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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes940Founded19 years ago
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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

One testing centre in Nigeria told the Focus on Africa Podcast that the number of paternity tests it conducted rose by 28.8% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Focus on Africa Podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to Peter Ngumba, a lab technologist ... more

In Madagascar, the arrest of Gen Z protesters is fuelling growing doubts about the military leadership that emerged after the 2025 uprising, as young activists question whether anything has truly changed. Elsewhere on the continent, a new report reve... more

A major gas pipeline is being planned from Nigeria to Morocco, running along the Atlantic coast through countries including Ghana and Senegal, before potentially linking up to Europe. The $25 billion project is aimed at boosting energy access across ... more

More than a dozen deportees from the US, reportedly from South America, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the beginning of April, the DRC government announced a deal with the US under which Kinshasa would accept individuals kno... more

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Recent Guests

Peter Ngumba
Doctor and advocate of DNA testing; has undergone DNA testing himself
Medical laboratory/DNA testing practitioner
Episode: Why more men are getting paternity tests
Lindsay Kukunda
Human rights activist and feminist from Uganda
Uganda-based activist
Episode: Why more men are getting paternity tests
Ndi Nye Chengeta
Person from Botswana recounting personal experience with paternity test results
Individual with firsthand experience
Episode: Why more men are getting paternity tests
Eliot Randiamandrato
Spokesperson for Gen Z Madagascar Movement
Gen Z Madagascar Movement
Episode: Madagascar: Gen Z arrests fuel doubts over military rule
Charles Majomi
Gas and energy transition expert and policy advisor
Independent consultant (appears as guest)
Episode: What does the Morocco–Nigeria gas pipeline involve?
Emery Makumeno
Correspondent in Kinshasa
BBC Africa
Episode: Controversy over US deportees in DR Congo
Mark Wilberforce
Friend and BBC Africa colleague sharing a personal story
BBC Africa
Episode: Controversy over US deportees in DR Congo
Ivana Davidovich
BBC colleague involved in reporting
BBC
Episode: Kenyan children in search for British soldier dads
Iroro Tanshi
Conservationist
Iroro Tanshi (conservationist)
Episode: Kenyan children in search for British soldier dads

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
#78
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#100
Poland/News
Apple Podcasts
#239
Austria/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What does the Morocco–Nigeria gas pipeline involve?
Q: Could you start by giving us just a general overview of this project?
The project envisions a roughly 7,000-kilometer gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco, crossing 13 West African countries with potential to extend to Europe, aiming to transform regional energy markets and enable gas as a key driver for industrialization and development.
Controversy over US deportees in DR Congo
Q: Is this migration issue and the hosting of these deputies from the US a condition of the deal described in minerals and security cooperation?
No official explanation ties the deportations to the minerals or security deals, but opposition voices suggest the moves may be connected to broader Washington pressures to benefit U.S. business interests, while the government maintains it is a separate temporary humanitarian arrangement.
Controversy over US deportees in DR Congo
Q: Just explain to us a bit more of the government's point of view in regards to why these individuals are in the country.
The government says the arrivals are a temporary, humanitarian gesture under a broader agreement with the United States, with the aim of facilitating trade and security cooperation while avoiding direct financial costs to the state.
ADHD and me
Q: What was the moment when the doctor said you have ADHD?
It was a gradual realization during an evaluation where the doctor assessed multiple issues, including eye contact and sensory responses, leading to the ADHD diagnosis and later recognizing autism.
ADHD and me
Q: Had you ever heard of ADHD before then?
No, not at all; it was not something I expected, and I only connected many childhood symptoms later when exploring the diagnosis.

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?

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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. Into Africa
2. The Horn
3. The China in Africa Podcast
4. The Interview
5. Newshour

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 940 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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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. Peter Ngumba
2. Lindsay Kukunda
3. Ndi Nye Chengeta
4. Eliot Randiamandrato
5. Charles Majomi
6. Emery Makumeno
7. Mark Wilberforce
8. Ivana Davidovich

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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