Formula 1 will return to Africa, with a first race set to take place in Rwanda in the early 2030s. The East African nation will host the F1 African Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement, Formula 1 said in a statement on Tuesday.  Rwanda beat out competition from South Africa and Morocco to win the right to hold the first Grand Prix on the continent since 1993.  

On this week’s episode of the Next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg Senior Africa Reporter Loni Prinsloo to find out how Rwanda won the bid, and what the country is building to make it happen. Then Bloomberg Africa’s Deputy Managing Editor Neil Munshi discusses why some have accused Rwanda and Formula 1 of Sportswashing. 

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter

Formula 1 will return to Africa, with a first race set to take place in Rwanda in the early 2030s. The East African nation will host the F1 African Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement, Formula 1 said in a statement on Tuesday.&nbsp; Rwanda beat out competition from South Africa and Morocco to win the right to hold the first Grand Prix on the continent since 1993.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On this week&rsquo;s episode of the Next Africa podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg Senior Africa Reporter Loni Prinsloo to find out <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-13/formula-1-set-to-return-to-africa-with-rwanda-grand-prix">how Rwanda won the bid</a>, and what the country is building to make it happen. Then Bloomberg Africa&rsquo;s Deputy Managing Editor Neil Munshi discusses why some have accused Rwanda and Formula 1 of Sportswashing.&nbsp;
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/next-africa">Next Africa newsletter</a>

Next Africa is a weekly podcast about where Africa is going and why it matters to everyone.

Each episode tells a story from the continent and follows it through real life, business, politics and culture. From electricity and climate to jobs, migration, technology, sport and music, the podcast looks at the forces shaping daily life and how those changes connect to the wider world.

The show covers challenges and breakthroughs side by side. It explains the impact of energy shortages and climate risk, but also the rise of new industries, creative economies and young entrepreneurs. Stories are reported on the ground and told with clarity, combining data, context and lived experience.

Hosted by Jennifer Zabasajja and built on original journalism from reporters on the ground, Next Africa puts local voices at the centre of the story, delivering clear, factual reporting without cliché or assumption.

Whether you live on the continent or want to better understand a region shaping the future, Next Africa offers insight, perspective and stories worth listening to.

Next Africa is a weekly podcast about where Africa is going and why it matters to everyone.
Each episode tells a story from the continent and follows it through real life, business, politics and culture. From electricity and climate to jobs, migration, technology, sport and music, the podcast looks at the forces shaping daily life and how those changes connect to the wider world.
The show covers challenges and breakthroughs side by side. It explains the impact of energy shortages and climate risk, but also the rise of new industries, creative economies and young entrepreneurs. Stories are reported on the ground and told with clarity, combining data, context and lived experience.
Hosted by Jennifer Zabasajja and built on original journalism from reporters on the ground, Next Africa puts local voices at the centre of the story, delivering clear, factual reporting without clich&eacute; or assumption.
Whether you live on the continent or want to better understand a region shaping the future, Next Africa offers insight, perspective and stories worth listening to.

Inside the stories shaping the world’s fastest-growing continent.

Next Africa

How Rwanda Won The Race To Host Africa’s F1

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