Focus on Africa Podcast
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.
Episodes to download
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Burkina Faso says foiled assassination plot
Today
Burkina Faso says thwarted attempted coup against Captain Traoré
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Africa reacts to Maduro’s capture
Yesterday
African governments respond to US seizure of Venezuela’s president
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Nigeria’s new taxes spark public backlash
Monday
Nigeria’s new tax laws trigger concern about incomes and prices
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January 1: birthday for the undocumented
New Year's Day 2026
Why does January 1 appear so often on African birth records?
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What happens after Israel recognises Somaliland as independent?
Last Tuesday
Joy in Somaliland after Israel grants recognition, as demonstration erupts elsewhere.
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Inside Nigeria’s bombed border communities
Mon 29 Dec 2025
BBC team gains rare access to villages near US Nigeria airstrikes
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"My Surrogacy Baby"
Boxing Day 2025
Influencer, Nancy Umeh, shares her journey of welcoming her third child through surrogacy
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What's Christmas without a home?
Christmas Day 2025
How are homeless people in South Africa spending Christmas?
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Crowd crush tragedy at Asake concert
Christmas Eve 2025
20-year-old Karen Lojore dies after a crowd crush at a Nairobi concert.
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Kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren are free
Tue 23 Dec 2025
Parents speak after kidnapped Nigerian children are freed amid fresh abduction reports.
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Kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren are free
Tue 23 Dec 2025
Parents speak after kidnapped Nigerian children are freed amid fresh abduction reports.
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AFCON is back, and it's changing
Mon 22 Dec 2025
Africa's major football tournament kicks off amid calendar changes and ticketing concerns
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The difficulty of intra-African travel
Fri 19 Dec 2025
Find out why it’s still so hard and costly for Africans to travel within Africa
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Should more employers grant menstrual leave?
Thu 18 Dec 2025
Authorities in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to grant female city employees menstrual leave
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DRC rebels to retreat from seized town
Wed 17 Dec 2025
Rebel M23 group to withdraw from Uvira in eastern DR Congo following international outcry
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Deadly floods hit Moroccan city ahead of AFCON
Tue 16 Dec 2025
Search and rescue efforts for missing persons continue after weekend flash floods in Safi
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South Africa's Nama people want mines rehabilitated
Mon 15 Dec 2025
After years of diamond mining, locals say firms haven't done enough to restore their land
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Are weight-loss drugs a magic bullet?
Fri 12 Dec 2025
Weight-loss jabs are gaining popularity in Africa. We follow one women's journey.
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DRC rebels take town despite Trump deal
Thu 11 Dec 2025
Fighting intensifies in east DR Congo despite new peace agreement with Rwanda
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Tanzania crackdown on planned protests
Wed 10 Dec 2025
Why did Tanzania’s streets remain deserted on the day youth vowed to protest?
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BBC investigates ‘white genocide’ in South Africa
Tue 9 Dec 2025
BBC Africa Eye investigates ‘genocide’ claims targeting white farmers in South Africa
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What next after coup attempt in Benin?
Mon 8 Dec 2025
What the coup attempt means for Benin as President Talon says situation is under control.
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'My photos became deepfake porn'
Fri 5 Dec 2025
UN Women recently sounded the alarm on deepfake pornography, a new form of digital abuse
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Zambian influencer imprisoned for hate speech
Thu 4 Dec 2025
Influencer’s imprisonment raises questions about freedom of speech in Zambia
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Nigeria's kidnapping crisis leaves parents scarred
Wed 3 Dec 2025
Who is behind the kidnappings in Nigeria and what's the government doing about it?
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Is Egypt reasserting its influence in Africa?
Tue 2 Dec 2025
A rare conversation with Egypt's Foreign Minister about Sudan War and the Ethiopia dam
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Zambia President Faces Backlash Over Constitution Amendments
Mon 1 Dec 2025
Civil society groups have concerns about a controversial constitutional review process
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Why Maasai leaders want luxury camp removed
Fri 28 Nov 2025
Maasai leaders take legal action over a luxury safari camp at Kenya's Maasai Mara
