Kasi Maps - The Soft Power Players Shaping Africa’s Narrative

In today’s information economy, owning the narrative is as powerful as owning natural resources. As African nations push for economic independence and regional integration, one question demands our full attention: Who owns Pan-African media?

We created this map to spotlight the dominance of global players in the Pan-African media space—media houses that operate across multiple African countries and influence cross-border narratives. While every nation has its own media outlets, Pan-African media holds a unique power: the ability to shape continental identity, foster solidarity, and influence perception. Yet, much of that power lies outside the continent. This map addresses a critical gap. It provides a visual response to a neglected but urgent question: Are Africans telling Africa’s story—or is the continent’s voice being outsourced?

Key Insights

France leads in cross-border media presence - With AFP, France 24 Afrique, Radio France Internationale (RFI), and Jeune Afrique (privately owned but France-based), France remains the most visible media power across African borders. This dominance reflects the lasting influence of France’s post-colonial media infrastructure.

Foreign government-backed media are on the rise - The UK (BBC Africa), Germany (DW), Qatar (Al Jazeera), China (CGTN Africa), and the U.S. (CNN International) all maintain robust Pan-African operations. Whether state-funded or owned by massive conglomerates, these outlets project soft power under the banner of global journalism.

AllAfrica Global Media: The continent’s largest aggregator - Backed by African and American investors, AllAfrica functions more as a content aggregator than a newsroom. Some of its material is sourced from the same international outlets that dominate the media landscape—creating a feedback loop where global narratives are re-amplified on African platforms.

Few truly African-owned Pan-African media houses - CNBC Africa, PANAPress, and The Africa Report are among the few locally driven efforts—but they remain underfunded or struggle to scale. No single African-owned media entity today matches the reach or resources of BBC Africa or AFP.

Implication

Narrative power is political power - Foreign media houses determine which stories lead and how they are framed. This shapes how Africa is perceived—by its citizens and the world—affecting elections, self-perception among youth, and how the world engages with the continent.

Pan-Africanism is being narrated by non-Africans - The Pan-African vision of unity, shared identity, and collective destiny is diluted when its primary storytellers are outsiders. How can a continent unite when its cross-border narratives are shaped through foreign lenses?

Policy without media ownership is incomplete - Africa is building free trade zones, digital economies, and common markets. But without a strong, indigenous Pan-African media infrastructure, these initiatives risk being misrepresented—both within the continent and globally.

Wakeup call - If Africa is serious about self-determination, we must stop outsourcing the African story. It’s time for Africa to own its voice, amplify its truth, and shape its future—from the continent, for the continent. This means:

• Funding independent, African-owned Pan-African media
• Establishing policy incentives for continental media collaboration
• Encouraging African investors and philanthropists to prioritize media sovereignty
• Rethinking content partnerships to elevate African newswires, correspondents, and voices