Corporate Cocktail is your Friday wind-down with Africa’s dealmakers.
Hosted by Ondiro Oganga, each episode stirs together the continent’s biggest deals, bold policy bets, and quiet power plays you won’t catch in the headlines. Sip on insider insights, sharp analysis, and the whispers moving money from Accra to Addis.
Every Friday at 5pm CAT — grab a glass and let’s get mixing.
Does the Global Order Still Work for Africa? IMF, Trump, Elections, Democracy & Africa’s Future
What does a changing global order mean for Africa’s politics, economies and development?
On this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, Ondiro Oganga speaks with Eurasia Group’s Amaka Anku about the forces reshaping the continent in 2026: from elections, democracy and development to rising geopolitical tensions and the changing relationship between Africa and the world’s major powers.
They examine the role of the IMF and Bretton Woods institutions in African economies, the impact of Donald Trump’s policies on US-Africa relations, and how political instability and internal disorder can shape economic outcomes.
As global power shifts and African countries navigate their own political and economic challenges, can Africa turn these changes into greater agency, or will the continent remain shaped by forces beyond its control?
A conversation about African geopolitics, elections, democracy, economic development, the IMF, Trump and the changing global order.
31 Aug 2026
Rutonomics: President Ruto's Economic Agenda, Tax Dilemma & the Gen Z Revolt.
What is President William Ruto’s economic agenda really doing to Kenya?
From controversial tax proposals and rising public debt to the cost of living and growing frustration among Kenya’s Gen Z, this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa examines the politics behind President William Ruto’s economic policies and why taxation has become such a flashpoint between the government and young Kenyans.
Business journalist Julian Amboko joins Ondiro Oganga to unpack Kenya’s economy, Ruto’s tax agenda, public debt, the cost of living and the growing battle between the government and Gen Z.
Is Kenya’s tax strategy fixing the country’s fiscal problems or deepening the economic and political divide?
19 Aug 2026
Africa’s Gen Z Revolt: Bad Governance, Political Elites and a Generation Fighting Back
From Maputo to Marrakesh, Nairobi to Accra, young Africans are taking to the streets in a wave of Gen Z protests across Africa. The grievances are familiar: bad governance, corruption, economic hardship and frustration with political elites who seem increasingly disconnected from the realities of a younger generation.
But these protests are about more than the cost of living. African politics is changing. Tribal politics, political dynasties, liberation movements and parties that have dominated the continent since independence no longer carry the same weight with Gen Z. Young Africans are questioning old political loyalties and demanding greater accountability, opportunity and a different kind of leadership.
So, what is driving Africa’s Gen Z protests? And are we witnessing a fundamental shift in African politics and the relationship between young people and political power?
Political analyst Rose Mumanya joins award winning journalist Ondiro Oganga on the latest episode of corporate cocktail Africa to discuss more
12 Aug 2026
Critical Minerals in Africa: The US-China Race for Cobalt, Copper and Influence in Africa
The United States and China are competing for access to Africa’s critical minerals, from cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo to copper in Zambia. But as global powers race for Africa’s strategic resources, is the continent winning the new battle for geopolitical influence?
Africa holds vast reserves of minerals critical to defense, electronics and the global energy transition. As demand for cobalt, copper, rare earths and other strategic resources grows, so does the competition between the US and China for access, investment and influence across the continent.
In this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, Bright Simons and George Mukundi debate who stands to benefit from Africa’s critical mineral wealth and whether African countries can turn resource abundance into economic and geopolitical power.
They examine the relationship between critical minerals, conflict and governance; the future of mining and foreign investment in Africa; the role of Western powers and China in resource development; and whether countries such as the DRC and Zambia can capture more value from their natural resources.
The bigger question: will Africa shape the terms of the new critical minerals economy, or once again become the source of resources for someone else’s global competition?
22 May 2026
President Mahama Benefited From NPP Policy in Stabilizing Economy- Is Ghana's Recovery Real or Fragile?
Ghana’s economy has shown signs of stabilisation in recent months, but the key question remains: is this recovery real and sustainable, or is it fragile and dependent on favourable external conditions?The Ghanaian cedi has strengthened by over 20% against the US dollar, while inflation has eased back into single digits. At the same time, Ghana is beginning to access more favourable borrowing conditions in international markets.This improvement has been supported by stronger commodity earnings, with gold and oil prices boosting foreign exchange inflows and helping to stabilise the broader macroeconomic environment.In this episode, award-winning journalist Ondiro Oganga is joined by Isaac Kofi Agyei, a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, economist, and statistician. Together, they examine the policy decisions that have shaped Ghana’s current economic position, the role of successive administrations, and whether these gains can hold once external support mechanisms, including IMF programmes, are reduced or phased out.Is Ghana truly on a path to sustained recovery, or are deeper structural vulnerabilities still being masked by short-term macroeconomic improvements?Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
15 May 2026
Can Zambia’s Copper Industry Power Economic Recovery? | EV Boom, Debt & Mining
Zambia’s copper boom is once again in the global spotlight, driven by rising demand from the energy transition and electric vehicle (EV) supply chains. But while higher copper prices are boosting export earnings and improving investor sentiment, the reality is far more complex.
In this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, Mutisunge Zulu Joins Ondiro Oganga as they examine why the copper boom for Zambia is not a guaranteed economic lifeline. Instead, it is a short-term window of opportunity: one that buys the government time to implement urgent fiscal consolidation, tighter monetary policy, and long-overdue structural reforms.
The core argument is simple: commodity booms do not fix structural weaknesses. Without reforms, the gains from copper risk being cyclical rather than transformative, leaving the economy exposed once the cycle turns.
We break down Zambia’s debt trajectory, the role of copper in global EV supply chains, and what it will take to convert today’s boom into sustainable, long-term economic recovery.
8 May 2026
Sahel Instability Explained: Coups, Insurgency & Global Power Rivalry
The Sahel region is in the midst of a deepening security and political crisis, marked by a wave of military coups, rising insurgency, and weakening state institutions. In the past three years alone, at least eight coups have reshaped the political landscape across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, raising urgent questions about governance, stability, and regional security in West Africa.
As the United States, France, and the United Kingdom scale back or withdraw their security presence, a growing power vacuum has emerged. Russia is increasingly stepping into this space, expanding its military and political influence through security partnerships and strategic engagement with military-led governments.
Despite promises by military juntas to restore order and defeat extremist groups, insecurity remains widespread. Jihadist insurgencies continue to spread across the Sahel, while critics argue that the new military regimes are consolidating power rather than delivering stability.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is facing mounting criticism for its limited ability to reverse coups or enforce democratic governance, with its influence increasingly questioned across the region.
In this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, geopolitical analyst Beverly Ochieng joins Ondiro Oganga and breaks down the drivers of instability in the Sahel, the retreat of Western influence, Russia’s growing footprint, and what this shifting balance of power means for Africa and global geopolitics.
1 May 2026
Why Ruto’s Singapore Dream Isn’t Working in Kenya | Ft. Kwame Owino
From the “bottom-up” economic agenda to the push for Singapore-style transformation, William Ruto’s administration has been defined by ambitious promises of reform, investment, and large-scale development.
But questions are mounting over delivery. Key flagship projects—including the Standard Gauge Railway, affordable housing programme, and the Social Health Authority—are under scrutiny for their execution, impact, and sustainability.
Attention is also turning to the government’s infrastructure fund, backed by the sale of state assets, raising concerns about governance and investment priorities. Meanwhile, plans for a sovereign wealth fund remain stalled as Kenya continues to fall short of key structural requirements.
In this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, Kwame Owino joins journalist Ondiro Oganga to unpack Kenya’s economic strategy, the realities behind its flagship projects, and what the current trajectory means for the country’s future.
12 Dec 2025
Africa’s Billion-Job Challenge: How Policy Failures Are Fueling Gen Z Social Unrest
Africa is projected to need one billion new jobs by the end of the century, yet slow economic growth, weak policy execution, and political missteps are deepening the continent’s youth employment crisis.
With over 60% of Africans under 25, rising unemployment, inflation, and limited economic mobility are fueling Gen Z frustration, digital activism, and widespread social unrest. This episode breaks down the structural causes behind Africa’s job deficit—poor governance, corruption perceptions, inadequate public services, and inconsistent industrial policy—and explores how these pressures are reshaping politics, business, and society.
We analyze what African governments and the private sector must do to create sustainable, future-ready jobs: investing in manufacturing, technology, green energy, infrastructure, and education reform. The conversation offers an evidence-based look at how Africa can turn its demographic boom into a global economic advantage rather than a source of instability.
On this season finale of the Corporate Cocktail Africa Podcast, Ondiro Oganga is joined by Hilina Legasse, Senior VP Corporate Services at Dodai, to discuss these urgent challenges and the bold solutions needed to secure Africa’s economic future.
6 Dec 2025
The Rating Blind Spot: Africa’s Most Avoided Region… and the Returns Hidden in Plain Sight
Central Africa is one of Africa’s most misunderstood and underestimated frontiers written off as “too risky,” yet home to some of the highest potential returns on the continent. In this powerful episode, Benhel Boumba Tamane, Managing Director of L’Archer, dismantles the outdated risk narratives that have kept investors away from a region rich in resources, growing markets, and massive untapped opportunities.
We dig into the real story behind investment risk, perception bias, domestic capital, SME growth, and the financial architecture shaping Central Africa’s future. Benhel reveals why the region’s fundamentals from hydropower to minerals to rising demand make it an investment case the world can no longer ignore.
If you care about Africa’s frontier markets, high-yield opportunities, capital flows, and the gap between perceived and actual risk, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about Central Africa and show you the returns investors are missing.
21 Nov 2025
How Kenyans Experience the Economy: The Pain Behind Ruto’s ‘Bottoms Up’ Agenda
Kenya’s economic reality is far more complex than government headlines suggest. Despite President Ruto’s Bottoms Up economic agenda, many Kenyans are grappling with weak demand, slow job creation, high debt, and corruption. Gen Z took to the streets in mass protests in June 2024, highlighting frustrations with rising costs, limited opportunities, and the disconnect between official growth numbers and everyday life.
On today’s episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, Ondiro Oganga chats with CGTN Business Anchor Ramah Nyang to explore the illusion of a good economy and the real challenges facing citizens across Kenya.
14 Nov 2025
Iron Fist Politics: Inside Tanzania’s Authoritarian Drift and East Africa’s Rising Autocracy
Tanzania’s astonishing 98% election victory — a number more familiar in authoritarian regimes than modern democracies — has raised alarm across East Africa. Political violence is rising, opposition voices are silenced, and calls for reform are quickly neutralized.
In this episode, we explore Tanzania’s authoritarian drift, the consolidation of power, and what it means for citizens, investors, and the region. Tune in to Corporate Cocktail Africa with Ondiro Oganga for a deep dive into the rising culture of impunity in East Africa.
7 Nov 2025
Highways, Debt, and Leverage: Is Africa Getting a Raw Deal in Its Infrastructure Partnership with China?
China promised progress — Africa got highways, debt, and questions. In this episode of Corporate Cocktail Africa, Ondiro Oganga sits down with Nation Media’s Kepha Muriuri to unpack the real cost of China’s infrastructure boom. From Kenya’s $5B SGR to growing debt burdens, we ask: Is this partnership building Africa’s future, or mortgaging it?
31 Oct 2025
Tanzania on the Edge: Elections, Unrest, and the Grip of Power
Tanzania was East Africa’s quiet neighbor — until the calm broke.
Gunfire in the streets. Internet blackouts. Opposition leaders silenced. And now, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stands virtually unchallenged.
In this episode, Ondiro Oganga unpacks Tanzania’s tense election, the rise of digital dissent, and the shrinking space for democracy under Africa’s first female president. From political repression to billion-dollar gas deals, this is the story of a nation walking the fine line between progress and control.
🎧 Listen to understand what happens when stability becomes silence.
#AfricaPolitics #CorporateCocktailAfrica #Tanzania #Democracy #Elections
17 Oct 2025
How Stale Power Is Fueling Africa’s Youthquake-Gen Z Revolts and Geriatric Rulers
Gen Z is shaking up Africa. From Madagascar’s youth protests toppling President Rajoelina to Cameroon’s 92-year-old Paul Biya clinging to power, this episode dives into how economic stagnation, rising unemployment, and political fatigue are fueling a continent-wide youthquake. This week on Corporate Cocktail Africa, Ondiro Oganga unpacks why old-guard leaders can no longer ignore the new generation driving change.”
10 Oct 2025
Gen Z Are Eating The Rich-Inside The Silent Wrath Of African Youth Let Down By Governemnts
Gen Z are eating the rich — and African politicians are first up on the menu. From Kenya to Morocco, young Africans are mobilizing online and in the streets, furious over corruption, joblessness, and broken systems. This week on Corporate Cocktail, we unpack the protests, the power shifts, and why Africa’s youth are no longer asking — they’re demanding.
Corporate Cocktail Africa is your weekly digest of Top African stories packed with Maximum insights and minimum noise.
Hosted by Award winning Journalist Ondiro Oganga, this promises to be weekly staple so add it to your rotation.
6 Oct 2025
End of AGOA, Zambia’s Debt Clash & Nigeria’s Fuel Tensions
This week on Corporate Cocktail, Africa’s markets face critical shifts: the U.S. ends AGOA, threatening over a million jobs; Zambia enters a high-stakes debt dispute with AfrExim that could reshape the continent’s debt landscape; and a labor standoff at Dangote’s $20 billion refinery risks Nigeria’s fuel supply and economic stability.
Ondiro Oganga breaks down the deals, disputes, and policy moves shaping Africa’s economic future.
29 Sept 2025
Guinea’s December Elections: Junta Eyes Ballot as Africa Pushes for Equity at UNGA
This Week on Corporate Cocktail With Ondiro Oganga,
Guinea’s junta tightens its grip with a lopsided constitutional referendum, Rwanda steadies its credit outlook despite simmering tensions with the DRC, and African leaders storm the UNGA demanding fair finance and a permanent seat at the table. From power plays in Conakry to mineral politics in Kigali and Africa’s growing leverage in New York, we unpack the bold moves and quiet shifts shaping the continent’s future.
19 Sept 2025
Currencies, Corruption & Comebacks — Ghana’s Cedi Wobbles, Malawi Recycles Democracy, South Sudan Sinks in Graft
From Accra to Blantyre to Juba, Africa’s economic and political battlegrounds are shifting fast. Ghana’s currency miracle is fading, Malawians are turning back to a leader they once rejected, and South Sudan’s wealth keeps vanishing into elite pockets.
At the same time, the U.S. Fed’s first rate cut of 2025 could unlock a rare window for African sovereign bonds and portfolio flows. Journalist Kepha Muiruri breaks down the global money angle, while Money Africa’s Oluwatosin Olaseinde explores the bold risks Africans take to move ahead.
Why Listen?
Because Corporate Cocktail is Africa’s leading business podcast hosted by Ondiro Oganga, an Award winning international correspondent — your Friday wind-down decoding the deals, bold moves, and quiet power plays shaping the continent’s economy.
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