Global Perspectives: On Africa – the highlights from CNN’s inaugural live event
In a special half-hour show, hosted by Zain Asher, CNN showcases the highlights from its inaugural Global Perspectives: On Africa event – featuring interviews and session highlights with high profile political and business leaders, innovators, and thought-leaders.
In a world reshaped by tariffs, technology, and tension, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is playing a key role. WTO Director-General, and former finance minister of Nigeria, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was one of several world leaders at Global Perspectives: On Africa. She sat down on stage with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, telling her about Africa’s growth, “The continent is forecast to grow now by the IMF at about 4% for this next year, which is one percentage point almost above global growth. By 2050 there will be 2.5 billion people on the continent. That's market demand from the trade side. So don't look at Africa as a poor place but look at it as the market for the future, where you need to be making connections and doing business now so you can take advantage of that demand.”
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also spoke to Asher on the sidelines of the event where she expanded on her on-stage thoughts, “Multilateralism needs to change. A new multilateralism that takes account of the AI revolution. That is happening. The need to be more nimble. More flexible. And certainly, my organisation, the World Trade Organisation, we are recognising that we have many changes and reforms we have to deliver to make ourselves nimble, flexible, good for Africa. And good for the world.”
As Africa’s economic star rises, Europe’s Ambassador to the African Union Javier Niño Pérez told Asher that it’s time for the continent to take a bigger role in global affairs, “We need to give Africa its rightful place in the world, on trade, on investment, on international, for Africa as a member of the G20. Let’s continue that way, let’s go all the way to the Security Council. Let’s give Africa a chance.”
As new alliances form, old conflicts still test the continent’s resilience. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) peace remains fragile. DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka spoke to CNN’s Melissa Bell, calling on Rwanda to “accept a ceasefire” between the two countries. She told the audience, “Today, the most important thing is peace. We are convinced that only peace will enable us to have a positive evolution for the country.”
Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim also echoed this message, saying that conflict hasn’t delivered anything to the African people. He told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that the next generation needs to take the lead, “I think African youths are a wonderful force for progress for Africa. These generations, we failed Africa. We have to accept that we failed really to develop the continent, to manage its resources, etc. The young ones are much more better educated than us. Better connected than us. What I always said, if young people in Africa formed a political party, they will take power in every single campaign.”
Global Perspectives also explored the African continent’s growing cultural influence. British-Ghanaian designer Ozwald Boateng broke barriers in the 1990s, opening a store on London’s historic Savile Row. He sat down with Asher to talk about how his work fuses classic British tailoring with the spiritual and cultural symbols of West Africa, “My work has always had strong spiritual meaning. It’s that something that sits in the backdrop of my work, the use of symbols, colour. And I think that's something that is intrinsic in every African's creation. I think there's a strong spiritual dynamic, because as a continent we're incredibly spiritual.”
Boateng says this spiritual creativity is an opportunity for his industry, “That's the opportunity because I think we're all searching for meaning. Technology is now defining so much for us, with AI. So, I think that kind of connection is a very important part. And I think you combine that with creative spirituality, which is very much the space that I live in, I think that's a space that a lot of African creatives also live in.”
Finally, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie joined Asher on stage, telling her it was time for African creatives to boldly take their place on the world stage, “Our storytelling needs to be more culturally confident. We have to assume we are at the centre. Other people who write stories, write stories assuming that they're at the centre, as they should.”
See more from Global Perspectives:
https://edition.cnn.com/world/global-perspectives
Global Perspectives: On Africa airs on CNN International at the following times:
Saturday 15th November 2025 at 0830 GMT and 1730 GMT
Sunday 16th November 2025 at 1830 GMT
Monday 17th November 2025 at 0400 GMT
Saturday 29th November 2025 at 1300 GMT
Sunday 30th November 2025 at 0430 GMT
Wednesday 24th December 2025 at 1430 GMT
Friday 26th December 2025 0600 GMT and 2130 GMT
Monday 29th December 2025 at 1530 GMT
Jake Campbell | CNN Communications
E: jake.campbell@warnermedia.com | W: cnn.com/international
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