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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1002Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

Sierra Leone's government has dropped its charges, including treason, against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup nearly three years ago. The charges had been dropped on health grounds, Information Mi... more

Days after the rescue of 48 school children and their teachers from kidnappers in Nigeria's Southwest Oyo State, authorities call for investigations into the abductions and the release. We hear from the families of the victims.

And Somalia cites in... more

A Sudanese court has sentenced the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known as Hemedti - to death for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide over atrocities committed in the West Darfur region. He... more

Once the target of an assassination attempt, Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu is now behind bars awaiting trial for treason. His case has become a test of political freedoms in the country and drawn international attention. BBC Africa Eye has... more

Key Facts

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

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Chantelle Petit
Kenyan content creator and mother
Self‑presentation on social platforms
Episode: Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
Ahmendur Hirad
British Somali digital creator and podcaster
Self‑promotion of related content
Episode: Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
Hezel Muriro-Kubinsinghe
Psychologist based in Kampala, Uganda
Psychology/mental health
Episode: Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
Janine Mona
Crisis Researcher at Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Episode: Rights group accuses RSF of crimes against humanity in Sudan
Darey Art Alade
Nigerian singer-songwriter and founder of LifeSport 360
LiveSport 360
Episode: Rights group accuses RSF of crimes against humanity in Sudan
Deola Art Alade
Co-founder of LifeSport 360, creative entrepreneur
LiveSport 360
Episode: Rights group accuses RSF of crimes against humanity in Sudan
Sandile Suwana
Political analyst, political administration expert in South Africa
Independent analyst
Episode: What next after South Africa anti-migrant protests?
Nigel Crowhall
UNESCO lead expert on indigenous language and knowledge preservation
UNESCO
Episode: What next after South Africa anti-migrant protests?
Maryam Chatty
Senior researcher, Global Exchange on Migration
Global Exchange on Migration
Episode: Tanzania strengthens border surveillance against Ebola

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
#77
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#242
Sweden/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
Q: How do cultural expectations in Africa shape this trend?
Guests note that family pressure and societal timelines around marriage create a tension between solitude and belonging, but boundaries can help people navigate traditional norms while pursuing healthier personal development.
Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
Q: Do you think there are benefits to solo maxing, and what are they?
Dino and Chantelle discuss benefits like self-awareness, improved emotional regulation, and the ability to pursue personal growth before entering a relationship; limits include loneliness and potential social isolation.
Solo-maxxing: are people opting out of dating?
Q: So what does solo maxing mean to you personally?
Chantelle describes it as enjoying solitude, learning to be comfortable alone, and knowing herself on her own terms, which helps her set boundaries and pursue life with independence.
Rights group accuses RSF of crimes against humanity in Sudan
Q: What does ownership mean for African creatives in practical terms?
Ownership means securing long-term value across the value chain, including IP, data, and distribution, and building platforms that ensure Africans control the economics of their work.
Rights group accuses RSF of crimes against humanity in Sudan
Q: Did Amnesty International put these findings to the RSF for comment?
Yes, Amnesty sent a detailed letter with questions on June 10th, inviting a response, but RSF did not provide a comment in return.

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?

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?

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. The China in Africa Podcast
2. Global News Podcast
3. Newshour
4. World Business Report
5. The Global Story

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 1002 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. Chantelle Petit
2. Ahmendur Hirad
3. Hezel Muriro-Kubinsinghe
4. Janine Mona
5. Darey Art Alade
6. Deola Art Alade
7. Sandile Suwana
8. Nigel Crowhall

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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