Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur
Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur sheds light on individual and collective actions across Europe, Africa and the Americas to defend racial equality and justice. Our guests - scholars, activists, artists - share their practice with us, highlighting both the forms that historical and contemporary racial violence takes in these different contexts, and examples of possible reforms and mobilizations. Through their experiences fighting against racism, we draw the contours of racial justice efforts today. Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur is hosted by Liliane Umubyeyi and Amah Edoh, co-founders and co-directors of the African Futures Lab (AfaLab). A new episode is published every two weeks, and episodes alternate between French and English. Production credits: Production: Amah Edoh; Liliane Umubyeyi; Matt Dann; Recording and editing: Matt Dann; Music: “African Dreams,” written and composed by Seun Anikulapo Kuti; Artwork: Amélie Umuhererezi
Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur
S5 E2: Debt Cancellation is Not Enough!
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Why is debt cancellation alone insufficient to solve Africa's economic crises, and what deeper structural transformations are required?
Debt Cancellation is Not Enough explores why debt cancellation alone cannot deliver economic justice. Drawing on African Futures Lab's Debt Cancellation Is Not Enough! report, the episode examines how debt is rooted in a global financial architecture shaped by colonial power relations, unequal decision-making, and extractive economic models.
Joining the conversation is Grieve Chelwa, Associate Professor of Political Economy and Chair of Social Sciences at The Africa Institute. The discussion engages themes from his recent book, How the International Monetary Fund Strangles Africa, and explores the role of institutions such as the IMF and World Bank in perpetuating debt and economic dependency across the continent.
Together, we discuss what reparative justice would require: restructuring global finance, redistributing financial power, reclaiming policy autonomy, and building more just economic futures.
In this episode, we cover:
- Beyond short-term relief: Why debt cancellation without structural reform fails to stop future dependency.
- Global financial architecture: How power asymmetries within major institutions reinforce cycles of debt.
- State responsibility and accountability: Balancing demands on global institutions with sound, equitable domestic governance.
Featured guest:
- Dr. Grieve Chelwa — Associate Professor of Political Economy and Chair of Social Sciences at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Moderated by:
Liliane Umubyeyi, PhD - Cofounder and Executive Director, African Futures Lab.
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This podcast season is a joint collaboration between the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and African Futures Lab (Afalab).
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