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Focus on Africa

BBC World Service
Nigeria
Sudan
South Africa
Kenya
Ethiopia
United States
Ghana
Uganda
Democratic Republic Of Congo
Madagascar
Human Rights
Africa
Somalia
Mali
Senegal
Morocco
Tanzania
Social Media
Zambia
United Nations

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes957Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

Africa’s booming fashion industry took centre stage at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, where bold African designs dominated online conversations and red-carpet highlights.

Host Nkechi Ogbonna speaks with Ghanaian fashion icon Nana Akua... more

A colorful Beijing, filled with grand celebration has welcomed President Trump who is on a two day visit to the Asian country. At the height of the trade war in 2025, the two countries had levied tariffs that crossed 100% on each other. A fragile tru... more

In South Africa, a speech from the country's President Cyril Ramaphosa firmly saying he will not resign, is trending. A Constitutional Court ruling last week found that parliament acted unconstitutionally when it voted against establishing an impeach... more

Protestors have been arrested in Nairobi while objecting the Africa-France event and France-Africa relations, calling it rebranded "imperialism". Macron has announced investments worth $27bn (£20bn) in Africa in areas such as energy transition, digit... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Anne Lindstrand
World Health Organization representative in Cape Verde
World Health Organization
Episode: Hantavirus: what you should know
Chukwemeka Chimdeye Bire
Special needs educator and disability rights advocate
Disability rights organizations in Nigeria
Episode: Hantavirus: what you should know
Ayuba Goufouan
Head of Nigeria's Commission for Persons Living with Disability
Nigeria
Episode: Hantavirus: what you should know
Ove Friday
18-year-old student sharing personal disability narrative
Nigeria
Episode: Hantavirus: what you should know
Bacol Dlamini
Lecturer of Political Economy in Eswatini
Eswatini academic
Episode: What Eswatini risks by standing with Taiwan
Tarja Trutia
UNESCO's Chief of Journalists' Safety and Freedom of Expression
UNESCO
Episode: Sudanese journalists win World Press Freedom Prize
Danielle Wanjiku Natche
29-year-old born in the US to a Kenyan mother and an Ivorian dad; moved to Nairobi from the West
Public figure /Diaspora returnee
Episode: 'Is diaspora written on my forehead?'
Maryam Abdishakuur
Born in Somalia, lived in Denmark, relocated to Somalia; discusses identity and return
Diaspora returnee
Episode: 'Is diaspora written on my forehead?'
Edom Tadessa
Ethiopian-American; reflects on living between two worlds and finding belonging in Africa
Diaspora returnee
Episode: 'Is diaspora written on my forehead?'

Host

Nkechi Ogbonna
Host of Focus on Africa.

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 Statesa year 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 Kingdom2 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.

There are mixed feelings about the show's format changes, with some long-term listeners expressing disappointment, while others value the new approach to storytelling.
The podcast has been praised for its relatable narratives that connect personal experiences to larger socio-political themes.
Some feedback has highlighted the need for a balance between critical issues and uplifting stories from Africa.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth coverage of African news that mainstream media often overlooks.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#203
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#71
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#184
India/News
Apple Podcasts
#192
Saudi Arabia/News
Apple Podcasts
#210
Belgium/News
Apple Podcasts
#248
South Korea/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hantavirus: what you should know
Q: Put this in perspective for us, when a case is identified on board, how do health authorities respond?
Health authorities rely on global frameworks like the International Health Regulations to ensure rapid reporting and coordination between countries, with WHO clinicians on site conducting investigations, managing cases, and maintaining constant communication with port authorities and health ministries.
Sudanese journalists win World Press Freedom Prize
Q: Could you give me your reaction to this?
The reaction is of relief and recognition for the dangerous, difficult work Sudanese journalists do, acknowledging their courage and the risks they face while continuing to tell the truth under war conditions.
South Africans debate the migrant question
Q: What would you suggest as immediate steps to improve the situation?
Improve processing times, increase immigration officers and border management funding, and address corruption in governance to restore trust and ensure safe, lawful immigration and asylum handling.
South Africans debate the migrant question
Q: How does the asylum system currently affect Black South Africans and foreigners alike?
The guests describe a crisis where the system is blocked and inefficient, delaying protection for those fleeing conflict while also failing to curb illegal immigration effectively.
South Africans debate the migrant question
Q: What do you think about the president's remarks on enforcing the law and addressing illegal migration?
The guests acknowledge the political intent but argue that without stronger capacity and faster asylum processing, enforcement remains hollow and may exacerbate public fear and economic strain.

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?

The content revolves around significant news stories from Africa, tackling diverse and pressing issues impacting the continent. Common themes include migration, human rights, politics, and cultural development, often featuring personal narratives and expert insights. Each episode offers a unique lens on global events, contextualizing them within the African experience, which is valuable for listeners seeking depth in understanding contemporary African affairs. The podcast is particularly noteworthy for its focus on voices often underrepresented in mainstream discussions and for highlighting grassroots perspectives across various topics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Focus on Africa?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Focus on Africa. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Focus on Africa and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Focus on Africa get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Focus on Africa, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Focus on Africa?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Focus on Africa, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Focus on Africa have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Focus on Africa has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Focus on Africa?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focus on Africa:

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

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 957 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Focus on Africa?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Focus on Africa from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Focus on Africa?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Focus on Africa. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Focus on Africa?

Recent guests on Focus on Africa include:

1. Anne Lindstrand
2. Chukwemeka Chimdeye Bire
3. Ayuba Goufouan
4. Ove Friday
5. Bacol Dlamini
6. Tarja Trutia
7. Danielle Wanjiku Natche
8. Maryam Abdishakuur

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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