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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

BBC World Service
Nigeria
Kenya
South Africa
Sudan
Africa
Ethiopia
Senegal
Morocco
Social Media
Somalia
Mali
Tanzania
Ghana
Human Rights
Ebola
Africa Cup Of Nations
Sierra Leone
United States
Uganda
Gabon

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1017Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

Zambia heads to the polls next week to elect a President, lawmakers and local council leaders. The election has been widely perceived as a two horse race following the emergance of an opposition coallition candidate. In an exclusive interview with Pr... more

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... more

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 opp... more

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 en... more

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Recent Guests

Collins Nabiswa
BBC Monitoring Unit colleague reporting from Burkina Faso
BBC
Episode: Burkina Faso's Traore on religious extremism
Malone Gwadu
Economist and director at Quantico Capital Group
Quantico Capital Group
Episode: South Africa proposes strategic oil reserve expansion
Mutale Nalumango
Vice President of Zambia
Government of Zambia
Episode: Ethiopians on death row in Saudi Arabia
Jade Basuni
Head of North Africa, South Asia and Middle East on Death Penalty
Reprieve
Episode: Ethiopians on death row in Saudi Arabia
Barbara Banda
Zambian professional footballer and team captain
Zambian national team, professional football
Episode: WAFCON officially kicks off in Morocco
Saini Sissoh Mboshe
Gambian football administrator and former national youth player
Gambia Football Federation
Episode: WAFCON officially kicks off in Morocco
Mohamedou Kaine
Analyst at Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime
Episode: WAFCON officially kicks off in Morocco
Yemi Alade
Nigerian singer and songwriter
Self
Episode: Yemi Alade: beyond the music
Nayla Tazi
Founder and producer of the Gnawa and World Music Festival; Moroccan Parliament member
Gnawa and World Music Festival; Moroccan Parliament
Episode: Mali insecurity escalates amid jihadist attacks

Host

Charles Gitonga
Presenter/Host of Focus on Africa with BBC World Service affiliations; experienced in regional politics and African affairs

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.

Africa-focused coverage that dives into policy and people behind the headlines.
Some listeners miss the older, more concise news format and want more regular global-Africa coverage.
Audience appreciates hard questions and rigorous guests but some reviewers want more balance and depth on certain topics.
Interviews push for accountability and clear explanations, not just surface-level reporting.
Listener feedback highlights a strong, reliable host team and high-quality expert guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#71
Italy/News
Apple Podcasts
#66
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#139
Denmark/News
Apple Podcasts
#164
Finland/News
Apple Podcasts
#197
Norway/News
Apple Podcasts
#210
Austria/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ethiopians on death row in Saudi Arabia
Q: First of all, can you confirm some of these assertions and what the Saudi government convicted them of?
The episode notes that many Ethiopian migrants were convicted of drug-related offenses, often without adequate legal representation or interpreters, and that there is a pattern of harsh punishments including death sentences, with consular and international advocacy efforts attempting to review and suspend such sentences.
Burkina Faso's Traore on religious extremism
Q: Where should governments draw the line between tackling extremism and protecting religious freedom?
Experts suggest drawing the line at incitement, ensuring security while avoiding suppression of legitimate worship.
African women turning gaming into a living
Q: How does streaming translate into money, and what are the main ways players earn?
Earnings come from competing in tournaments with prize pools, being signed to teams, and income from content creation through gifts, ads, branded streams, and per-view or per-video payments depending on platform.
African women turning gaming into a living
Q: What gave you the confidence to take that leap?
Techna explains that the decision stemmed from a strong sense of personal happiness, a perceived fit with gaming as a passion, and the desire for meaningful work beyond traditional policy roles, despite risks.
Mali insecurity escalates amid jihadist attacks
Q: To help us understand the various players involved in this crisis, what are the key points of contention between the Malian army, JNIM, and the Tuareg separatists?
The Malian army, JNIM, and Tuareg separatists are in a brutal struggle for control of strategic towns in the north, with shifting alliances and a history of failed agreements. After coups, decentralization talks collapsed, leading to renewed fighting and a complex mix of local and international actors shaping the conflict.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Focus on Africa

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

A concise, Africa-centered current affairs program that rounds up essential topics with context from regional experts. Episodes frequently blend political developments, economics (notably energy and trade), public health, and culture, all through an African lens. Noteworthy traits include a strong regional focus, high-caliber guest lineups, and a track record of hard-hitting interviews that probe policy, governance, and social issues while foregrounding local perspectives. Listeners likely include professionals seeking to understand Africa's big stories quickly, policymakers, and industry players looking for nuanced, on-the-ground insights.

Where can I find podcast stats for Focus on Africa?

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How many listeners does Focus on Africa get?

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What are the audience demographics for Focus on Africa?

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How many subscribers and views does Focus on Africa have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Focus on Africa?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focus on Africa:

1. The Horn
2. Global News Podcast
3. The Interview
4. The Documentary Podcast
5. Al Jazeera News Updates

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 1017 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.

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What guests have appeared on Focus on Africa?

Recent guests on Focus on Africa include:

1. Collins Nabiswa
2. Malone Gwadu
3. Mutale Nalumango
4. Jade Basuni
5. Barbara Banda
6. Saini Sissoh Mboshe
7. Mohamedou Kaine
8. Yemi Alade

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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