In honor of International Podcast Day (September 30), MSU’s Department of History is celebrating a pioneering voice in the world of academic podcasting: Africa Past and Present, the longest-running African studies podcast in the world. Launched in 2008 by MSU historians Peter Alegi and Peter Limb, the podcast has become a vital platform for conversations about African history, culture, and politics.
Produced by Matrix: The Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences and supported by the Department of History and African Studies Center, Africa Past and Present features “fireside chat”-style interviews with scholars and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines. Its mission is clear: to broaden access to cutting-edge knowledge about African experiences in a down-to-earth and informed manner.
In a recent interview with the New Books Network, co-founder and host Dr. Alegi reflected on the podcast’s origins and impact. “We hatched the idea for an African studies podcast a few months after the first iPhone came out,” he said. “At the time we were frustrated with the limited social impact of Africanist scholarship in the United States.” Drawing on their backgrounds in oral history and radio, Drs. Alegi and Limb saw podcasting as a powerful way to democratize knowledge, an idea that aligned with MSU’s land-grant mission.
Dr. Alegi, a professor of African History and Global Soccer, is currently writing a book titled Afripod: How Scholarly Podcasting Is Changing African Studies. The book explores how podcasting is reshaping the field by amplifying underrepresented voices, fostering community, and enhancing public engagement. “When done well,” he noted, “scholarly podcasting can engage with a wider audience, enhance visibility, enrich promotion and tenure portfolios, strengthen professional networking, and foster a sense of community.”
Over the years, Africa Past and Present has inspired other academic podcasts, including The Hip Hop African and The Africanist. For new listeners, Dr. Alegi recommends starting with episodes featuring Malian scholar Cherif Keita or South African historian Neo Ramoupi.
As podcasting continues to evolve, Africa Past and Present remains a model of how thoughtful, accessible scholarship can thrive in the digital age. “When I started Africa Past and Present,” Alegi shared, “I had absolutely no idea it would become a fundamental part of who I am as a scholar.”
Read the full interview from New Books Network and listen to Africa Past and Present on Apple Podcasts and other platforms.