Africa Today

A tiny enclave named Ceuta has become the flashpoint of a migration crisis between Morocco and Spain. Geographically situated in Africa, but under Spanish control, Ceuta has become a destination of over 60 000 migrants risking it all in the dangerous 5km swim from the Northern city of Finiduk in Morocco to the Spanish enclave. At least 72 people have died, according to authorities. And, a proposal to place The Nile crocodiles around an Israeli prison sparks conversations on human rights and abuses The aim is to deter Palestinian security detainees from attempting to escape from the Israeli prisons but the proposal is also facing criticism from human rights groups who say it goes beyond prison security. Presenter: Nkechi OgbonnaProducers: Basma El Atti, Bella Twine and Carolyne JothamSenior Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing AderogbaTechnical Producer: Herbert MasuaEditors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Zambia voters will head to the polls on the 13th of August in what is shaping up to be one of the country's most closely watched elections. Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term but faces a strong challenge from a united opposition. While several candidates are contesting the election, the race is widely seen as being between President Hichilema and Brian Mundubile, a lawyer, Member of Parliament, and the presidential candidate backed by an opposition alliance. We speak to opposition candidate Brian MundubileAnd young girls in northwestern Nigeria are defying insecurity challenges to pick interest in Cricket. Nigeria Cricket Federation has been honoured with the international Cricket Council (ICC) Criiio Cricket Festival of the Year award for a programme introducing girls to cricket in a region affected by kidnapping, and armed banditry Presenter: Nkechi OgbonnaProducers: Blessing AderogbaSenior Producers: Keikantse ShumbaTechnical Producer: Herbert MasuaEditors: Rhoda Odhiambo a

Africa's video gaming industry is booming. The sector generated more than $1 billion in revenue in 2024, with mobile gaming making up around 90% of the market, according to KPMG. Although the industry has long been dominated by men, more women are entering the space, building careers as content creators, professional gamers and esports competitors. But breaking into the industry isn't always easy. Many female gamers continue to face abuse and harassment online. So what is it like to be a woman in Africa's gaming community? And why are more young Africans choosing gaming as a full-time career?Focus on Africa's Nkechi Ogbonna speaks to 30-year-old Techna from South Africa, who left her job to become a full-time gamer, and 25-year-old Saphra from Kenya about the opportunities, challenges and future of gaming on the continent.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Jotham, Bella Twine and Brian Khisa Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Priya Sippy Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Editors: R

In Burkina Faso, the military-led government has launched a controversial campaign targeting what it describes as religious extremism. Transitional leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, appears to be at odds with sections of the country's Muslim community after the arrests of some clerics and signing of a new law aimed at curbing radicalisation and extremist preaching. The government has announced plans to recall about 800 Burkinabè students studying Islamic law in Arab countries, while introducing a requirement for government approval before students can pursue similar studies abroad.And today marks International Day of Friendship by the United Nations, a day that recognises how friendships between individuals, communities and cultures can foster understanding, strengthen connections and even contribute to peace. We speak to two sets of old friends who have known each other for more than two decades. Presenter: Nkechi OgbonnaProducers: Bella Twine and Ayuba IliyaSenior Producers: Keikantse ShumbaTechnical Producer:

South Africa has announced plans to expand its strategic oil reserve for the first time since the apartheid era. this is in its response to the global supply shocks. The proposal aims to reserve approximately 36 million barrels, comprising 70% crude oil and 30% refined petroleum products, to meet 60 days of National demand. The proposal also requires licensed oil marketers to hold an additional 21 days of oil stock as a buffer. The government says this will mitigate oil supply shocks in cases of emergencies. And an exclusive chat with award winning Ugandan hip-hop artist and pioneer of the music genre Uga-flow, Navio, on East Africa's music scene and how he's stayed relevant, more than 20 years in the industryPresenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine and Ayuba Iliya Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Saudi Arabia has executed five more Ethiopian migrants after convicting them of smuggling hashish, a concentrated form of cannabis. The Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Monday, July 27th. This latest execution brings the total number of Ethiopians put to death in the last three months to 17. The ministry emphasized that the executions were intended “to protect the security of the citizen and resident from the scourge of drugs, and to impose the most severe penalties prescribed by law on its smugglers and promoters.”And an exclusive interview with Zambia's Vice President Mutale Nalumango on her journey to high office and what her leadership means for women and young people, women in leadership and youth involvement in politics across AfricaPresenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Blessing Aderogba Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

The Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has kicked off in Morocco, with an expanded 16-team tournament bringing together the continent's best sides in the battle for the African title. The host country, Morocco has defeated Kenya , 4-0 (nil) in the opening match. Running till the 16th of August, the four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for next year's Women's World Cup, while the losing quarter-finalists will have another opportunity to reach the global stage through the inter-continental play-offs. This year, the stakes are higher than ever.Meanwhile, authorities in Liberia and Nigeria are investigating major cocaine and methamphetamine operations in one of West Africa's largest drug crackdowns in recent years.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Grammy-nominated Yemi Alade is one of Africa's biggest music stars and a trailblazer who has helped take Afrobeats to audiences around the world. She's collaborated with artists including Beyoncé and became the first female African Afrobeats artist to surpass 100 million views on a single music video. Now, she's touring the continent to promote her latest album. While in Kenya, she sat down with Focus on Africa host Nkechi Ogbonna to reflect on her longevity, the challenges women face in Africa's music industry, and what governments can do to better support artists.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo Senior Producers: Priyanka Sippy and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Herbert Masua Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

At least 50 soldiers have been killed in the latest attack in Mali as insecurity mounts in the country. The ambush took place near the northern town of Anefis and is one of the deadliest to occur in years. The attack has been claimed by Tuareg separatists and Al-Qaeda linked jihadists. The ambush has raised several questions about Mali's military strategy and playbook after the country ended cooperation with western allies and deepened ties with Russia.And do you know about the historic Gnaoua genre of music from Morocco? This music is one of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage traditions. It developed in Morocco from the 16th and 17th centuries and is rooted in the history and spiritual practices of sub-Saharan African populations brought to the region via the trans-Saharan slave trade.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

The Algerian government has said that six people have died in wildfires in several provinces in recent days, as a deadly heatwave ravages the country. Officials have also instructed provincial governors to carry out comprehensive assessments of the damage to help guide future compensation for affected communities. The fires come as several Mediterranean countries, including France and Italy, are struggling with severe wildfires driven by extreme summer temperatures. Since the beginning of July, civil defence teams have responded to nearly 1,500 wildfires nationwide, more than double the number reported during the previous year. Also, a new Google Trends report shows more Nigerian youth are using AI to learn foreign languages such as French and German, as well as sign language. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Kenyan authorities have denied reports that seven aid workers are quarantined in an Ebola facility in Central Kenya. Members of the public and civil society groups have raised concerns following reports that the aid workers who worked at Ebola health facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are quarantined at a US military base in the country. And, we shed the spotlight on foundational learning in Africa. According to UNICEF, four out of five children across Africa are unable to read or understand a simple sentence by the age of 10.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Every year, July 18 is marked as the Nelson Mandela International Day. It is a moment not only to celebrate the life of South Africa's first democratically elected president, but also to reflect on the values he championed which include justice, reconciliation and service to humanity. This year's commemorations included a live concert at London's Trafalgar Square, where artists gathered to honour the man affectionately known as Madiba. We speak to South African musician Asanda Mvana, better known as Msaki, about the role music can play in preserving Nelson Mandela's legacy as well as South Africa's minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. And how do scientists go about discovering new species of animals? We hear from Junior Amboko, the scientist who named the recently discovered species of monkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Victor Chege, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga Technic

You may have heard about South Africa’s viral Netflix show, The Polygamist. The series has been trending across the continent, sparking conversations about relationships, marriage and fidelity. Now, according to the Pew Research Center, a US-based think tank, only around 2% of the world's population lives in polygamous households. However, the practice is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 11% of people are part of polygamous families.So, what is it really like to be in a polygamous marriage, and why do some people choose this way of life? We hear from Takid Master, his first wife, Cecilia, and his second wife, Mariam, about how their relationship works.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Bella Twine Senior Producers: Priya Sippy and Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Sierra Leone's government has dropped its charges, including treason, against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup nearly three years ago. The charges had been dropped on health grounds, Information Minister Chernor Bah told the BBC. The 72-year-old former president has always denied involvement in the November 2023 attempted coup when gunmen broke into a military armoury and several prisons, freeing almost 2,000 inmates. We hear what this move means for the country's politics. And how female sports commentators are excelling in a male dominated field while using local languages to bring the World Cup closer to African audiences. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Days after the rescue of 48 school children and their teachers from kidnappers in Nigeria's Southwest Oyo State, authorities call for investigations into the abductions and the release. We hear from the families of the victims. And Somalia cites insecurity and money laundering in a bid to oppose the roll out a new WhatsApp feature that will allow users to utilise usernames instead of registered phone numbers. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Priya Sippy Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

A Sudanese court has sentenced the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known as Hemedti - to death for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide over atrocities committed in the West Darfur region. Hemedti, along with 15 other senior RSF leaders were sentenced in absentia. We look at what this means for the RSF and its three-year civil war with the Sudan Armed Forces. And in Kenya, whistleblowers are tipping off police, helping authorities intervene before girls undergo female genital mutilation. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Once the target of an assassination attempt, Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu is now behind bars awaiting trial for treason. His case has become a test of political freedoms in the country and drawn international attention. BBC Africa Eye has now spoken exclusively to Lissu's wife, Alicia Magabe, about the toll his incarceration has taken on his family. And Lesotho's women are highly educated, but many are still being left behind in the workplace and in leadership. We ask why. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Bella Twine Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, affects an estimated 160 million people worldwide. Some forms of the condition disproportionately affect black women, due to a combination of factors including hairstyles that place tension on the hair, as well as genetic and hormonal influences. Now, some dermatologists are also saying they're seeing more cases, particularly among younger people. Meanwhile, researchers in Japan have hinted at potential new treatments for hair loss. Focus on Africa podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to 23-year-old Sharon Chepkoech, known online as Kechi, from Kenya, and 47-old-year Mpume Dlamini from South Africa about their experience of living with alopecia and how they are using social media to raise awareness of the condition.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Keikantse Shumba Senior Producer: Priya Sippy and Bella Twine Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

A compliant submitted by ​the Nigerian Press Organisation, which represents newspaper owners, journalists’ unions, ⁠broadcasters and online publishers, has prompted the country's President Bola Tinubu to issue an investigation by the country's competition regulator into major technology companies over alleged anti-competitive practices and unauthorised use of news content. Growing influence of big-tech companies in Africa has sparked concerns over dominance in digital advertising, the use of news content without fair compensation, algorithms that control what people see, and the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and copyright.Also, we take a look at a new Malawian National Action Plan that seeks to improve the rights of people with albinism in the workplace. We hear from Malawi's Bonface Massah, head of the Africa Albinism Network, who also lives with albinism.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Ayuba Illya, Helen Oyibo and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Bella Twine Technical Producer: Jona

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Denis Brown has warned that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's besieged city of El-Obeid is worsening as fighting and a blockade by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continue. He says repeated drone strikes have hit power stations and water facilities, leaving civilians without essential services. The UN Human Rights Council has also ordered an urgent investigation into alleged crimes committed during the fighting in Sudan’s El-Obeid amid growing fears that violence in the city could escalate into mass atrocities.Also, at least 400 dogs have been killed in the Ethiopian town of Hossana after rabies related complications killed three children and left dozens of others in hospital, sparking outrage among dog owners. We hear from those impacted.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Illya and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Bella Twine Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla