Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

World Service,25 mins

SeriesWhy Is Africa Poor?

Episode 2

The Documentary

Available for over a year

Mark Doyle crosses the continent of Africa - and finds a place rich in natural resources and human potential. But this begs the question: why is Africa poor? Conflicts - between Africans, with non-Africans and sometimes with the land itself - continue to make too many people on the continent among the poorest on earth. Doyle explores questions of democracy, modern communications and the impact of multi-national corporations. Though the question "why is Africa poor?" is a straightforward one, the answers are not.

Programme Website
More episodes