Can Africans Do Economics? Dr. Grieve Chelwa on Africa’s Economic Future

Dr. Grieve Chelwa, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Political Economy at The Africa Institute, shares valuable insights from his latest book, “Can Africans Do Economics?” Can Africans Do Economics? explores the link between economic development and freedom in Africa, drawing on the ideas of leaders like Thomas Sankara and Julius Nyerere. Informed by scholars such as Dr. Grieve Chelwa and Ndongo Samba Sylla, it redefines development as emancipation, not just growth. Blending history with policy, the book advocates for transformative, Africa-centered strategies over foreign-led interventions. Dr. Chelwa has previously served as Director of Research at The New School and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business. Prof. Chelwa is an inaugural postdoctoral fellow at Harvard’s Center for African Studies and a non-resident Senior Fellow at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. His scholarly work has been published in top-tier journals like the Journal of Economic Literature, Applied Economics Letters, Social Science & Medicine, Daedalus: Journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Economy and Society, PLOS ONE, British Medical Journal, Energy Policy, and the South African Journal of Economics. Dr. Chelwa’s research has received support from prestigious foundations such as the Carnegie Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Open Society Foundations. As a recognized expert on African economic issues, his commentary has been featured in leading media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, CGTN, BBC, Mail & Guardian, People’s Dispatch, Lusaka Times, and Business Day. In 2023, he joined the advisory board of Economists For Future. Recently, he was appointed as a Commissioner to the Jubilee Commission on the Debt and Development Crisis in the Global South, chaired by Nobel laureate economist Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz. Dr. Chelwa holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cape Town, focusing on the economics of tobacco control in Africa. He also holds a Master's in Economics from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Zambia. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music. B. Dr. Grieve Chelwa has generously shared profound insights from his book, Can Africans Do Economics? during his appearance on the Business Talk Podcast Channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited. All content is © 2025. All rights reserved.