Podcast
Focus on Africa
Hosted by BBC World Service · EN
Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna.
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Episodes
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Africans immigrating to Spain
Feb 2400:22:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we examine how Spain’s plan to offer over 500,000 migrants legal status will affect African migrants in the country. Following an announcement by Spain's government, several in support of the proposal say it’s practical and crucial for Spain’s economy, while critics warn it could encourage irregular migration. We speak to a young Nigerian man in the queue for documentation. And we take a look at a recently released UNESCO report that shows Africa is giving the creative industries greater priority in comparison to other regions, with 62% of countries now including culture in development plans.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producers: Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Gabon social media suspension
Feb 2300:22:59Tap to summarizeFor the second week, Gabon has suspended social media platforms like Whatsapp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram - in a move it says is aimed at curbing the spread of false information and cyberbullying. What does this mean for the youth, as well as the right to access information in the country?And what does it take for an African athlete to make it to the Winter Olympics? We speak to 24-year-old skier Mialitiana Clerc, who represented Madagascar at this year's edition in Italy. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine and Basma El Atti Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Egypt, Morocco join Trump's Board of Peace
Jan 2700:22:59Tap to summarizeMorocco and Egypt are the only African nations in President Trump's Board of Peace. The body was initially meant to help implement a ceasefire in Gaza, but Trump says it could serve a wider role in ending global conflicts. We look at why Morocco and Egypt got the invitation to join the Board and what influence African countries will have, if any. Also, seven years after a corruption scandal involving an Icelandic company and some government officials rocked Namibia’s fishing industry, the case is finally heading to trial. The whistleblower who leaked the evidence speaks for the very first time. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Basma El Atti and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Ghana cocoa farmers decry delayed payments
Jan 2600:22:59Tap to summarizeCocoa farmers in Ghana are disgruntled over delayed payments from the state regulator - COCOBOD. The farmers say the delay is endangering investments for the next farming season. Ghana, which is the world's second largest cocoa producer, changed the system through which farmers receive their payments in an attempt to reduce reliance on debt. And we hear from Giel Malual and John Kuei - the two South Sudanese men who have just completed a walk across the length of mainland UK to raise awareness about the war in Sudan, and mobilise donations to build schools for young refugees displaced by the conflict.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike, Blessing Aderogba and Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Are more women delaying motherhood?
Jan 2300:22:58Tap to summarizeAround the world, more women are choosing to delay motherhood. In countries like Italy, Spain and South Korea, the average age of first-time mothers has risen to around 32. While many African countries still have some of the youngest ages of first-time mothers - a shift is also happening in parts of continent. So, what’s behind this change?Focus on Africa: The Conversation host, Nkechi Ogbonna spoke with Vanessa Tloubatla, from South Africa, who became a mother at the age of 46; and Barbara Mugeni from Uganda who had her third child at the age of 45.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Negash Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Jihadist attacks on the rise in the Sahel
Jan 2200:22:59Tap to summarizeA recent attack in Niger's south-western Tillaberi region led to the deaths of 31 civilians. It adds to a trend of deadly assaults by jihadist militants in the tri border area of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled), Tillaberi was the deadliest region in the Sahel in 2025, with more than 1,200 civilian deaths recorded. Also, we take a look at how different people form their accents and how an accent may affect perceptions and social status. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Makuochi Okafor and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Who is "in charge" of Africa's AI?
Jan 2100:22:59Tap to summarizeA new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change says that most countries, including those in Africa, will find it difficult to have full autonomy over AI systems. According to the Institute, only 32 countries worldwide host AI-specific data centres, leaving around 160 nations dependent on foreign infrastructure. We hear how the situation is for African countries. And, Nigeria wants to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland in Southern Rivers State; thirty years after environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were executed following a protest that saw the killing of four tradional chiefs of an oil producing community known as Ogoni. This led to the suspension of exploration by oil giant Shell – the company accused of causing the environmental damage. We hear the views of the Nigerian government and environmental activists. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Ayuba Ilya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →Global Initiative flags West Africa for cocaine trade
Jan 2000:22:59Tap to summarizeA recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime reveals that a third of cocaine consumed in Europe is transported via West Africa. Since 2019, the region has become a key global hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to markets in Europe and Asia, according to the organisation. We look at how the region gained this reputation as a hub of global trafficking. Also Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are among African countries where internet blackouts have been witnessed recently. We explore the technologies and techniques that youth in these countries are using to stay online.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →AFCON's Over - what’s the main takeaway?
Jan 1900:22:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we look back at the Africa Cup of Nations, where Senegal edged hosts Morocco in extra-time in a dramatic final. We explore the key moments and what they reveal about African football’s future.We also investigate a darker story: Across West Africa, criminal gangs are luring young people with fake overseas jobs. BBC Africa Eye follows Interpol’s anti-trafficking unit in Sierra Leone and a father searching for his missing children.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
Transcribe →"TikToking my way to millions"
Jan 1600:22:58Tap to summarizeThink back to when you were younger, what did you want to do when you grew up? A recent study in Kenya found that many young people would choose to be a TikToker or a YouTuber over a more conventional career, like a doctor or a lawyer.Nowadays, content creators have become as influential as athletes and artists, but while Africa’s content creator ecosystem is growing rapidly, more than half of the continent’s creators earn less than $70 a month.Focus on Africa: The Conversation host Charles Gitonga sat down with Chef Abbys - a Ghanaian TikToker with millions of followers - to find out what it takes to make it big in the industry.Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Technical Producer: Terry Chege Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
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