AfriCan Geopardy

About AfriCan Geopardy

AfriCan Geopardy was founded in 2019. It is a fun, witty, and authentic way of discussing African geopolitics and the oceans, with a twist of breaking stereotypes about Africa. We present topics in a way that tends to make good trouble, and we are grateful to have you as our audience. The podcast is hosted by Dr Ife Okafor-Yarwood.

Publisher

Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Aug 2019

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

87 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Who protects the AfriCan worker at sea? Race, power and the global maritime Labour chain.

   In this episode of the AfriCan Geopardy Podcast, I spoke with Sandra Larbi, MS. HRM, Managing Director of WorldRecruit Services Limited, Ghana, about: “Who Protects the African Worker at Sea? Race, Power, and the Global Maritime Labour Chain.” Slavery ought to have ended, but sadly, the experiences of some African seafarers show that exploitative and deeply unequal working conditions persist. The case in Scotland, UK, which received media attention, is one such example. In this episode, we discuss the inhumane treatment experienced by African seafarers and what these experiences reveal about race, power and the global maritime labour chain. We also reflect on the wider implications. According to UNCTAD, Africa accounts for just 1.3% of the world’s merchant fleet. Yet Africa is increasingly being looked to as part of the solution to the projected global shortage of seafarers. This creates a fundamental contradiction: while the world looks to Africa for seafarers, African countries and young people depend heavily on the global shipping industry to provide the sea-time opportunities they need to gain the experience required to enter and progress in the profession. So, who protects the African worker at sea? We discuss possible solutions, including accountability, meaningful action, and calls for reparations from the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) in response to documented injustices. A huge thank you to Sandra Larbi, MS. HRM, for sharing her time, knowledge and expertise. Further reading: Sandra Larbi’s reflection, “From Dream to Reality: The Aspirations of Coastal Seafarers,” offers another perspective on the aspirations and experiences of coastal seafarers. Read Sandra Larbi’s article on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dream-reality-aspirations-coastal-seafarers-sandra-larbi-ms-hrm-ma5ee?utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_source=chatgpt.com) Please listen, share and support the work of the organisations working to improve the rights, dignity and working conditions of African seafarers. #HumanRights #RaceAndPower #MaritimeSecurity

2. 

   25 Aug 2026

   International Shipping Decarbonisation Opportunities for Africa

   What opportunities does the global transition towards low-carbon shipping create for Africa? In this episode of we speak with Dr Harry Conway, Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), about international shipping decarbonisation and what it means for the African continent. The conversation explores the opportunities emerging from shipping’s transition towards decarbonisation, the challenges Africa faces in navigating this transition, and the importance of ensuring that African perspectives and expertise are part of conversations shaping the future of international shipping. The discussion also touches on a broader question: what happens when expertise about Africa is sought from outside the continent, particularly from experts in the African diaspora, and how does this compare with the way expertise is valued and engaged within Africa? Join us for a conversation about decarbonisation, expertise, Africa’s place in global shipping, and the opportunities that lie ahead. Listen. Learn. Engage. African perspectives.

3. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Maritime cybersecurity in the Western Indian Ocean Region

   In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore “Maritime Cybersecurity in the Western Indian Ocean Region: The Role of the Regional Maritime Security Architecture” with Captain Harifidy A. Alex RALAIARIVONY, Director of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC), Indian Ocean Commission. As maritime operations become increasingly digital, cybersecurity has become an essential pillar of maritime security. We examine the evolving cyber threats facing the Western Indian Ocean, the growing importance of regional cooperation and information sharing, and the role of the regional maritime security architecture in strengthening resilience against cyber risks. One excerpt captured the urgency of the challenge: “We can no longer separate the safety of the ship at sea from the security of the server on land.” From cyber resilience and Maritime Domain Awareness to regional cooperation and the future of digital maritime governance, this episode highlights why cybersecurity is now central to safeguarding Africa’s maritime interests and enabling a secure and sustainable Blue Economy. 🎙️ Whether you are a maritime professional, policymaker, researcher, student, or simply interested in the future of African maritime security, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-evolving dimensions of ocean governance. For those interested in the role of technology in Maritime Domain Awareness in Africa, you may also find our related research useful: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X23005092

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

21

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

76