Focus on Africa: Militants' blockade paralyses Mali-Senegal trade corridor

Summary

Podcast Summary: Africa Daily / Focus on Africa

Episode: Militants' Blockade Paralyses Mali-Senegal Trade Corridor
Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Nyasha Michelle (BBC World Service)
Main Guests: Dr. Mani Lakunze (University of Aberdeen), Claire Maweesa (BBC Africa Eye), Francos & Oneela Chimpuki, Angela Mutanda (Relationship Psychologist)

---

Overview

This episode centers on three major stories from across Africa:

• The impact of a militant blockade on the vital Mali-Senegal trade corridor, causing a severe fuel crisis in Mali.
• An investigation into the illegal use of psychedelic drugs by self-styled shamans in South Africa.
• A lighter discussion on the concept of the "swag gap" in relationships, exploring how personal style and fashion impact love, status, and self-worth, especially in the age of social media.

---

Segment 1: Mali-Senegal Trade Blockade

(Start – 09:29)

Key Points

• Blockade & Crisis: Jihadist militias linked to Al-Qaeda (notably Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, "JNIM") have attacked fuel tankers and blockaded a major corridor from Senegal, leading to severe shortages and soaring prices in Mali. Long petrol queues and blackouts affect daily life.
• Government Response: The Malian army increased patrols and military action, while government officials have started indirect negotiations with the militants.
• Underlying Issues:
  • Mali has faced a decade-long struggle with Islamist insurgency; the recent military coup created further instability.
  • Being landlocked, Mali is particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
• Power Balance: Dialogue forced by the blockade reveals the growing strength of the insurgents.

Notable Quotes

• On the Root Causes:
  “[Mali] has a northern part that has some rebels that have acquired different names over time, but really the same problems. They want to set up an Islamist state...”
  – Dr. Mani Lakunze (02:32)

• On the Impact:
  “Fuel in the 21st century setting is life ... Blackouts are even the least to talk about, because the real thing is transportation of food, medicine, people. That is really... increasing poverty in Mali.”
  – Dr. Mani Lakunze (05:55)

• Negotiation Dilemma:
  “The fact that a government is forced to talk to rebels shows a degree of progress on the part of the rebels...”
  – Dr. Mani Lakunze (04:34)

• On Mali’s Future:
  “We keep thinking that these juntas have been in power for five years. What normally happens is that when people wait for change and they don't see change, then they will do something... I wouldn't be surprised that there was a coup in Mali that removes this current junta...”
  – Dr. Mani Lakunze (08:27)

Important Timestamps

• [02:30] – Dr. Lakunze on the decade-long insurgency.
• [05:41] – Discussion on daily impacts for Malians.
• [06:58] – Risks and avenues for resolving the crisis.
• [08:27] – The challenge of transitioning from military rule to democracy.

---

Segment 2: Psychedelic Drugs and Shadow Healers in South Africa

(09:29 – 23:22)

Key Points

• Illegal Use Rising: Self-styled/"self-proclaimed" shamans are offering psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms (psilocybin), MDMA (ecstasy), and ibogaine in clandestine mental health and “spiritual healing” ceremonies.
• Risks and Dangers:
  • No regulation or standardization of dosing.
  • Medical risks include adverse reactions, psychosis, and exacerbation of pre-existing conditions.
  • A highlighted incident involved a “healer” nearly killed by a patient who reacted violently to ibogaine.
• Legal Status:
  “Point blank, period. Mushrooms are illegal. They are as illegal as heroin is illegal in South Africa. They should not in any way, shape or form be sold or taken legally.”
  – Claire Maweesa (11:44 & 13:15)
• Shamans’ Defiance: Some see psychedelics as the future of mental health and compare their illegality to unjust laws of the past, e.g., apartheid.
• Government Response:
  Law enforcement does not focus heavily on psychedelics given the prevalence of other street drugs, though arrests have occurred.

Notable Quotes

• On Variability & Danger:
  “The side effects of psychedelics are really different person to person... One of the worst things that could happen on a psychedelic drug obviously is death.”
  – Claire Maweesa (11:51)

• On Shamans and Legitimacy:
  “The shamans that we spoke to... I like to just always let people know... that these are not real shamans. They proclaim, they self proclaim to be.”
  – Claire Maweesa (17:12)

• On Motivation:
  “[The shaman] is so deep in her belief that psychedelics are the future of treating mental health that for her, she doesn't see it as a crime... She feels like... something may be illegal, but it might not be just so.”
  – Claire Maweesa (18:57)

Important Timestamps

• [11:05] – Types and effects of psychedelics.
• [13:15] – Legality in South Africa.
• [14:09] – The dangers of unregulated “healing” sessions.
• [15:47] – Use of MDMA in ceremonies.
• [20:42] – Shocking incident involving ibogaine.
• [22:15] – Government’s response (or lack thereof).

---

Segment 3: Swag Gap – Fashion, Relationships & Social Media

(24:05 – End)

Key Points

• What is Swag Gap?
  When partners in a relationship differ dramatically in their sense of style or confidence in appearance. Trending on TikTok, it sparks dialogue on self-presentation and value.
• Social Media Influence:
  High-profile couple Francos & Oneela Chimpuki (over one million TikTok followers) discuss how their shared sense of style—sometimes coordinated “twinning”—has become a core part of their public image and relationship dynamic.
• Perspective & Balance:
  • For some, appearance is vital; for others, it’s secondary to deeper qualities. But pressure to meet a partner’s standards, maintain a public image, or keep up with online trends can strain relationships.
  • The couple stresses that dressing up for your partner is an act of service, but shouldn’t lead to unnecessary financial burden or relationship imbalance.
• Expert Guidance:
  Relationship psychologist Angela Mutanda unpacks when caring about a partner’s style is supportive versus controlling—and highlights the risk of using style to belittle or manipulate in relationships, especially when shaped by social media’s pressures.

Notable Quotes

• On Appearance as Act of Love:
  “How you present yourself is also part of love.”
  – Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu) (31:09)

  “When my wife tells me to dress a certain, if I make an effort on the particular day and I look good, sometime we end up having a good evening together.”
  – Francos Chimpuki (31:15)

• On Limits and Pressure:
  “I don't want to be accumulating expenses just because of the way, you know, we look. There's more to love than just looking twinning or fashionable. So, yeah, the pressure is there.”
  – Francos Chimpuki (29:33)

• On Red Flags:
  “If this is the most important way that you see yourself within that relationship. It's when it's an issue of I am the stylish one... and when we go out together, I mock my partner... That's when you have massive red flags in that relationship.”
  – Angela Mutanda (32:30)

• On Control vs. Support:
  “When the partner is not involved and they're your object... When it crosses the line and it becomes coercive and controlling is when you will wear what I tell you to wear, because you are not dressed the way I like...”
  – Angela Mutanda (34:10)

• On Social Media’s Illusion:
  “Social media is just a window in which you are looking at a polished product.”
  – Angela Mutanda (35:24)

Important Timestamps

• [24:05] – Swag gap defined and contextualized.
• [27:06] – Francos & Oneela on how style evolved in their marriage.
• [28:19] – Social media’s impact on personal appearance.
• [29:33] – The pressure and expense of image.
• [31:09] – Style as an act of service and love.
• [32:30] – Red flags and when fashion becomes controlling.
• [35:24] – Social media’s effect on relationship dynamics.
• [36:41] – Handling embarrassment over a partner’s style.

---

Memorable and Candid Moments

• Mali Analysis:
  “I wouldn't be surprised that there was a coup in Mali that removes this current junta or people went out to the streets and start protesting.”
  – Dr. Mani Lakunze (08:27)

• South African Shaman:
  “She knows it's illegal. It's why she acquires her MDMA and her magic mushrooms in secret and she protects her sources. Her deep belief is that in the future the conversation we're having now will be seen as quite backward.”
  – Claire Maweesa (19:32)

• Swag as Relationship Fuel:
  “Just look good enough for your wife. Sometimes men said, oh, she's not giving it to me in the bedroom. But you don't know why she's not giving it to you. Maybe you're not appealing enough.”
  – Francos Chimpuki (31:51)

---

Conclusion

This wide-ranging episode of "Focus on Africa" uncovers how crises—from militant blockades to unregulated mental health treatments—are shaping societies across the continent, while also reflecting on the lighter but significant role of fashion, image, and social media in modern relationships. The episode is marked by candid, expert commentary and insightful personal stories, offering a multifaceted view of current African life.

Transcript

[Angela Mutanda]

Foreign.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Hello, I'm Nyasha Michelle and here's what's coming up for you on this edition of Focus on Africa. A blockade by militants paralyzes the Mali Senegal trade corridor. Why are self styled shamans in South Africa offering illegal psychedelic drugs for healing?

[Claire Maweesa]

Point blank, period. Mushrooms are illegal. They are as illegal as heroin is illegal in South Africa. They should not in any way, shape or form be sold or taken legally. And so that's what the conflict of the story is, is that people are seeking out this drug, they are calling it a medicine, and yet it is.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Still very much illegal and it's trending on TikTok. But does Swaggap reveal how we equate image with value?

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

How you present yourself is also part of love.

[Francos Chimpuki]

When my wife tells me to dress a certain. If I make an effort on the particular day and I look good, sometime we end up having a good evening together. Yeah, I'll tell the men out there, if your wife is telling you to dress well, don't always take it negative, just look good enough for your wife.

[Nyasha Michelle]

It's Monday 13th October 1st we go to Mali. That's the sound of Bamako's busy streets, filled with hundreds of motorists queuing up at petrol stations for fuel. And that's where we begin today in Mali, as weeks of attacks by Al Qaeda linked militants have crippled a key supply route linking the capital with neighbouring Senegal. Fighters from the Jama' at Nusrat al Islam Wali Muslimen, otherwise known as Jinem, have torched tanker convoys, triggering fuel shortages, soaring prices and long queues at petrol stations. The Malian army says it stepped up aerial patrols and bombardments along the main highway, while reports indicate officials have opened indirect talks with the militants, though no deal has yet been reached. Dr. Mani Lakunze is a lecturer in international relations at the University of Aberdeen and he's been telling me about how the prolonged fuel crisis is testing Mali's stability and governance.

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Mali has been struggling with jihadist armed groups for more than a decade now. The country has a northern part that has some rebels that have acquired different names over time, but really the same problems. They want to set up an Islamist state that carves out parts of northern Mali and they have been fighting, I think 22 of the almost captured Bamako, but things settled down a little bit. And then after 2020 with the coups, insurgents have been growing in power ever since this year, by 2025, they have almost recovered. So the strength of the Islamist groups is really strong now. Whether you are talking about jnim, the one that we are focusing on with the fuel blockade, or akim. And so terrorist groups, they have regained their strength. And one of the strategies they're using is to blockade Mali, because people who know Mali know that Mali is a landlocked country. So one of the ways that they're trying to put pressure on the government is to target key thing like fuel to put pressure on the government so that they can get what they want from the government.

[Nyasha Michelle]

We're hearing reports that the authorities have established contact with Jainm. Is that correct? And what do you make of what could come from that?

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

So the authorities have been talking to them. They just didn't want to acknowledge it publicly. But that became one of JNM's demands, that whatever dialogue they are having with the government should be made public. At the same time, the government has tried to remain tough so to show that they don't talk to terrorists and stuff like that, or to find alternatives to get fuel into the country. But the talks have been ongoing for a while now.

[Nyasha Michelle]

But clearly the fuel blockade is what has forced the hand of the government for them to speak to Genan.

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Yes, it's been one of the tactics the GENM people have used.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So then who is winning?

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

That's an important question. The fact that a government is forced to talk to rebels shows a degree of progress on the part of the rebels. So I wouldn't say that one is winning or not winning because he hasn't got to the stage yet. But this is a demonstration of the strength of the insurgents.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And you say that they are jihadists. They are rebels. They're insurgents. Then how bad would it look if the government was seen to be negotiating with insurgents and jihadists?

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Very important question. The government itself is a military junta that took over power not long ago. So they're very keen to show that they're in charge of the country. They can deal with the problems that the Malian people have. So it's very crucial for the government to show that they're in charge. And the JNIM and the insurgents are also very aware because they want to show that the junta is weak, because it also strengthens their cause. So it's a situation where both sides know how high the stakes are.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Let's talk about the people of Mali and how they are impacted. What kind of effect is the fuel blockade having on them? There are reports that we're hearing of power blackouts in Bamako and problems at petrol stations.

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Yes, as you know, fuel in the 21st century setting is life. So you need fuel to move people to work. You need fuel to move food. So it's a crucial thing that is affecting lives generally across class and across cities, rural as well as urban areas. Transporting anything into Mali is expensive because it's a landlocked country. Fuel prices had already been very high. Fuel had already been rationed in certain places. So by putting extra pressure on fuel, you're putting pressure on almost everything else that requires fuel. So blackouts are even the least to talk about, because the real thing is transportation of food, medicine, people. That is really having an impact, that is increasing poverty in Mali.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So then how does the government go about ending this conflict? Is a negotiation like this likely to bring about positive change, especially for the people of Mali, or are we likely to see it continue to be played out on the battlefield?

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Negotiations could help, but it's politically risky for the government because like we said earlier, if they appear to be capitulating to the insurgents, then their own position is weakened. But they are also doing other things, like they're trying to have convoys move fuel. They're trying to have direct relations with countries like Cote d'. Ivoire. So all this fuel can be driven in by military trucks. Even if you're able to do that, it's very difficult to scale that kind of operation. You're taking soldiers away from other security issues for them to be moving fuel. So that in itself is not going to solve the problem, because if you bring those quantities that are not large quantities, it still may not affect the prices, because what Malians need is large quantity of fuel at lower prices. So what they're doing may not necessarily solve the supply problem, therefore cannot solve the price problem. But the negotiations are ongoing, and we need to give them time and see how the work. But there's a political risk for the junta carrying out these negotiations.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And many parts of the Sahel in recent years, we have seen the junta taking over continuously, right? And of course, we're speaking about Mali and the problems that is posing for the countries. So my question then is, with these countries which the junta have taken over, are we going to get to a point where there will be stability and democratic rule?

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

For now, it's extremely challenging. So for those of us analysts who study these countries, it's challenging to see how these juntas transition to real or some kind of democracy. We keep thinking that these juntas have been in power for five years. What normally happens is that when people wait for change and they don't see change, then they will do something. So in a place like Mali, I wouldn't be surprised that there was a coup in Mali that removes this current junta or people went out to the streets and start protesting. The security situation is not getting better, so people would increasingly be frustrated. So to answer your question, directly imagining the process of transition to democratic rule, whether you're talking about Mali, Burkina Faso or Niger and many other countries that will probably follow this route, is really difficult for now.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So you're saying in essence, this might be the new normal for the foreseeable.

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Future in this particular region? Yes.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Dr. Mali Lekunze, Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Aberdeen. A new BBC Africa Eye investigation has revealed that the self starred shamans in South Africa are offering psychedelic drugs to individuals who are seeking help for mental health conditions. According to the World Health Organization, one in two people around the world may experience some form of mental illness. And more of them are turning to these forms of unregulated and illegal treatments that medical experts warn could cause serious harm. There's also the potential of this becoming a multibillion dollar global industry. Africa Eyes Claire Mo Wisa gained rare access to one of the psychedelic ceremonies in Cape Town, South Africa and I've been speaking with her to find out more.

[Claire Maweesa]

Psychedelic drugs are drugs that make you hallucinate. They make you see things that are not there. They blur the lines between reality and something completely different. So what people might label another world or supernatural or it will feel like you have made your imagination a reality where you can hear colors and you can feel things that you would normally not feel if you didn't take them. So they're actually hallucinogenics.

[Nyasha Michelle]

What different types of psychedelic drugs are available in South Africa?

[Claire Maweesa]

So the most popular ones are the magic mushrooms because they've got an active ingredient called psilocybin. Psilocybin. And you can find that in various types of magic mushrooms. And I think there are psychedelics that are pharmaceutically made, that are man made, but the most popular ones in South Africa are the mushrooms because people can grow them in their own homes and they're quite relatively easy to find and buy. So in South Africa, those are the ones that are most prevalent.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And you've mentioned what happens when one is on them. But what are some of the side effects of psychedelic drugs?

[Claire Maweesa]

The side effects of psychedelics are really different person to person. So if I had to take the same quantity and you had to take the same quantity, you and I would still have very different experiences. So for some people, they will go into a dreamlike state, they will see things and they'll hallucinate. And for other people, it really might affect any pre existing conditions that they might have. So if they have any heart conditions or if they have asthma, or if they have anything that's already pre existing, a psychedelic could exacerbate that. And I think one of the worst things that could happen on a psychedelic drug obviously is death if you have too much of it. But as well, there's something called psychosis where you don't come down from the high. You are in this dreamlike trance state and you're seeing all these incredible colors and feelings and you're experiencing all these magical things. And the psychosis is when you don't stop feeling that feeling. And that can become quite a scary experience for whoever's ingested the drug. So there are various risks, but it depends on the person.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And there are some people out there who actually consider and say that magic mushrooms are medicine. And you covered this in your documentary. So tell me, what is the law then when it comes to the use of this substance?

[Claire Maweesa]

Point blank, period. Mushrooms are illegal. So the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, the psilocybin that I mentioned earlier, they are as illegal as heroin is illegal in South Africa. They should not in any way, shape or form be sold or taken legally. And so that's what the conflict of the story is, is that people are seeking out this drug, they are calling it a medicine, and yet it is still very much illegal.

[Nyasha Michelle]

What's quite interesting is the fact that even though it is illegal, some people are not using it just to get onto the high. Right? Some are also using it for spiritual healing. And it's a claim, of course, but what makes this practice particularly dangerous, especially for those who attend those shaman and the healing sessions that you witnessed when you were filming your documentary.

[Claire Maweesa]

So the danger with these magic mushrooms and these psychedelics is that any other drug that one takes, whether it's as simple as a paracetamol, there are instructions for dosage and you know exactly what's in the pill that you are taking, if it is prescribed, even if it's over the counter. But with magic mushrooms, the effect is different on different people. And there's no regulation in terms of what works and what doesn't work. And so that is some of the danger and the risks that lie in what people are taking. So the fact that it's illegal is bad, but the fact that also there's no regulation in control in terms of the amount people take the dosage that is where the real danger lies. And once somebody has given you magic mushrooms in an environment like a healing session that you'll see in the documentary, if something happens to that person who's taken the drug, who is ultimately responsible, the person who has given it under the guise of it being medicine, or the person who's decided to take full responsibility for any outcome and how is it treated, even when you get to the hospital, because nobody wants to take responsibility. So the risks really are a ripple effect.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Magic mushrooms, as you've already outlined, are very risky. But something that shocked me is the fact that some people, including these, these spiritualists, these shamans, they add another illegal substance, mdma. Tell me about it, what is it and what type of effect does it have on people?

[Claire Maweesa]

So MDMA is normally known as ecstasy. So you've probably heard of it as ecstasy and has been used in club culture for many, many years. And what ecstasy does or what MDMA does is that it's called kind of loosely as a love drug. So it makes you love those around you, it makes you all touchy feely. And so the shaman that we spoke to in our story, she has decided to put together a bit of a cocktail so that people not just take the psychedelic, she adds in the mdma and she feels like the mdma, the effect that it gives, that it allows you to go deeper and be more open to the effects of the psychedelics. So she feels like it, intensity intensifies the psychedelic drug. Now, nobody else offers that combo or that cocktail and she has decided as a self appointed shaman that this is what has worked for her and she now wants those who come to her seeking help to also experience it. So that is the use of the MDMA in the journey or in the session we witnessed.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Okay, now, Claire, me and you have been speaking for quite a bit now and we've kind of assumed knowledge in a way that everyone knows what a shaman is. So can you tell me what a shaman is?

[Claire Maweesa]

Firstly, a shaman in ancient times, and I think what people would understand it is somebody that we would refer to as a healer and somebody who's regarded in many traditional or indigenous peoples as somebody who straddles the world between reality and the spirit world. They are the ones that will be able to connect you to perhaps another world or supernatural worlds, whether it's communicating with those who have passed, but they are seeing as people who are special gifts and they use special herbs and plants to perhaps open you up to experience what they know as a supernatural world. They are the ones that people feel that can access good and evil. And so in ancient times, I think that's what people commonly understood as a shaman. But the people that we've spoken to, they are self appointed. They've decided, well, do you know what? I think I've got the gift. I have decided that I will declare myself as a shaman. And in, in other communities and in history, it's not something that you choose to be, it's something that's either bestowed on you or you've inherited, or it's part of the community that you've grown up in. So it's a common practice. But the shamans that we spoke to, I like to just always let people know I spoke about it with inverted commas in my mind that these are not real shamans. They proclaim, they self proclaim to be.

[Nyasha Michelle]

And what I found very fascinating when it comes to your journalistic skills is that you got her to admit on camera that what she is doing, which is administering magic mushrooms and MDMA to people, is illegal. How did you get her to do that?

[Claire Maweesa]

She is so far gone or so deep in her belief that psychedelics are the future of treating mental health that for her, she doesn't see it as a crime. You and I see it as a crime. But for her, she feels like, I think the words that she used to me off camera was something like, something may be illegal, but it might not be just so. She's made examples. The example she made was that once upon a time apartheid was legal. But was it ethical?

[Angela Mutanda]

No.

[Claire Maweesa]

Yes. She knows it's illegal. It's why she acquires her MDMA and her magic mushrooms in secret and she protects her sources. Her deep belief is that in the future the conversation we're having now will be seen as quite backward. We will one day awaken to the fact that actually magic mushrooms or psychedelics are an ethical drug to treat people. Now, it's tough to argue that point because there are some territories in the world like Australia, that actually right now do administer small doses of, of psychedelics. And so are they in the future or do they have understandings that we don't yet have? So I thought it was going to be a tough confession to get out of her, but she was very comfortable to tell me.

[Nyasha Michelle]

You spoke to another self proclaimed shaman, healer, cement heel, and she actually almost got killed by one of her clients or patients due to a substance that she gave to him. Where are these people getting these drugs? You say they are illegal. Where are they getting them?

[Claire Maweesa]

So that story About Sinette was very shocking. The drug that she uses that is also a psychedelic is called ibogaine. Ibogaine is very common in West Africa, Central Africa and West Africa. And it's a root. And so what she does is that she knows people who grow the roots and then they process the root. So technically, if you know how to grow it, if you know how to grow the mushrooms or the root of ibogaine, you can then refine it into a process and you can then administer it. She chose ibogaine as a psychedelic for herself, and she said she had a wonderful experience. So much so she felt like it would be beneficial for her to give it to other people who might be struggling with mental health. So she brought a gentleman in and he was saying, listen, I think I need this drug. I think I need this ibogaine. And she was like, absolutely no problem. He came to her house and she administered this drug and he had an adverse reaction. He became very violent, so violent. He tried to kill her, he tried to strangle her. And luckily her husband was in the house and they got out of that situation. But that was the wake up call. She needed to realize that this is not just dangerous for the people I'm giving it to, but it's dangerous even for my own personal safety.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Very, very shocking, actually. What is the government in South Africa doing about the use of psychedelic drugs in the country?

[Claire Maweesa]

I mean, it was a conversation we had as we were putting the film together and we couldn't really see much movement. Yes, there have been arrests here and there and people come out on bail and it doesn't seem like, like there's a lot of enforcement. The government does know, and the police do know that it's a drug that's becoming more prevalent and growing. But if you compare it to the other drugs that are readily available, it is still quite a small player, if you will. So there are other drugs that are street drugs that are very accessible, quite cheap, are wreaking havoc in communities. And I think the priority is to crack down on those drugs. Whereas with psychedelics, they seen as a drug that the elite or those who live in suburbia are taking than people who are seeking some sort of recreational escape and not necessarily something that is as prevalent as other drugs that we are seeing in the mix of cocaine or a methamphetamine or a heroin. So the government is aware, but I don't think that they're doing enough to crack down on psychedelics.

[Nyasha Michelle]

BBC Africa eye reporter Claire Maweesa, experts in the medical profession are clear on taking psychedelic drugs. They say taking this illegal, unregulated drug remains dangerous territory. And the South African government's stance on psychedelics is that they are illegal to possess, manufacture or sell To Watch the full documentary Search shadow healers on BBC Africa's YouTube channel. This is Focus on Africa from the BBC World Survey this Now let's talk fashion status and social media.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

Have you.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Ever heard of the term swag gap? It's a phrase trending on TikTok, and it's all about when one person in a relationship is way more stylish or confident than the other. As one TikTok user simply put it don't don't put me down to your level when it comes to being stylish. But it's not just about clothes. If you're from a slightly older generation than Gen Z like myself, you may recognize the term swagger, which is where swag comes from. It's the kind of self confidence you show through your vibe, your fashion and how you carry yourself. So today we're asking is a swag drag gap between a couple really a deal breaker?

[Claire Maweesa]

As long as you smell divine and you look very clean, it's not a deal breaker for me. I used to go into that default mode of always wanted do a makeover on my partners and I realized that it's best to accept them for who they are. The only time I would volunteer if we've got an event and I know we need to look the part. And if you are disheveled, you are my disheveled.

[Dr. Mani Lakunze]

Pastel do say a lot about someone, how they express themselves, how they feel about who they are. They show confidence. Fashion is not everything, but it definitely had overall connection vibe in the relationship.

[Claire Maweesa]

I don't really care how my partner.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Dresses because that's not what defines how.

[Claire Maweesa]

I feel about them or what makes our relationship meaningful.

[Nyasha Michelle]

I value my partner for who they are, not how they look. I also spoke with Frankos and Oneela Chimpuki, known as Frankos, Chims and Mamuchims on social media. They are a married couple from the Democratic Republic of Congo and they've built a massive following showing up up in style and in sync. They have amassed over 1 million followers in TikTok who tune in to watch their love looks and vibe. So how important is swag for Mamu and Francos?

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

I feel like when we step out we just represent each other, you know, so either together or on your own. So it is very important.

[Nyasha Michelle]

He's representing you, right? What about You, Franco, do you care?

[Francos Chimpuki]

I can say I do, and at the same time, I don't. I grew up with the reflection of if my content as my character as a person is good enough and the inner aspect of my being is not really as important. But at the same time, being with a person that care about the image like that has so pushed me to starting to care, whereas before, I wasn't really the top.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Okay, okay. So let's give our listeners a little bit of context. You two are married, right? How long have you been married for?

[Francos Chimpuki]

Four years.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Four years. So then this decision that, okay, we are gonna be obsessed with being stylish. It's all about the swag. Has it always been like that for you guys from the time you met or like you said, Franco's. It's kind of grown on you, and you've decided, all right, I'm gonna be like my lady.

[Francos Chimpuki]

I dressed good enough, I would say, but to her, my good enough wasn't good enough. So as the relationship grew, she kind of had a lot of influence on how I was dressing till now. She's been able to mold me into the look that she wanted to see from me. So I would say it has evolved. When we met, I was already a public figure. So she was like, you're a public figure. People look up to you. Young people get inspired by you. You need to come across a certain way. So it became a big thing from the beginning of our relationship as we got together.

[Nyasha Michelle]

I mean, young people are the reason why we're talking about this, because TikTok, it is trending all over that hashtag swag gap. And you guys are definitely doing quite well on social media because you have over 1 million followers on TikTok. So would you say that social media has anything to do with the way you dress then when you go out?

[Angela Mutanda]

Yes.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

Yeah, kind of.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Actually, it's okay. It's a safe space.

[Francos Chimpuki]

For example, if I just want to step out, I'm going around the shop. She'll be like, you're not dressed properly. Why are you dressed like that?

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

But, I mean, at a minimum. Yeah, he just doesn't care.

[Francos Chimpuki]

Yeah. And then when I. When we do step out and then on the road, we meet someone that recognizes, she'll be like, I told you. I told you to dress up. You see, now they've seen us. Like, imagine if you was dressed the way you was dressed before I told you to do so.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

But it's true, because it's a representation, you know, And. And I feel like when we go out, it is. You have to put in, like, the minimum. Like, you just have to look presentable.

[Francos Chimpuki]

She makes sure that we sort of matches and color.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

We have to twin. Like I always say, when we step out event, they need to know and see that we were there. I'm dressing to impress when we go out. So you remember that we were there.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Oh, oh, Mamu. You know what? I think there are a lot of ladies who are listening to this, actually, maybe even stylish gents as well, listening to this, and they are clicking their fingers like she is speaking for us. But it does sound a little bit like a lot of pressure, guys. So, Franco, as a man, is it that easy to dress to impress your partner or does it get tough sometimes?

[Francos Chimpuki]

It does get tough sometimes. Every time you have an event, for example, she might want to have new dresses, new color, new shoes, makeup, and stuff like that. And sometime order can follow me, for example, if you get invited four times during the month, that's a thing where I have to tell her, listen, you have to choose which event we're going to. We can't go to all these events because I know that if we go to all these events, it's going to become expenses. I don't want to be accumulating expenses just because of the way, you know, we look. There's more to love than just looking twinning off fashionable. So, yeah, the pressure is there.

[Nyasha Michelle]

The pressure is getting worse, like they say on the socials. So then let me ask you this, Mamu. When Francos, when he does have his swag on, do you get jealous at any point? Do either of you get jealous at any point? We know when it comes to how people then maybe respond to you guys or how they look at you, I.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

Feel more proud because at the end of the day, I did that. All the swag that he's got on, that's me. I put everything together. So I'm like, thanks to me. So, no, I feel absolutely proud. I love it.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Francos, how about you?

[Francos Chimpuki]

How do you feel if we stepping out together? What's the point? Getting jealous? She's with me. She's mine. She's looking good. All eyes on us because she's looking good and she's with me. It will be a different story if she was stepping out looking sexy without me. That's a bit too much for me.

[Nyasha Michelle]

So what advice would you two give to other couples who may think that it doesn't really matter how people dress up? It's only love that matters.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

I would say, obviously, love is the foundation, but how you present yourself is also part of love.

[Francos Chimpuki]

Love. When we talk about love, languages, it's an act of service. So when you're dressing up for your partner, it's like, yeah, I'm dressing up well for you. For example, when my wife tells me to dress a certain, if I make an effort on the particular day and I look good sometime, we end up having a good evening together. Yeah, I'll tell the men out there, if your wife is telling you to dress well, don't always take it negative. You know, make the effort. Just. Just look good enough for your wife. Sometimes men said, oh, she's not giving it to me in the bedroom. But you don't know why she's not giving it to you. Maybe you're not appealing enough.

[Oneela Chimpuki (Mamu)]

Absolutely.

[Francos Chimpuki]

You know, so you need to make an effort to look appealing enough in her eyes, and then she might start giving it to you.

[Nyasha Michelle]

All right, some wise words there from you guys. Mamu and Franco's. Thank you very much. And you saying, you can have the swag, but you do not need to break the bank. That was content creators Francos and Oneela Chimpuki. But we all know that love is deeper than one's fashion sense, right? Or is it more complicated than that? I got relationship psychologist and media consultant Angela Mutanda on a call, and I started by asking Angela if this trend could indicate deeper challenges between a couple.

[Angela Mutanda]

It's how they look, it's how you feel when you're around them. It's your value system, it's your beliefs, it's what you share and have in common. And for me, a red flag would appear if this is the most important way that you see yourself within that relationship. It's when it's an issue of I am the stylish one, I am the fashion forward one, and when we go out together, I mock my partner, whether it's in an overt or a covert way. So if you imagine you're in a large group of friends and everyone's complimenting you on how you look, and you take those compliments and then you make a side statement and say, well, look at the state of my partner. That's when you have massive red flags in that relationship and in your field.

[Nyasha Michelle]

As a relationship psychologist, have you seen that this is the norm? Is there quite a lot of people who care about the way their partners dress in such a way that those actions may be what they do?

[Angela Mutanda]

I wouldn't say it's a norm, but it sometimes becomes weaponized. Let's say I'm in a therapy room with a couple and they are angry with each other. They're challenged by their relationship differences. And what one might say to the other is, look at the state of them. And it's when you hear something like that, you think, okay, that's a very pointed criticism of their partner. What else is going on in this relationship that has caused this power imbalance? And why are they using that as a weapon?

[Nyasha Michelle]

When does helping a partner with their appearance cross the line into control?

[Angela Mutanda]

When the partner is not involved and they're your object. So when you've got somebody saying, you know, look, I know you don't care about clothes. I know you don't care about stuff, but we're going to this event. Would you like me to help you find an outfit that you feel good in? And the partner says, no, I'm good. I'm happy with the way I dress. And that partner backs off and says, okay, you do you. That's okay. That's not crossing the line. That's respecting each other's spaces and treating your partner as an equal. When it crosses the line and it becomes coercive and controlling is when you will wear what I tell you to wear, because you are not dressed the way I like, and I don't want to be seen with you when you look like you.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Yeah, and we're talking about this, Angela, because on social media, TikTok in particular, swag Gap is trending. So that means that sometimes people are getting millions of views and people are loving what they see. But of course, what you see isn't always what is happening. So if there is anyone who is listening to this and has kind of found themselves in a similar situation, how would you advise them to deal with a situation like that?

[Angela Mutanda]

Social media is just a window in which you are looking at a polished product. Right. A lot of people presenting on there as a couple going, this is what we're wearing. This is what she's wearing. This is what he's wearing. And we're going out to this event, and they're taking loads of, you know, snaps of themselves and showing off in that way. That's what they're doing in a medium that is understood as we show off here, that's very, very surface. The next part of that is when that kind of relationship, that's kind of a lifestyle, I would say, not a life that you're talking about. When you're entering into the life of those two people, are they like that behind closed doors. Is that causing problems between the two of them where they are falling out because one is not coming up to scratch where the other one's saying, these are my standards and you're not meeting them or we're going to lose followers. If and the whole thrust of the relationship is about what other people outside think of them, then I would be saying, what is going on with you two? What do you have in your relationship that makes you tick outside of all of that attention?

[Nyasha Michelle]

And if one partner feels embarrassed by the other style, which happens sometimes. It does. How should they handle it?

[Angela Mutanda]

It's happened to me.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Oh, okay.

[Angela Mutanda]

Yeah. Now I'll share this with you. I once put an outfit on before my husband and I went out and he said to me, before we went out is the first time he'd seen me in it. And he said, that's an interesting outfit.

[Nyasha Michelle]

It.

[Angela Mutanda]

I got it. I understood. When he uses the word interesting, it's like there's something that you're wearing that isn't quite working and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about it when we go out. And I said to him, because at the time I was like, really annoyed. I was like, what do you mean? And it doesn't quite suit you and you're so beautiful. And I was like, sold. Okay. I wasn't that comfortable in it. I'm going to go and choose something else. There are ways that you speak to your partner that get the message that is not about your ego, but it's about them looking their best self. And sometimes partners make a mistake. So you have to choose your words carefully and come from a loving space.

[Nyasha Michelle]

Relationship psychologist and media consultant Angela Mutanda. Today's edition of Focus on Africa was put together by Joseph Keith, Mark Wilberforce, Stefania Okareke and Yvette Tuagira. Maria. Patricia Whitehorn was the senior journalist and Chris Kozares the technical producer. Our editors are Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi. I'm Nyasha Michelle. Thanks again for tuning in.