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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

BBC World Service
Nigeria
South Africa
Kenya
Sudan
Africa
Morocco
Zambia
Ethiopia
Somalia
Senegal
Ebola
Social Media
Human Rights
Africa Cup Of Nations
Ghana
Mali
Uganda
United States
Burkina Faso
Guinea-Bissau

Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1032Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

Now, you may have heard about a trial currently happening in the US, it’s a tragic case where a mother has been charged for killing her three children. However, her lawyers have argued she was experiencing with postpartum psychosis at that time. The ... more

American country music star, Dolly Parton passed away this week and her fans across the continent have felt the loss greatly. Her songs, such as Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You, crossed generations, borders and musical genres. We hear from ... more

US President Donald Trump's senior Africa envoy has asked the UN to extend its arms embargo from Darfur to all of Sudan, amid a recent escalation in the conflict. Now in its fourth year, the war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and for... more

Somali piracy is rising again. The buccaneers capitalize on security gaps, targeting cargo ships and demanding multi-million dollar ransoms. On Sunday, nine people were reportedly killed in a drone strike on a small boat off the coast of Somalia, in ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Frances Obanyi
Biochemist
Self/NGO projects in Africa
Episode: Surviving an acid attack
Benta Ouma
Survivor and mother of three
Self
Episode: Surviving an acid attack
Intisar Fakir
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute (focus on North Africa and Sahel)
Middle East Institute
Episode: Moroccan Influencer jailed over public indecency
Christophe Taiteka
Professor on governance and conflict in East and Central Africa
[not explicitly stated]
Episode: Uganda to send troops to Gaza
Kiroumira Hassan
Opposition member of parliament
Ugandan Parliament
Episode: Uganda to send troops to Gaza
Eduardo Nebo
Speaker
Uganda Parliament
Episode: Uganda to send troops to Gaza
Gwerchom Ndebo
Photographer based in Goma
Congo In Conversation project
Episode: Uganda to send troops to Gaza
Rina Galani
Global CEO of Plan International
Plan International
Episode: Somalia: Humanitarian agency warns malnutrition
Sonde Ido
Pharmaceutical chemist
University/Independent researcher
Episode: Somalia: Humanitarian agency warns malnutrition

Host

Nkechi Ogbonna
Host of Focus on Africa (BBC World Service) with a focus on providing context and analysis for major African stories.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Filos in a lot of news gaps

    Good coverage, usually by Africans, of a continent that tends to be covered very superficially in Western media

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bilas Peles
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great story on swimming

    Compliments of the season from Houston, Texas! Thank you for the story on swimming and for your transparency about your own experience with drowning. I learned to swim at the age of 40 and it was life changing. I pray that you will meet your goal to learn to swim this year. You can do it! And we’re cheering you on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CFWyatt
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast - very informative.

    I really enjoy listening to this podcast. Learning a lot!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ella1234567891011121314151617
    Denmark2 years ago
  • Reparations

    Generally good show but a stupid recent guest, a black “British” woman asking for reparations, she completely dodged the fact that the Africans themselves enslaved and sold other Africans to the Europeans, we already paid you for the slaves when you sold them to us we’re not paying you again so stop being greedy, it’s not our fault you squandered the wealth, also she had nothing good to say about the UK (she could have mentioned the fact we eradicated slavery, an act which many African people ha... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    N0H1570ry
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Bring back Africa Today

    I used to listen daily to Africa Today….it was so informative and I learnt so much about the whole continent. This current format is a real disappointment. It’s a longer version of Africa Daily with Alan Kasujja, and really, he can’t be beat. Go back to Africa Today, and I will listen daily, instead of once in a long while.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    lekkersoosafirecracker
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Readers appreciate the broad continental scope and impactful storytelling.
Listeners praise high-quality Africa-focused coverage with strong on-the-ground reporting.
Some listeners want more balanced coverage and deeper analysis on certain topics.
Feedback often highlights insightful guests and rigorous questioning from hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#157
Italy/News
Apple Podcasts
#34
Saudi Arabia/News
Apple Podcasts
#120
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#220
Russia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Uganda to send troops to Gaza
Q: Now we see that Uganda plans to deploy troops to Gaza. What are the strategic interests for Uganda in joining this proposed International Stabilization Force?
Professor Taiteka explains that Uganda seeks to leverage its military capacity for diplomatic capital, strengthen ties with the United States, and position itself as a key regional actor, while balancing concerns about neutrality and the risk of being seen as an external administrator rather than a peacekeeper.
Moroccan Influencer jailed over public indecency
Q: What safeguards should governments put in place to ensure that efforts to regulate online content do not become a tool for censorship or disproportionate punishment?
The guest suggests judicial reforms, better implementation of existing laws, and ensuring equal application across all sectors, alongside reliable early warning and relocation planning to mitigate harms from climate-induced events.
Moroccan Influencer jailed over public indecency
Q: So where exactly is the line between protecting public morality and safeguarding freedom of expression?
The host and guest discuss the need for clear standards that distinguish permissible online expression from unlawful behavior, while recognizing the risk of overreach if laws are applied too broadly; the guest emphasizes proportionality, due process, and consistent application.
Somalia: Humanitarian agency warns malnutrition
Q: What lessons can African countries learn from cannabis policy experiments elsewhere on the continent and in North America?
Lessons include starting with medical-use legalization to build regulatory frameworks, ensuring age restrictions and licensing, and designing public health safeguards before broad legalization, so that economic benefits do not come at the expense of health and social well-being.
Somalia: Humanitarian agency warns malnutrition
Q: What are the most urgent needs in Somalia right now to prevent a deeper crisis?
The most urgent needs are sustained funding for food aid and health interventions, rapid scaling of life-saving assistance, and enhanced early warning actions to prevent a wider famine-like situation, especially in displaced communities like Baidua and Bidoah.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Focus on Africa

What is Focus on Africa about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently covers a broad swath of African affairs, weaving politics, economy, security, culture, and human interest into concise, story-driven episodes. Recent show notes highlight high-profile interviews with heads of state, policy debates around heritage and governance, and in-depth analyzes of regional issues such as maritime trade, energy security, and social development. A notable strength is the wide mix of guests—from presidents and ministers to researchers, activists, and industry experts—offering multiple perspectives on unfolding events. Listeners looking for well-sourced context, actionable insights for sponsorships, or opportunities to reach decision-makers across public, private, and NGO sectors will likely find... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Focus on Africa?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focus on Africa:

1. The Interview
2. The Documentary Podcast
3. The China in Africa Podcast
4. Global News Podcast
5. The Inside Story Podcast

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 1032 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Focus on Africa?

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What guests have appeared on Focus on Africa?

Recent guests on Focus on Africa include:

1. Frances Obanyi
2. Benta Ouma
3. Intisar Fakir
4. Christophe Taiteka
5. Kiroumira Hassan
6. Eduardo Nebo
7. Gwerchom Ndebo
8. Rina Galani

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