Leading up to the summit, many countries have vocalised their interests to join the BRICS formation. In July it was reported that more than 40 countries expressed interest in joining BRICS with 22 formally requesting to join. It has been said that a strategically expanded BRICS would change the global architecture of the world, particularly in economic terms. The current criticism, however, is that the formation is not yet offering anything concrete to justify its anticipated influence on the world and that the current member states need to be selective about who they admit. On today’s Culture Corner, we want to explore what an expanded BRICS would mean particularly for African countries.

Director of the Centre of Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg Professor David Monyae joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.