x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Focus on Africa

BBC World Service

Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the big topics and news from Africa, the people behind them, plus an African perspective on global stories. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.

news

All Episodes

22:58

Sudan war: 'Music saved my life'

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/10

15 April marks three years since the Sudan war began, as the vicious power struggle between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Yet even in the darkest moments, music lives on. Sudanese musicians are using their voices to spread hope - and to heal. We hear from one of Sudan’s most

en

22:59

Benin to elect new president

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/09

Voters in Benin will head to the elections on April 12 to choose a new president. The winner of the vote will take over from the current leader, Patrice Talon - who is stepping down after two terms and a decade in power. The two candidates in the poll are 49-year-old finance minister Romuald Wadagni, who will face off against opposition candidate Paul Hounkpè. We hear the priorities of young voters in the election. And we get up close with Ify Adenuga, mother to British-Nigerian Rapper, Skepta as

en

22:59

US-Iran ceasefire and Africa

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/08

The US and Iran have announced a two week ceasefire which will see the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - one of the largest transit routes for oil. The conflict in the Middle East has led to a shortage of fuel in many African countries, and cut off key exports from Africa to the Gulf. We ask if the stand off has triggered African countries to trade more with each other to offset the disruption brought about by the war. Also in Uganda, some refugees from neighbouring countries are finding it

en

22:59

Artemis II: Africa on the space frontier

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/07

Astronauts aboard the Artemis II spacecraft have begun a four-day journey back towards the earth after completing a flyby of the far side of the moon. The mission began on April 1, when the rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States, and has raised significant interest around the world. We heard from a representative of Africa2Moon - a project working towards Africa's first mission to the moon. Also, the African Union Development Agency says foreign aid won’t be enough to

en

22:59

Life on the Autism Spectrum

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/06

In Malawi where resources are scarce and support is limited, the challenges some parents face when caring for their children with autism are extreme. BBC Africa Eye’s Florence Phiri shares her experience documenting the lives of several parents and children in Malawi living with autism. And, DR Congo's national football team, The Leopards, are heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup that is being hosted across North America in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The team received a hero's welcome in

en

22:57

'My divorce glow-up'

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/03

Divorce rates are steadily rising in many African countries. For example, government data shows the divorce rate in South Africa rose by 8.9% between 2023 and 2024. It increased by 16% in Zambia from 2022 and 2023, according to media reports. But despite the stigma that still surrounds divorce, attitudes are changing. In Kenya, some high-profile figures have even celebrated separations with “divorce parties,” while the idea of a “divorce glow-up” is gaining traction online. Focus on Africa

en

22:59

African countries coping in fuel crisis

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/02

Countries across Africa have taken measures to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel's war in Iran. South Africa has reduced government levies on fuel while at the same time announcing a price increase. South Sudan has started to ration electricity in its capital, Juba, while Mauritius has imposed restrictions to reduce wastage especially in high-power consumption areas. While raising fuel prices for the second time in a month, Ethiopian authorities have ordered fuel supply

en

22:59

South Africa protests after Nigerian 'king' installed

Focus on Africa ·

2026/04/01

Earlier this week, activists were holding a peaceful march in the port city of KuGompo - formerly East London, but disorder erupted after a protester said he was attacked by a foreigner, prompting demonstrators to damage several vehicles and shops. The trouble came amid tension over the recent installation of a Nigerian community leader in the city, who has a traditional title that can be translated as "king of the Igbo people in East London". We hear from a Nigerian community leader in Scotland

en

22:59

Sexual violence part of 'everyday life' in Sudan

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/31

The medical charity Doctors without Borders - also known as MSF - says rape and other forms of sexual violence remains part of everyday life in parts of Sudan. The MSF's new report is the most comprehensive account yet of sexual violence in Sudan’s nearly three-year conflict. The fighting began as a power struggle between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces - RSF - and the Sudanese army and has led to what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. MSF's report says between

en

22:59

What UN vote on slavery reparations means

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/30

The United Nations General Assembly - UNGA, last week, voted overwhelmingly for a resolution to designate the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”. The US, Israel and Argentina voted against the proposal, while 123 nations voted in support of it. The UK and European Union members are among the 52 countries that abstained from the vote. The resolution was tabled by Ghana with the backing of the African Union and Caribbean nations. We examine what this resolution means for

en

22:57

Are Gen Z investing for vibes?

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/27

Where do you get your financial advice from? A report says Gen Z are nearly five times more likely to turn to social media than people in their 40s. On TikTok, the hashtag FinTok has over four billion views, with trends like girl math, loud budgeting and cash stuffing going viral. But are 'finfluencers' empowering the youth or exposing them to financial harm?We hear from 23-year-old Achiever Omoobajesu and 24-year-old Gbeminiyi Shopeju about Gen Z's approach to investing and why social media has

en

22:58

Kenya downplays fuel shortage fears amid Iran war

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/26

Authorities in Kenya have assured the public that the country has enough fuel supply in the wake of global supply shortages caused by US-Israel Iran war. Kenya is among the African countries where buyers have been reporting a fuel shortage alongside South Africa, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We look at the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on Africa's oil supply. Also - we speak with British-Nigerian DJ Cuppy about balancing a career in entertainment and pursuing academic

en

22:59

Africans in Minnesota challenge deportation threat

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/25

Have you ever wondered what life is like for Africans in the US who are threatened with deportation? Africans from Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Cameroon recently won a temporary reprieve in an ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration, which wants to terminate their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS allows migrants at risk in their home countries to stay in the US. We speak to the BBC’s Bushra Mohamed, who was in Minneapolis where fear remains widespread in the African

en

22:59

Controversy regarding Nigeria's Ozoro fertility festival

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/24

The Ozoro fertility festival, a long-standing tradition in Delta state, southern Nigeria, has come under scrutiny after several videos online appeared to show men chasing after and sexually harassing women. Local police told local news channels that no formal report of rape had been made in connection with the festival. Witnesses, gender activists and local residents say that women were warned not to go out during the festival, and that those found outside were deliberately targeted. This has raised

en

22:59

Tunisian activist jailed for eight years

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/23

A Tunis court has jailed 66-year-old Saadia Mosbah, who leads a migrant rights and anti-racism group called Mnemty, which is a civil society organisation addressing issues linked to racism in Tunisia. Her sentencing comes nearly two years after her arrest in May 2024. Tunisian authorities under President Kais Saied have intensified a crackdown on dissent with courts upholding convictions against activists, which critics describe as an escalating crackdown on civil society voices.Also, do you know

en

22:58

Rise in BBLs among young women

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/20

The Brazilian Butt Lift surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic surgeries in the world, but it is also one of the most dangerous. The risk of death from having a BBL is at least 10 times higher than many other procedures – that’s according to the UK’s National Health Service. In several countries in Africa, the demand for BBLs is on the rise, but there are still challenges around regulation. Just recently in Lagos, a young woman reportedly died after a BBL procedure, prompting Nigeria’s Lagos

en

22:59

Deadly blasts hit north-eastern Nigerian city

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/19

At least 23 people were killed and over 100 injured in multiple explosions in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria, a long-time insurgency hotspot. We examine the effect of the attack on traumatised residents and how they are coping. In response, the Nigerian Army says its troops killed three senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commanders and more than 80 other militants in a major operation in the north-east.Meanwhile, the percentage of female players registered with the International

en

22:59

Senegal stripped, Morocco awarded title

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/18

We examine the continent’s reaction after Senegal’s 1‑0 AFCON final win from 18 January was overturned, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead awarding Morocco a 3‑0 victory. CAF's disciplinary committee ruled that Senegal’s walk-off protest amounted to a forfeit following Morocco’s challenge to the initial decision. Senegal has now appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.And Sudan’s civil war is now approaching its third year. The conflict began as a power struggle between

en

22:59

Rise in White South Africans Returning Home

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/17

Thousands of white South Africans abroad, including in the US, are returning home despite President Donald Trump alleging that they’re being targeted, a claim the South African government denies. At least 12,000 have checked their citizenship status in preparation for a permanent return. A South African relocation agency has reported a 70% surge in inquiries over the past six months. We explore what’s driving this trend.Meanwhile, billions of Muslims around the world watch the sky for the sighting

en

22:59

Africa Eye: Somali soldiers fighting IS

Focus on Africa ·

2026/03/16

The BBC’s Africa Eye embeds with Puntland forces in Somalia’s northeastern Al-Miskaad mountains as they fight Islamic State (IS) militants. Nearly a decade after its defeat in the Middle East, IS has spread across Africa. Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has become a key hub, with the UN estimating that IS in Somalia was comprised of up to 800 fighters last year. Over half of these militants were believed to be foreign recruits.We also look at the rising number of Egyptians migrating

en

929 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci