Thabo Mbeki's new podcast: A catalyst for transforming African thought

The Thabo Mbeki Foundation has unveiled its African Renaissance Podcast, an incisive new platform hosted by Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi to drive conversations on Africa’s renewal. Launching on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, the weekly show will feature Mbeki and other thought leaders.

By Nhlanhla Muthe

Former President Thabo Mbeki has unveiled the African Renaissance Podcast hosted by Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi to ignite new conversations on Africa’s renewal and leadership.

Thabo Mbeki, the revered former South African President, has, through his foundation, officially launched the African Renaissance Podcast.

Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi will host the new weekly series aimed at advancing Africa’s renewal and self-sufficiency. The programme premiered on October 27, and will air every Monday at 3 p.m. South African time across YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

In a statement, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation said the podcast will be a “critical tool in our mission to advance the African Renaissance and a platform designed to overturn the colonial corrosion of the African psyche and champion the self-sufficiency, dignity, and prosperity of the African people.”

Each 60-minute episode will feature a mix of interviews, panel discussions, and thought-provoking conversations, including insights from former President Thabo Mbeki himself. The discussions will focus on Africa’s political, economic, and cultural transformation, while also offering a sharp critique of historical injustices and the continent’s current trajectory.

Foundation CEO Max Boqwana emphasised that the initiative is about more than just conversation. “This podcast is a small part of our commitment to truth-telling, understanding the harms of history, and building a continent that is free and non-humiliating,” he said.

Dr Ndlozi, a Power FM presenter, academic, and former EFF MP, was recently appointed as the foundation’s Senior Fellow. He brings both political experience and intellectual depth to the role, with a focus on decolonisation, social justice, and youth empowerment. According to the foundation, his role is to “drive incisive and transformative conversations that resonate across the continent and the diaspora.”

Since its inception in 2010, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation has championed the ideals of African Renaissance through leadership programmes, peace initiatives, and public engagement. With this new podcast, it is expanding that mission into the digital age and inviting Africans everywhere to listen, reflect, and act.

Listeners can access the African Renaissance Podcast on all major platforms by searching for its title or visiting the Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s YouTube channel.