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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes971Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

Foreign nationals in South Africa are facing renewed fears following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks, which have reportedly killed nine Mozambican nationals. Ghana and Mozambique have begun evacuating some of their citizens, while other countri... more

Teachers in Nigeria's Oyo, Borno and Lagos states protest kidnappings of teachers and learners. And how poor sanitation puts mothers at risk of maternal sepsis in Zambia.

Ghana’s President John Mahama has said the recently passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill will undergo a review by the Attorney General and legal advisers at the presidency before he decides to sign it into law. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025... more

Protests erupted on June 1 near a military airfield in Central Kenya where the US government is planning to establish an Ebola quarantine centre for American citizens. Construction on the site was paused last week by a Kenyan court pending a hearing ... 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

Julienne Anoko
Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer, World Health Organization
World Health Organization
Episode: Ebola and burial traditions in DRC
Ismail Moula
Activist and facilitator for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition
Freedom Flotilla Coalition (PSA South Africa)
Episode: What does it mean to be African?
Mohammed Dewji
Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist, Africa's youngest billionaire
MEDL Group
Episode: Are billionaires good for Africa?
Kwe Sio Bang
Accountable governance advisor with Oxfam in Africa
Oxfam in Africa
Episode: Are billionaires good for Africa?
Yakubu Mohamed
Parliament member and advocate for paternity testing reforms
Episode: Who are the Azawad Liberation Front in Mali?
Isaiah Akinremi
BBC Sports journalist
BBC Africa
Episode: How Arsenal built a loyal African fan base
Joffrey Mabeya
Professor of energy regulation
Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa
Episode: How Arsenal built a loyal African fan base
Isaac Moura
Kenya government spokesperson
Kenyan government
Episode: How Arsenal built a loyal African fan base
Patrick Otim
Epidemics and Humanitarian Crisis Response Manager, World Health Organization
World Health Organization
Episode: Ebola: how does contact tracing work?

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 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 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
#55
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#158
Brazil/News
Apple Podcasts
#214
Spain/News
Apple Podcasts
#236
Norway/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ebola and burial traditions in DRC
Q: Right, Julienne, which brings me to my next question. Speaking of trust, there has been so much mistrust in these communities surrounding the illness and safe burials.
There has been distrust fueled by sudden outbreaks and rumors about witchcraft or sorcery, leading communities to seek alternative explanations and traditional healers; education and community-led engagement are helping rebuild trust.
Who are the Azawad Liberation Front in Mali?
Q: What are the two main groups behind the latest attacks in Mali and how do they relate to each other?
The Azawad Liberation Front and JNIM have formed an alliance with a shared enemy—the Malian government—but they do not share a common long-term project; Azawad provides local legitimacy for a Tuareg Arab autonomy goal, while JNIM provides power and operational capability.
What does it mean to be African?
Q: How exactly do you hope to break that siege?
Ismail Moula explains a strategy combining maritime action, international solidarity, and political pressure, recognizing limitations while stressing the importance of keeping the issue in public view to spur governmental engagement.
Are billionaires good for Africa?
Q: How many billionaires do you think there are in Africa?
The guest notes there are 23 billionaires and that their combined wealth exceeds $100 billion, highlighting a small but growing billionaire class while many Africans live in poverty.
Who is in charge in Somalia?
Q: What's the impact of this constitutional amendment and delayed polls on the country's democracy?
The opposition and electoral observers express deep concern that the extension diminishes trust and legitimacy, while proponents argue the reforms are necessary to stabilize institutions; the situation remains contested with disagreements over the timeline and the neutrality of the electoral framework.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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?

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. Newshour
3. Global News Podcast
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 971 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. Julienne Anoko
2. Ismail Moula
3. Mohammed Dewji
4. Kwe Sio Bang
5. Yakubu Mohamed
6. Isaiah Akinremi
7. Joffrey Mabeya
8. Isaac Moura

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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