Africa and Beyond with Veteran Journalist Barry Maughan

In this episode of Moving Along, host Christi Cassidy interviews Barry Maughan, a former chief of English to Africa for the Voice of America and the author of Beneath the African Sun (Outback, 2025). Barry shares his memoir and travelogue of living in Ethiopia during the early 1970s and his extensive journey with his wife, Suzanne, from Egypt to South Africa in a VW Combi camper bus named Bridget. The discussion also delves into his nearly 25-year career in Washington, D.C., his childhood in Australia, and the serendipitous events that shaped his life and travels. They explore the power of serendipity, the importance of embracing opportunities, and the value of travel (especially for children) in broadening one's perspective. Barry reflects on his significant journalistic experiences, including covering the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie and the devastating famine in Ethiopia, and his heartfelt insights on race, class and the role of family in African cultures. The conversation further touches on the vital role of the Voice of America in Africa and his concerns about its recent dismantling.

Bio

Barry Maughan is a lifelong writer and was an international broadcaster and journalist for more than forty years. During that time, he plied his trade on four continents, including stops in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the United States. His major news coverages included the coup that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in September 1974, and the devastating drought and subsequent famine in Ethiopia’s northern province of Wollo. The last 24 years of his career were spent at the Voice of America in Washington, D.C., where he retired as chief of the English to Africa service. Since his retirement, Barry has kept busy writing about his extensive travels and life experiences. Find out more and contact Barry: https://barrymaughan.com

00:36 Introduction to Barry Maughan

01:46 Barry's Early Life and Love for Travel

08:07 The Serendipitous Meeting in Egypt

10:01 Exploring Egypt and Heading South

17:40 Life and Work in Ethiopia

23:35 Challenges and Adventures in Africa

28:35 Navigating Language Barriers in Ethiopia

28:56 The Petrol Station Dilemma

31:03 Travel Adventures in Kenya

32:43 Cultural Insights and Family Values in Africa

39:34 The Voice of America

CREDITS

Host and creator: Christi Cassidy

Contact: [email protected]

Artwork by Phyllis Busell

Music by Eve’s Blue. 

Post-production help from Auphonic.com.

Show notes written with assistance from Podium.page and/or Descript.

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