Richard Dowden is a journalist and freelance documentary-maker specialising in Africa since 1983, now running the Royal African Society, a think-tank that promotes Africa. He has made three full length documentaries, two for Channel 4 and one for the BBC, as well as several extended news pieces.  He writes for several publications and websites, including The Times, Guardian, The Independent, FT, Economist, New York Times, Prospect magazine and Open Democracy. He also provides commentaries on African issues for BBC, Al Jazera, Sky TV and Channel 4.

He began his love affair with Africa as a volunteer teacher in Uganda during the first two years of the Idi Amin regime and has since 'visited and written about nearly every country on the continent.'