During this episode I spoke with Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher in the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Gustavo has over 15 years of experience supporting policy development, capacity building, and research processes in Africa, particularly in multilateralism and the relationship between African actors and external partners. Gustavo has worked with various international organisations, universities, and think tanks, including the United Nations in Guinea-Bissau, the University of Johannesburg, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), and Global Witness. Gustavo holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of Brasilia and a Master's degree in African Studies from the University of Oxford. During our conversation, we discussed the African expansion of BRICS, which countries made the cut and why and how the changes play into the general group dynamic. We also touched upon the economic opportunities opened up by BRICS, the possibility of trading in national currencies and why the group is on an upward trajectory. Timecodes: 3:00 Gustavo's BRICS journey and areas of academic interest 5:02 The significance of the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa 9:48 The African expansion of BRICS: why Ethiopia and Egypt? 14:35 How South Africa lobbies for Africa. Other potential African BRICS candidates. 21:25 Is BRICS a group, club or organisation? 25:33 The African perception of BRICS 34:37 The key traits and ideas of the core BRICS members 47:21 What does joining BRICS give to the general public in Africa? 53:03 Is South Africa ready to share its stage/presence on the global arena? 57:33 What Gustavo feels when he thinks about the future of Africa