On 1st December 1944, the French army opened fire on West African soldiers in Thiaroye, a suburb in Dakar, Senegal. These African soldiers previously fought for France during World War II, some even becoming prisoners of war in the process. Their crime? Asking for equal compensation for their war effort. We uncover this act of colonial violence towards Africans, and the erasure of colonies’ contribution in World War II. We also look at the attitudes leading to the tragedy and its legacy seen in Senegalese film and theatre. Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. It's a Continent (published by Coronet) is available to purchase: ⁠itsacontinent.com/book⁠ ⁠ ⁠ We're on Buy me a Coffee too:⁠ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent⁠ Visit our website:⁠ itsacontinent.com⁠ Artwork by Margo Designs:⁠ https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com⁠ Music provided by Free Vibes:⁠ https://goo.gl/NkGhTg⁠ Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired:⁠ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...⁠ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 ⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...⁠ Sources for further reading: ⁠The 1944 Thiaroye Massacre in Senegal, a Shameful Episode of the French Colonial Period in Africa⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠West African Representations of World War II: Rewriting Thiaroye⁠ Shadows of War: A Social History of Silence in the Twentieth Century (book) ⁠⁠ ⁠

In this episode, we delve into the world of cobalt, a critical material in the production of rechargeable batteries, especially Lithium-ion batteries that power our everyday devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and electric vehicles. We explore the supply chain, mining, investment, and the future of cobalt. Discover the challenges of exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the increasing demand driven by environmental focus. Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. It's a Continent (published by Coronet) is available to purchase: itsacontinent.com/book   We're on Buy me a Coffee too: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent Visit our website: itsacontinent.com Artwork by Margo Designs: https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Further Reading Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara

We're joined by Dr Estrella Sendra: scholar, teacher, filmmaker, journalist and festival organiser based at King's College London. We bring marginalised African film into the spotlight as we learn about the origin of Francophone West African film and its pioneers. We discuss the genre's evolution - including its globalisation and top tips for getting into Francophone West African cinema. Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. It's a Continent (published by Coronet) is available to purchase: ⁠itsacontinent.com/book⁠ ⁠ ⁠ We're on Buy me a Coffee too:⁠ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent⁠ Visit our website:⁠ itsacontinent.com⁠ Artwork by Margo Designs:⁠ https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com⁠ Music provided by Free Vibes:⁠ https://goo.gl/NkGhTg⁠ Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired:⁠ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...⁠ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 ⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...⁠ Recommendations: ⁠https://mubi.com/⁠ ⁠African Screen Worlds: Decolonising Film and Screen Studies⁠ ⁠Francophone West African Cinema⁠

Meet Albert Luthuli, the first African to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent fight against apartheid. As the leader of the African National Congress, he became well-known in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. In this role, his views on justifiable violence were tested and evolved. We explore his story of perseverance and courage. Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. It's a Continent (published by Coronet) is available to purchase: itsacontinent.com/book   We're on Buy me a Coffee too: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent Visit our website: itsacontinent.com Artwork by Margo Designs: https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Sources for further reading: Let My People Go by Albert Luthuli (autobiography)

Chocolate is something we all know and love to consume. However, it’s no secret that cocoa as a commodity has its roots in something a lot more sinister. Human rights campaigners continue calling on global chocolate companies to recognise the role the cocoa trade has played in enabling poverty and child labour, particularly in countries such as Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana - West Africa's top cocoa producers. Does the continent remain, in the words of Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, locked in a colonial-style relationship with the world’s chocolate manufacturers? Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. It's a Continent (published by Coronet) is available to purchase: itsacontinent.com/book   We're on Buy me a Coffee too: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent Visit our website: itsacontinent.com Artwork by Margo Designs: https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Sources for further reading: White Man's ““Burden”” and the New Colonialism in West African Cocoa Production - Bama Athreya World Cocoa Foundation The sweet spot: is ethical and affordable chocolate possible? The Cocoa Industry and Child Labour - Elliot J. Schrage and Anthony P. Ewing Child Labour and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry Dispatches: Cadbury Exposed List of Ethical Chocolate Companies