Is China Decolonizing African Media or Expanding Its Influence?

4 Sep 2026 · 54 min · S16 E37

Episode Is China Decolonizing African Media or Expanding Its Influence?

0:00 54:28

China's influence in Africa's media landscape increasingly operates through content-sharing agreements, journalist training, paid placements, and support for local broadcasters. These "below-the-line" strategies give Chinese narratives a pathway into African newsrooms that extends well beyond the reach of traditional state outlets such as CGTN and Xinhua.

But the push for greater Chinese influence raises a deeper question about decolonization. While Beijing presents its media engagement as an alternative to Western dominance, African journalists can be exposed to models of reporting that do not necessarily fit local political and social realities. At the same time, the shift toward social media makes the actual impact of these efforts increasingly difficult to measure.

Emeka Umejei, a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, joins Eric and Cobus to discuss the arguments from his book China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization, content-sharing agreements, journalist training, and the future of African media independence. Show Notes

• China in African Media: Between Influence Operations and Decolonization by Emeka Umejei

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• China's evolving media influence across Africa • The rise of content-sharing agreements with African news outlets • Journalist training, media exchanges, and the spread of Chinese reporting models • The tension between China's "decolonization" narrative and African media independence • How Chinese economic engagement strengthens its media influence • The shift toward social media and the uncertain impact of foreign media campaigns on African audiences

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X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander I @stadenesque I @emekaumejei

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