Africa Daily
Africa Daily has ended, but listeners are directed to Focus on Africa for comprehensive news and African perspectives on global events. Hosted by Audrey Brown, the podcast was available weekday afternoons. It covered major stories from across the continent.
Episodes
Tanzanian elections: What issues are young people concerned about?
As Tanzania gears up for elections on 29 October, we hear from two young people about the issues that matter to them and whether youth concerns have been featured in the electoral campaigns.How a young Senegalese footballer's dream of joining a professional club ended in tragedy after he was tricked and lured to Ghana by fake football agents.And how Africa is rapidly becoming a compelling destinat
Focus on Africa: Hundreds of stolen social media identities used to spread propaganda
A BBC investigation uncovers dozens of social accounts using stolen identities of Somali and Muslim influencers and posting political propaganda content. We hear more about what was uncovered and who might be behind this widespread operation.Chad’s parliament has overwhelmingly approved a controversial constitutional amendment removing presidential term limits. What will this mean for 41-year-old
Focus on Africa Can DRC be declared ebola free?
The last ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been released from a treatment centre in Kasai province. Can the country now be declared free of this latest outbreak?What is behind the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over control of the Red Sea?And we hear from the Nigerian scientist, who has been recognised with a global award from the International Institute o
Focus on Africa: What led to the downfall of Madagascar's president
An elite military unit says it has seized power in Madagascar from President Andry Rajoelina following weeks of youth-led protests. Where did it all go wrong for the entrepreneur and former DJ, who first became president in 2009 when he was just 34.Being a park ranger in Africa can be one of the most dangerous professions in the world. We hear from a ranger at Zambia's South Luangwa National Park,
Focus on Africa: Militants' blockade paralyses Mali-Senegal trade corridor
Mali's military government is reportedly engaged in talks with the militant group Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) amid an ongoing blockade which has paralysed a key trade route for fuel, food, and essential goods. Could the crisis also threaten Mali’s stability and governance?A BBC Africa Eye investigation in Cape Town, South Africa, reveals how self-appointed healers and shamans are op
Focus on Africa: Can Botswana continue to depend on its diamond industry?
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Waihiga Mwaura, Botswana's President Duma Boko, outlines his plan to reduce his country's reliance on the diamond industry amid falling global demand, and how he is pushing for a 0% tariff deal with the US.Guinea is showing signs of economic progress under the military-led regime. What is driving the country's economic growth?And more than 200 million peop
Focus on Africa: Who is Uganda's Joseph Kony?
The International Criminal Court concludes hearings into war crime charges against the Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony and will decide whether he should face trial. But who is Joseph Kony and what are the charges against him? How some South African schools are fighting childhood obesity. And as Malawi gears up for elections, how can the participation and representation of women in the country's p
Focus on Africa: Ethiopia opens huge dam despite outside opposition
Ethiopia opens Africa's largest hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile river deepening a rift with Egypt and Sudan.Authorities in the US have arrested two suspected leaders of the Cameroon separatists' military wing. We find out more about the charges against the two men, and why Cameroon has been blighted by a conflict between armed separatists and government forces in the country's mainly anglophon
Focus on Africa: Is the jailing of a former Zambian minister a watershed moment?
Zambia's former Foreign Minister Joseph Malanji has been sentenced to four years in prison with hard labour after being convicted, along with a co-accused of corruption. President Hakainde Hichilema promised to root out corruption when he swept to power four years ago, is he now delivering on that pledge?In Egypt, dozens of teenage TikTok influencers have been arrested in recent weeks on charges s
Focus on Africa: Sudan landslide: Race to find survivors
A landslide that followed days of heavy rain, has killed hundreds of people in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, and many survivors may still be trapped in deep valleys. How do aid agencies help people hit by a natural disaster but also caught in the middle of a war?
A new report details an increase in disappearances, kidnappings and torture in Tanzania. We hear from relatives lookin
Focus on Africa: South Africa building fire: What happened to survivors?
Two years on from the devastating fire at an abandoned building in Johannesburg that was occupied by squatters, how much has changed? We revisit the scene of one of South Africa's worst tragedies, in which more than 70 people - including children - died, to find out what happened to the survivors.Scientists warn that global warming and climate change could be making flight turbulence more frequent
Focus on Africa: Mauritania accused of widespread abuses against migrants
A new Human Rights Watch report says the EU's and Spain’s outsourcing of migration control to Mauritania has worsened abuses against asylum seekers and migrants heading for Europe, but the Mauritanian authorities reject those claims. Why are cybercrimes on the rise in Africa and how can you stay safe?And we find out why the population of one of Kenya's iconic tourist attractions - flamingos - is i
Focus on Africa: Kenya's starvation cult: New bodies found
There are fears that the mass starvation cult in Kenya is still active after the discovery of new bodies in fresh graves near the site of the Shakahola forest massacre. So far, eleven people have been arrested in connection with these new exhumations. We hear from a Rapid Response Officer, working with a human rights organisation, who has been helping people track down missing relatives.Why are Af
Focus on Africa: Exploring Africa-Japan trade ties
Japan has pledged to work more closely with African countries at global summit on economic development. How can Africa benefit from stronger ties with Japan?The former prime minister of Chad is facing a 20-year prison term after being convicted of hate speech, xenophobia and having incited a massacre. Who is Succès Masra and what sparked the intercommunal violence that led to the charges against h
Focus on Africa: Increased concerns over missing Ethiopia journalists
Two prominent journalists in Ethiopia, Abdulsemed Mohammed and Yonas Amare, have been missing for more than a week after being abducted by what reports say, were men wearing masks and military uniforms. There has been no news about their whereabouts but their disappearances have raised concerns about a crackdown on media freedom in the country. Aid agencies warn that a surge in the number of peop
Focus on Africa: Nigeria negotiates $346m arms deal with US
The US government has approved a $346m arms deal with Nigeria which would include munitions, precision bombs and precision rockets. What is behind the change in a decade-long US policy about selling certain kinds of weapons to Nigeria?The mining of gold has been a key driver of Sudan's economy, and now it is a major source of funding of the two-year civil war. We look back at its history in Sudan,
Focus on Africa: Activists block foreigners from South African hospitals
Doctors Without Borders and other NGOs have raised concerns about anti-migrant groups preventing non-South Africans from accessing healthcare services. The South African government has called on all communities to uphold the rule of law, respect human dignity. So why are activists blocking health clinics and hospitals?
The African Union sends a delegation to South Sudan to encourage the warring
Focus on Africa: What is fuelling Angola's fuel protests?
What began as a three-day strike by taxi drivers against rising petrol prices in Angola, has escalated into one of the most widespread and disruptive waves of protest the country has seen in recent years. What has life been like in the capital Luanda, against the background of the unrest?Why do fewer than a quarter of South Africans trust their police service? A new survey shows only 22% of Sout
Focus on Africa: Who are the CAR commanders jailed for war crimes?
This week the International Criminal Court sentenced two commanders of a civilian militia in the Central African Republic to a total of 27 years in prison. One of them, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, had formerly been the head of the country’s football federation. What was the conflict that engulfed CAR a decade ago, and what were the crimes that led to the ICC convictions?Also in this episode, the i
How has Goma changed under M23 fighters?
The city of Goma in the conflict-hit east of the Democratic Republic of Congo was seized by the M23 armed group earlier this year after intense fighting with government forces. How has the city changed after six months under the group’s control?After retired police officers in Nigeria held demonstrations earlier this week calling for better pensions, we look at wider pension provision and ask if y
Focus on Africa: Why Burkina Faso discarded its Electoral Commission
Burkina Faso's military rulers have disbanded the country's electoral commission calling it a waste of money. The government says the interior ministry will handle elections in the future. Will this move by the ruling junta further delay democratic elections?Hundreds of thousands of premature deaths occur each year in Africa due to illnesses caused by cooking with polluting fuels like wood, charco
Focus on Africa: Cameroon's president seeks re-election at age 92
Cameroon's Paul Biya has the distinction of being 'the world's oldest sitting president' and yet at age 92, he is seeking to run for an eighth term, that will see him serve until he is almost 100 years old. How much popular support does he have, and how strong is the opposition?Sudan's newly appointed prime minister, Kamal Idris, has named his cabinet ministers who will form his "government of ho
Focus on Africa: Ghanaians lured into football job scam
Ghanaian authorities have rescued more than 70 young men from a trafficking ring in Nigeria. The men thought they were heading for football contracts or overseas opportunities. Why has football become a gateway for trafficking? Leaders from five African countries - Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal - have been invited to a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White Ho
Focus on Africa: Why has polio re-emerged in Angola?
Angola was certified as polio-free in 2015, but is now combating a new outbreak of the disease after several cases were reported in a Western province. What has caused the virus to come back?A new report says Islamist militants are using Starlink technology to ramp up operational capabilities in Niger. And why are South Sudanese women fashion's favourites and are being sought after on the catwalk?
Focus on Africa: Russia's Wagner Group leaves Mali
Russia says the paramilitary group Wagner has accomplished its mission and has left Mali, although a Russian presence remains in the West African country, through the Africa Corps. So what did the Wagner Group achieve?Why has a separatist movement on the tiny, remote island of Annobón that is part of Equatorial Guinea, appealed to Argentina for support with its independence claim?And new research
Focus on Africa: South Africa's human trafficking problem
A South African woman, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn have been given life sentences after being convicted of trafficking her missing 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The case has captivated and horrified audiences around the world. It has also highlighted the wider issue of human trafficking in South Africa. An anti-trafficking campaign
Focus on Africa: US halts international student visa applications
US embassies globally have halted student visa appointments, as social media vetting expands. How is Africa affected?Why is Zimbabwe's controversial radio tax now being implemented? And how can AI predict and prevent child malnutrition in Kenya?Presenter: Richard Kagoe
Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Bella Hassan
Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris
Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga
Editors: Andr
Focus on Africa: African leaders attend Russia's Security Summit
Russia's 13th International Security Summit in Moscow attracts over forty African leaders. How significant is it and what does it mean for the continent, especially for the Sahel? Also, Boeing seals a deal with the US Department of Justice over the fatal crashes of two 737 Max aircraft that killed hundreds of people. One family who lost their son and daughter-in-law in the 2019 Ethiopian plane c
Focus on Africa: Uganda suspends German military co-operation
Uganda cuts military ties with Germany following diplomatic rift.Somalia's government moves to control clan militias fighting al-Shabab - after allegations of serious atrocities.And will Starlink's strategy of 'winning big by thinking small' help them cover the African continent?Presenter: Blessing Aderogba
Producers: Bella Hassan, Tom Kavanagh and Yvette Twagiramariya.
Technical Producer Chris A
Introducing: Focus on Africa
The big stories from across the continent and the African perspective on major global stories. Africa Daily has now closed. You will get Focus on Africa episodes here this week. For future episodes, search for Focus on Africa, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Sudan’s displaced footballers’ winning streak in Mauritania
“My responsibilities as a captain became more… A player would receive a call telling him he’d lost a brother or a relative or a dear one.”After war broke out in Sudan, the football team Al Hilal Omdurman had to flee from Khartoum like many of those around them. They spent months looking for a new home, but eventually were welcomed to Mauritania where they have played competitively in the league t
Why do so many children go missing in South Africa?
Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje sits down with Johannesburg mother Mankepe Matsoakeletse.
Her daughter, seven-year-old Agnes, went missing in August 1989.
She hasn’t stopped searching for her.
“I do not know if she is alive or struggling or if she is eating. That's why I cannot give up. I cannot forget because I do not know what kind of life she is living where she is, if she is still aliv
Can chess help children displaced by conflict to rebuild their lives?
12 year old Mary has spent most of her life in an Internally Displaced People’s camp in north-east Nigeria.
Her family were driven out of their village by militants Boko Haram- a group whose exploits have left millions in the region displaced.
Over 3 million people have been displaced in Nigeria and more than half of that number are children. This have also contributed to the north’s reputati
What’s the future of nursing in Africa?
Anyone who has spent time in hospital will know just how vital nurses are. They’re often the people we have the most contact with as they look after our comfort as well as our medical care.
But the role of nurses is expanding. They are taking on more medical responsibilities and are becoming leaders in healthcare.
Alan Kasujja speaks to Khadija Mohamed Juma, a Kenyan nurse who has been revolutio
What do the deaths of three young girls reveal about gender based violence in Namibia?
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to violence against children, which some listeners may find distressing.Three young girls - Ingrid Maasdorp, Rosvind Fabian and Beyoncé Kharuxas - were found dead in the Namibian town of Okahandja within weeks of each other.Their deaths, though separate, shared chilling similarities and sparked a wave of grief, protests and urgent calls for justice
Is Joseph Kabila about to lose his immunity from prosecution?
It’s more than six years since Joseph Kabila stepped down as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo…handing over power to Felix Tshisekedi.
And yet Mr Kabila’s presence still looms large over politics in the country.
On Thursday the Senate in the DRC began to examine an indictment request against Mr Kabila.
On today’s episode, a senior member of Mr Kabila’s party responds to the prospect of
Are white Afrikaner minorities really being targeted in South Africa?
This week the first group of Afrikaners arrived in the United States, as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to resettle them in his country.
President Trump alleges that this ethnic group is being targeted.
“It’s a genocide that’s taking place that you people don’t want to write about. But it’s a terrible thing that’s taking place, and white farmers are being brutally killed and their
Why are hospitals under attack in South Sudan?
“Even the patients, their relatives had to carry them on make-shift stretchers trying to escape. We had 38 cholera patients and they all fled. Which means they spread the disease in other areas, and some of them might have died in the bush.”
Tensions have escalated in South Sudan in recent weeks after the Vice President was put under house arrest and his key allies were detained.
In Upper Nil
Why are so many countries saying yes to Starlink?
The number of African countries now allowing Elon Musk’s company Starlink to provide internet services has been growing rapidly - six have granted permission in 2025 alone. And there are reports that Uganda might be next.
Starlink can be cheaper than some traditional internet providers and has been seen as a way to provide internet access to communities that are hard to reach.
But does it come
Can you make a living as an artist in Somalia?
“90% of Somali people don’t know the value of art. That is the problem.”Maslah Abdi Dahir has been threatened by the Islamist insurgent group Al Shabaab who believe portraiture is ‘haram’ or forbidden under Islam. Other Somalis have told him art is a waste of time with so many people out of work.But the Prime Minister spotted and praised his work and he has 250K followers on TikTok. So what drives
Why is Zimbabwe’s government determined to compensate white farmers?
The government of Zimbabwe is pressing ahead with compensating white citizens who lost their farms due to the country’s land reform programme. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube recently told the media that the time has come. “We struck an agreement a few years back and we have now begun to honour that agreement”The controversial law, which was introduced in the year 2000, led to at least 4,000 white c
Does Africa need to talk more about the Menopause?
“Immediately you say I am menopausal or I’m approaching 40 years, in our culture they will brand you as an old person.” Do you know what the menopause and perimenopause are? It can mean hot flushes, sore limbs, brain fog and depression – but the symptoms are almost as varied as women are. All women will go through it – but many people don’t know anything about it. Two women on the continent who ar
Could the next pope come from Africa?
Cardinals from around the world are meeting at the Vatican to elect the next head of the catholic church in a secret conclave. There are thought to have been three popes from Africa in the past, but the last of those was more than 1,500 years ago. So, could the new pope come from Africa? And what is at stake for the continent as the catholic church chooses its next leader?
Alan Kasujja speaks to R
Can Africa afford school meal programmes?
‘’When the bush is on fire, the chameleon must abandon the walking styles of its ancestors.’’Save the Children Fund says international aid cuts have significantly impacted school feeding programs in Africa, affecting millions of children who rely on these meals. Across the continent 86 million children benefit from subsidised programmes which make sure that even those below the poverty line can ge
What does the death of a Somali actor tell us about clan killings?
Aano Qabiil - or Clan Vengeance - is a short film which explores the vendettas between clans which have led to many senseless deaths in Somalia. One of the actors in the film is veteran poet and songwriter, Guudey Mohamed Geedi. He plays a man who tries to intervene to stop the owner of the teashop from being killed by a rival clan. After filming finished, Guudey Mohamed Geedi went to his village
Why has everyone been talking about the #JP2025 wedding?
“This was on another level, but a typical Nigerian wedding is usually big, bold, and rich in tradition and culture - it's a show of our heritage.”When Tanzanian music star Juma Jux married Nigerian influencer Priscilla Ojo, the hashtag #JP2025 took over social media feeds across Africa and beyond. Their lavish Lagos wedding had flamboyant fashion, a 15-foot cake entrance, and a celebrity-filled gu
Is Kenya tackling its problem with femicide?
In January 2024, protests erupted across Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa as Kenyans demanded justice for women killed in a wave of femicides. The government promised action, launching a 90 day task force to deliver recommendations to President William Ruto. But that deadline has long passed and there’s still no clear plan.
BBC Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje speaks to feminist activist Editar Ochieng an
DRC: Why are people talking about Kabila's return?
”It has been a week and a half since we heard that Joseph Kabila was leaving South Africa for DRC. Since then, however, we haven’t heard much more about whether he arrived in Goma” - Goma resident. Last week the news that former President Joseph Kabila had returned to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo grabbed the attention of the world’s media. But why has his presence in that part of the c
As President Trump marks 100 days in office, what’s Africa learning from his tariff hikes?
“I can see that president Trump is trying to play some kind of a chess [game] to put the other nations in the context of a prisoner’s dilemma to say, okay, if I do this, what happens? If I do that, what happens?” - Professor Gowokani Chijere Chirwa, University of Malawi
This week, American president Donald Trump will mark 100 days in office. His second tenure at the White House has been marred b
Can storytelling help reconnect diaspora children to their culture?
“This generation of storytellers are ageing. Our elders are ageing. I am the one who needs to start this preservation process — at least in my family,” says Hana Baba, a Sudanese-American journalist and podcaster.
Her new podcast, Folktales from Sudan, brings ancient Arabic fables to life in English for the first time. It’s aimed at young people in the diaspora who may not speak the language or
What’s fuelling the deepening rift between Algeria and France?
The relationship between Algeria and France - often sensitive, sometimes strained, but usually restrained - has soured horribly in recent weeks.
With tit-for-tat expulsions, diplomatic recalls and lingering resentment over France’s stance on Western Sahara, some observers are calling this crisis unprecedented.
So, have Algeria and France reached a point of no return?
BBC Africa Daily’s Al
Why is Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in South Africa?
“South Africa is known for championing human rights using diplomacy to bring all parties together. But it’s not as simple as that” - Thelela Ngcetane-Vika of the Wits School of Governance in Johannesburg.South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is meeting his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital Pretoria today.The two are expected to discuss the on-going war in Europe, trade and
Can the Africa Union help end the war in Sudan?
“Our goal is to... silence the guns.”
One of the stated aims of the African Union is to 'promote peace, security, and stability on the continent'. With that in mind, the organisation co-hosted a conference aimed at finding an end to Sudan’s war last week in London.
But even as discussions continued in London, thousands of civilians in Northern Darfur were fleeing for their lives under militar
How will Pope Francis be remembered in Africa?
“We’ve had a pope who was able to grasp and understand the problems in third world countries.”In 2023 Pope Francis showed his commitment to Africa by visiting two countries riven by conflict: the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Hundreds of thousands of people turned out to celebrate him in Kinshasa. But his decision was not a surprising choice – given that he’d made social justice a
Is the ‘African Heritage Diet’ more healthy for you?
Think about your favourite foods… the dishes you eat to make you happy. Are they traditional African foods - like vegetables, fresh fruits, roots, tubers, nuts, beans, and staple whole grains? Foods like Pap, Fufu or Ugali? Or are you thinking about a burger or deep fried chicken and chips from your favourite fast food shop? A new small-scale study found that when participants switched from a wes
How are Africa’s innovators shaping the future of AI?
“We must, as Africans, begin to solve some of our problems ourselves, because we have more local context, the nuances. It’s our people, it’s our community.”AI is transforming everything - from how we search information online to how we access healthcare. It’s also an industry that is projected to generate nearly $3 trillion for the African continent by 2030.But without African data, languages and
Why are elite British boarding schools opening up in Lagos?
For decades, wealthy Nigerian families have looked to the UK for elite education - drawn to what they see as prestige, global connections, and academic rigour. But that journey overseas may no longer be necessary. Top British boarding schools like Charterhouse and Rugby are now opening campuses in Nigeria, with others - including Harrow and Millfield - exploring similar moves. But what’s behind th
Why has Ugandan politician Bobi Wine decided to stand in Uganda’s 2026 election?
Bobi Wine says to be an opposition politician in Uganda is to be labelled and treated as a terrorist. He’s been beaten, teargassed, arrested and shot at. So why does he want he want to be a presidential candidate in elections scheduled to take place in 2026? He was in London recently and came to our studio to talk to Africa Daily’s Victoria Uwonkunda about why he wants to change Uganda, corruption
What’s the situation in Darfur two years after Sudan’s war broke out?
“Right now we’re receiving hundreds of patients and victims from ZamZam camp. You can hear the sounds of children… they do not belong to any military.”Today marks two years since war first broke out in Sudan, and in the second of two podcasts on the state of the war, we turn our attention to Darfur.Over the last few days, attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on the Zamzam camp, near t
Sudan: What’s changed after two years of war?
The Sudanese capital, Khartoum, April 15th 2023. Families who’d gathered to celebrate Eid together woke up to gunfire and explosions as a power struggle erupted between two factions of the military led government. There were clashes at the presidential palace, at the airport and at the TV station. Both sides hoped for a quick win, but it quickly became a war of attrition, and in the two years sin
Why aren’t there more African wildlife filmmakers?
“We want to change the narrative, so we as Africans can stop being portrayed only as the poacher, the ranger, the guide, or are people who sing for you when you jump off your safari vehicle.
From the presenters to the camera teams to the scientific experts, Africa’s wildlife stories have been mainly told by western documentary teams from large international broadcasters like the BBC and Netflix.
How is Lesotho responding to President Donald Trump's 50% tariff?
“We’ve heard that there’s a possibility that our firms might shut down. This has to do with what Mr Trump said. Should it happen, it will be devastating to us because there isn’t much work in Lesotho. We rely on these firms" - Mamonts'eng LephalloAccording to White House figures, in 2024 the United States exported just $2.8 million worth of goods to Lesotho.The southern African country on the othe
What is stopping women in Africa from inheriting land?
The ownership of land is central to our food production, our financial security, and our sense of identity.But in Africa most women do not inherit or own land, despite laws that often provide for their right to do so. Alan Kasujja finds out what is stopping women from inheriting land with the help of Esther Mwaura-Muiru, the Global Advocacy Director for the ‘Stand For Her Land’ Campaign, and Bank
Can football help women prisoners get back on their feet?
“What I’d like to see is when these girls go back into society, they don’t end up back in prison. It's about using football for positive social change. Football is more than just a game on the pitch and this is an example of that.” The “Football for Reform” programme kicked off in Sierra Leone last November, taking place over 8 days. Run by Caf – the Confederation of African Football – it involved
Is Somali piracy on the comeback?
“A lot of people in our communities don’t view them as pirates. I think they are defenders of the sea.”In 2011, Somali piracy peaked. Crews were attacked at gunpoint and many held as hostages for months. The World Bank says there were 243 incidents that year. After a crackdown involving international navies, attacks plummeted to almost zero.But since last year there’s been an uptick in incidents.
How much is South Africa willing to sacrifice for Palestinians?
“The question that I’ve been grappling with is, are we not punching above our weight as a country given the fact that we are not one of the biggest economies?” – Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Nelson Mandela University in South Africa
Tensions between South Africa and the United States appear to be intensifying.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress recently said, i
How is Zambia dealing with lead contamination?
“It has made nearly every person, every mother, to have their child contaminated, because the lead levels are so rampant,” says Cornelius Katiti, a father from Kabwe, Zambia, whose three children are affected by lead poisoning.
For decades, the town has struggled with remediating 6.4 million tonnes of toxic lead waste left behind by a former mine. A Human Rights Watch report shows 95% of childr
What does Africa’s urban population boom mean for its major cities?
Africa’s cities are expanding at an unprecedented rate.A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Sahel and West Africa Club says the urban population will double to 1.4 billion by 2050.But are these cities prepared to handle the growing demand for housing, transport and services? And as urban areas evolve, who truly stands to benefit from this tran
Why don’t we know more about Lupus and autoimmune diseases?
Lupus is a condition where someone’s immune system attacks their own body, including healthy tissue and cells, leaving them with debilitating conditions like exhaustion, extreme weight gain, organ failure and pain. It can lead to death.
It disproportionately affects black women but very little is known about the condition in Africa and statistics are hard to come by.
In today's episode, Alan
Why does southern Africa experience so many devastating cyclones?
Have you noticed how southern Africa tends to be hit by deadly cyclones that leave a trail of destruction?
Right now the people of Mozambique are trying to piece their lives together after Cyclone Jude battered the country this month.
Before it, two others, Chido and Dikeledi, hit the same part of southern Africa in quick succession.
All three claimed dozens of lives, leaving schools, homes
What will Kirsty Coventry’s win mean for Africa?
“A lot is expected of her. A lot of eyes are going to be on her.” A moment of sporting history. That’s how many sports fans around the world will remember it.
Africa’s most decorated Olympian, swimming champion, Kirsty Coventry will become the next President of the International Olympic Committee. The first time for a woman, an African and the governing body's youngest president.
In today’s
Why are street football tournaments a Ramadan tradition in Egypt?
“You cannot feel that you’re fasting when you’re playing. No water, no food, but it’s still very exciting to finish and to score"
Ramadan is a time for prayer and reflection worldwide. But in Egypt they mark it using one of their nationwide passions: football.
Since the 1960s street football tournaments have spread to every town – involving everyone from professional footballers to children a
Is Morocco’s drought changing Eid traditions?
As Morocco faces one of its worst droughts in decades, soaring meat prices and dwindling livestock have made Eid al-Adha sacrifices difficult. In response King Mohammed VI has urged Moroccans to forgo the tradition, echoing a similar appeal by his father in 1966.Could changing weather patterns reshape how Eid is observed?
BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Moroccan journalist Basma El Att
How did the promise of work lead Africans into scam centres in Myanmar?
"It was hell. The worst seven months of my life. I was beaten, humiliated, electrocuted."Jalil Muyeke thought he was travelling to Thailand for a dream job. Instead, he was trafficked to Myanmar, imprisoned in a scam centre, and forced to commit online fraud under the threat of violence. An estimated 100,000 people fell victim to these operations run by Chinese crime groups. Jalil endured seven mo
The man bringing light to remote communities - while tackling plastic waste
“For someone seeing a light bulb for the first time, it is like a magic show from heaven. They are so happy, they are singing. That moment, it never gets old.”Six hundred million people in Africa don’t have access to electricity – meaning that for many living on a continent with a median age of 19, the future is anything but bright.But it’s a challenge that the winner of this year’s Commonwealth Y
What are the challenges facing Namibia’s first female president?
“The emphasis now is not on Netumbo the person, the emphasis is on a woman… If anything happens, like it can happen in any administration under men, there are also those that won’t talk about Netumbo, but rather say: “look at women!””Today sees the inauguration of Namibia’s first-ever female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The 72-year-old is a former freedom fighter and veteran of the ruling
Why is SADC withdrawing its troops from the DRC?
“It could not by itself stop the advance of M23 without a strong Congolese army. And my sense is that it was not SADC that failed, but the Congolese army that failed.”
Since December 2023, troops from SADC - the Southern African Development Community - have been taking part in a mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo tasked with supporting the Congolese army and protecting civilians
How's Nigeria reacted to a Senator's allegations that she's been sexually harassed?
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan says Nigeria’s senate President began to sexually harass her in December 2023 and that there were multiple incidents of this nature. She’s been speaking publicly about what she says happened and filed a petition to the senate. But earlier this month Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan received a six month suspension from her job over what was described as a “breach of the rules
Western Sahara: what is life like for the Sahrawi refugees?
The dispute over Western Sahara is one of Africa’s longest running wars – starting in 1975. It pits Morocco against the Polisario Front- an Algerian backed political movement.
But while the international community has focussed on finding a diplomatic solution – the plight of the indigenous Sahrawi people, who used to live on the disputed land, is often forgotten.
They have been living in diffi
Why has Mogadishu become a safe haven for many Sudanese doctors?
“This is a payment of debt. Definitely we are trying our best to show our gratitude and also to stand by our brothers and the nation of Sudan.”After three decades of civil war in Somalia, the healthcare system in the country was a mess and many people had to travel to neighbouring countries for treatment - if they could afford it. And so, in 2014, a group of Somali businessmen founded the Somali-S
