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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Focus on Africa

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1047Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Focus on Africa

Latest Episodes

In January 2027, Nigeria will be heading to the polls. But there’s one thing still largely missing from the ballot, women. According to Nigerian civil society organisation, policy and legal advocacy centre, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of wome... more

South Africa has been shaken by a string of unexplained deaths, with nine women found dead in and around Kempton Park, northeast of Johannesburg, over the past two months. South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence, wi... more

More than 2,000 people have fled across the Red Sea into neighbouring Djibouti as fighting in Yemen escalates. The renewed conflict between the Iran-backed Houthi movement and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has also displaced more than 100,000 pe... more

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has launched Africa's largest-ever share sale, offering a stake in his oil refinery to the general public. The initial public offering (IPO) covers roughly 3% of the Dangote Refinery and aims to raise $1.6 billion a... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kwame Owino
CEO, Institute of Economic Affairs in Kenya
Institute of Economic Affairs in Kenya
Episode: Kenya gives foreign traders 90-day ultimatum
Muhammad Jamal Jibril
Photographer documenting displacement and weddings in Darfur
Freelance/Photojournalist
Episode: Kenya gives foreign traders 90-day ultimatum
Tibor Nagy
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Episode: Why maps make Africa smaller
Yamisi Adegoke
BBC Africa Eye journalist
BBC
Episode: Why maps make Africa smaller
Dara Ojo
Macro photographer and conservation storyteller
Canadian-Nigerian photographer
Episode: Is Africa ready for a stronger El Niño?
Anthony Mushiri
Head of Emergency Response at the Kenya Red Cross
Kenya Red Cross
Episode: Is Africa ready for a stronger El Niño?
Massad Boulos
Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump on African and Arab Affairs
White House / US Government
Episode: US pushes for Sudan arms embargo
Shayna Lewis
Sudan specialist with Avaaz
Avaaz
Episode: US pushes for Sudan arms embargo
Adrienne Tikolo
Founder and managing director of Dyslexia Nigeria
Dyslexia Nigeria
Episode: US pushes for Sudan arms embargo

Host

Nkechi Ogbonna
Host of Focus on Africa (BBC World Service) with a focus on providing context and analysis for major African stories.

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.

Readers appreciate the broad continental scope and impactful storytelling.
Listeners praise high-quality Africa-focused coverage with strong on-the-ground reporting.
Some listeners want more balanced coverage and deeper analysis on certain topics.
Feedback often highlights insightful guests and rigorous questioning from hosts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#83
Colombia/News
Apple Podcasts
#128
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#178
Norway/News
Apple Podcasts
#185
Finland/News
Apple Podcasts
#246
Saudi Arabia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Niger arrests soldiers behind failed mutiny
Q: How has the mutiny affected public confidence and security outlook in the Sahel?
Analysts expect heightened caution, potential reshuffling of command roles, and ongoing security reshaping as both government and international partners reassess support and strategy.
Niger arrests soldiers behind failed mutiny
Q: What do you envisage this failed coup will do to Niger's military and regional security?
Experts say it will likely lead to a purge within security forces, strained regional diplomacy, and a crackdown on loyalty, while reinforcing the need to protect counter-insurgency capabilities amid internal and external pressures.
US calls for Sudan arms embargo
Q: Under ideal conditions, how does an arms embargo operate and who is responsible for ensuring that it actually works?
The embargo is designed to be enforced by the UN Security Council, with major responsibility resting on the five permanent members and all UN members, but in practice enforcement has been inconsistent and is often more symbolic than practical; the mechanism relies on international law and state compliance, yet major regional powers sometimes bypass or ignore it.
'My journey with postpartum psychosis'
Q: How prevalent are maternal mental health conditions in Africa and how accessible is help?
Globally, depression and anxiety affect about 20% of women; in parts of Africa such as South Africa, up to 30-40% may experience common mental health conditions, with stigma hindering care and screening.
'My journey with postpartum psychosis'
Q: What helped you recover and move forward?
Medication, psychosocial support, therapy, and strong family involvement helped me recover; with time I returned to work and normal life, staying compliant with treatment and follow-up.

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?

This program consistently covers a broad swath of African affairs, weaving politics, economy, security, culture, and human interest into concise, story-driven episodes. Recent show notes highlight high-profile interviews with heads of state, policy debates around heritage and governance, and in-depth analyzes of regional issues such as maritime trade, energy security, and social development. A notable strength is the wide mix of guests—from presidents and ministers to researchers, activists, and industry experts—offering multiple perspectives on unfolding events. Listeners looking for well-sourced context, actionable insights for sponsorships, or opportunities to reach decision-makers across public, private, and NGO sectors will likely find... more

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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. The Global Story
3. Global News Podcast
4. The Documentary Podcast
5. The Horn

How many episodes of Focus on Africa are there?

Focus on Africa launched 19 years ago and published 1047 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?

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What guests have appeared on Focus on Africa?

Recent guests on Focus on Africa include:

1. Kwame Owino
2. Muhammad Jamal Jibril
3. Tibor Nagy
4. Yamisi Adegoke
5. Dara Ojo
6. Anthony Mushiri
7. Massad Boulos
8. Shayna Lewis

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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