allimadi to look at the 2026 US midterm elections and why their effects reach Africa.

The panel also covers the US decision to remove South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA trade preferences, and Kemi Badenoch's claim that African nations should apologise for slavery.

Takeaways

*Aya Fubara Eneli says Black voter turnout in her community was lower than hoped, despite a blue wave nationally and in Texas. She discusses local races, representation, and the work that follows elections.
*Milton Allimadi discusses the Michigan Senate race, AIPAC, Gaza, Islamophobia and racism, and the electoral rejection of attacks on the candidate.
*Money in politics: Milton says wealth did not always prevail. Aya discusses Citizens United and deep divisions in the US electorate.
*Immigration: Aya says it is too early to know whether Texas results reflect rejection of immigration enforcement or mainly concerns about affordability and corruption.
*Every vote counts: Aya cites a Pennsylvania race decided by 40 votes and ballot validation challenges in Mississippi.
*AGOA: The panel discusses the removal of South Africa and Rwanda, including the political context, eastern Congo, and Congress's possible role.
*Trade strategy: Aya argues for less dependence on any single outside market, more intra-African trade, African payment systems, and more local processing of raw materials.
*Slavery and responsibility: The panel discusses the European-created slave-trading system, African collaboration and resistance, chattel slavery, King Jaja of Opobo, and reparations.
*Youth and politics: Aya urges young people who find politics unappealing to get involved and informed, because politics affects daily life.

Chapters

00:00 - Introducing the panel and the midterms' reach to Africa
01:51 - Black voter turnout, local races, and post-election work
07:12 - Michigan Senate race, AIPAC, Gaza, and Islamophobia
10:01 - Grassroots organising and voter suppression history
13:35 - Financial Times takeaways and money's influence
15:29 - Why wealth did not always win: young voters and grassroots campaigns
19:08 - What Texas results say about immigration
21:24 - Every vote counts: Pennsylvania and Mississippi examples
22:43 - US divisions, money in politics, and Citizens United
26:51 - Republican party identity questions
28:15 - US removal of South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA
29:13 - Political context, eastern Congo, and Congress's role
32:41 - Reducing dependence on outside markets and building intra-African trade
36:20 - Africa's share of world trade and raw material exports
37:19 - Kemi Badenoch's slavery apology claim
39:56 - The slave-trading system, collaboration, resistance, and reparations
45:45 - King Jaja of Opobo, European laws, and efforts to stop the trade
54:19 - Eric Williams's Capitalism and Slavery and reparations
57:03 - Continuing African liberation and stolen resources
1:00:39 - Senegal's Youth Olympics opening ceremony
1:02:10 - What young people can do about politics
1:06:28 - Program announcements and closing call to organise

Recommended reading
Milton recommends Eric Williams's Capitalism and Slavery.

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