The Story of Money
France’s colonial battle to control African money
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Show notes
For 80 years, a currency created by France has remained in use across large parts of west and central Africa - even decades after the countries there gained independence. But is the CFA franc, as it’s called, a tool of economic stability, or a colonial relic that has allowed France to maintain its grip on its former colonies?
Senegalese economist Ndongo Samba Sylla joins Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth to uncover the controversial history of the CFA franc, asking whether monetary independence is the missing piece of the post-colonial puzzle and whether former colonial powers can ever truly relinquish control. Who does the CFA franc really serve: African economies, their political elites, or France?
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Hosts: Gillian Tett & Robin Wigglesworth
Senior producer: Laurence Knight
Executive producer: Kate Ford
Original music and sound design: Breen Turner
Video editor: Michael Saliba
Podcast development: Laura Clarke
FT global head of audio: Flo Phillips
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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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