Rephonic
Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

BBC World Service
Nigeria
Food Prices
Libya
Muammar Gaddafi
Kenya
Russia
Economic Policy
Tripoli
Donkey Skin Trade
Inflation
Debt
Transport Costs
Labor Protests
Turkey
Khalifa Haftar
Subsidies
Agricultural Produce
South Africa
Egypt
Macky Sall

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes925Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

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 des... more

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 r... more

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. T... more

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 n... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Into Africa
Into AfricaCSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Horn
The HornInternational Crisis Group
Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service
The Take
The TakeAl Jazeera

Recent Guests

Edward Obie
Igbo community leader in Aberdeen, Scotland
Igbo Cultural Association Aberdeen
Episode: South Africa protests after Nigerian 'king' installed
Professor Tapelo Joseph Oklogetwe
Faculty of Humanities, University of Botswana
University of Botswana
Episode: South Africa protests after Nigerian 'king' installed
Dr Laurie Marker
Founder, Cheetah Conservation Fund
Cheetah Conservation Fund
Episode: South Africa protests after Nigerian 'king' installed
Gloria Andrew
Midwife working with survivors of sexual violence in Tawila, Darfur
MSF partner in Tawila
Episode: Sexual violence part of 'everyday life' in Sudan
Moketi Shelile
Minister of Trade and Industry of Lesotho
Lesotho government
Episode: Sexual violence part of 'everyday life' in Sudan
Thabo Kessi
Economist and trade expert in Lesotho
Independent economist
Episode: Sexual violence part of 'everyday life' in Sudan
Bonaventure Ndikung
Director at House of Cultures of the World; co-curator of the Tirailer exhibition
House of Cultures of the World
Episode: What UN vote on slavery reparations means
Samuel Okujeto Ablakwa
Ghana's Foreign Minister (spokesperson quoted in segment)
Government of Ghana
Episode: What UN vote on slavery reparations means
Achiever Omoobajesu
FinFluencer, former petroleum engineer from Abuja, Nigeria
Independent FinFluencer
Episode: Are Gen Z investing for vibes?

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 States2 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
#67
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#142
Singapore/News
Apple Podcasts
#212
Finland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kenya downplays fuel shortage fears amid Iran war
Q: What long-term steps should African governments consider to cushion shocks from global disruptions?
Build more storage capacity, invest in regional pipelines to move oil within Africa, diversify energy sources, and push for energy security measures that reduce reliance on external markets for a more resilient economy.
Kenya downplays fuel shortage fears amid Iran war
Q: Is Kenya's price-control approach contributing to hoarding, and how does it differ from freer markets like Nigeria's?
Price controls can encourage hoarding if retailers expect price hikes; in Kenya, with 60% of fuel price going to taxes, adjusting tax policy could help stabilize prices and reduce incentives to hoard, unlike Nigeria where a freer market dynamics are in play.
Kenya downplays fuel shortage fears amid Iran war
Q: What can governments do to avoid hoarding if it happens given market uncertainty?
The clear answer is to ensure there is sufficient fuel in the system and, where possible, to reduce the tax take to prevent price transmissions that incentivize hoarding; a more dynamic, supportive policy environment could also help stabilize margins for retailers.
Are Gen Z investing for vibes?
Q: Achie, in tell me one thing that you do to ensure that your content is not misleading, especially as Gen Z turns to the stock market for online investment advice.
Achie explains she conducts deep fundamental research, checks current news and economic conditions, and validates whether a stock benefits from solid fundamentals before sharing her stance with her community.
Africa Eye: Somali soldiers fighting IS
Q: Amy Noel Mbiozo, what strategies do you say countries in Africa can employ to curb irregular migration?
Technical, security-focused measures alone aren't enough and can push smugglers to become more sophisticated; cooperation must address underlying drivers and adapt to changing routes.

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. Into Africa
2. The Horn
3. Global News Podcast
4. The Inside Story Podcast
5. The Take

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 925 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. Edward Obie
2. Professor Tapelo Joseph Oklogetwe
3. Dr Laurie Marker
4. Gloria Andrew
5. Moketi Shelile
6. Thabo Kessi
7. Bonaventure Ndikung
8. Samuel Okujeto Ablakwa

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days