Focus on Africa

A BBC Africa Eye investigation has been told that a high-ranking police officer in Tanzania's main city Dar es Salaam was linked to the abduction of several activists, who allege they were subsequently abused by other officers.  They claim their  ordeals happened as the government was cracking down on dissent ahead of the October 2025 presidential election.   And West African words and expressions like “abeg” or “biko” were included in the latest update of the Oxford English Dictionary. How does it benefit the culture?   Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: David Nzau Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Africa’s beauty and personal care industry is growing, as more people look to achieve glowing skin and the perfect make up look. But many products on the market still do not cater to black skin. Last year, a study by US-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that over 3000 beauty products targeting black women contain health hazards. Focus on Africa: The Conversation host, Nkechi Ogbonna spoke with Zithobe Macheli, a skincare influencer from South Africa and Jessica Molefe, a make-up artist from Botswana to get their thoughts on this growing industry. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Negash Technical Producer: Terry Chege Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Ricky Stein, former manager and close friend of Fela Kuti, reflects on Fela's activism and enduring Afrobeat legacy. Dr. Umar Mouhumza, medical doctor and vaccinology expert, analyzes the suspended newborn hepatitis B vaccine trial, covering ethics, trial design, and public health implications. Short, engaging conversations explore trust, timing of doses, and the cultural significance of a Grammy Lifetime Award for Fela.

January is marked worldwide as cervical cancer awareness month. According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer, yet it kills over 350,000 women globally every year. We look at how Kenya, where more than half of those diagnosed die within a year, is approaching the disease; and how Botswana manages to keep prevalence low. Also, weddings are a big deal in Nigeria, but what options do couples have when that dream wedding is just too expensive?Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Blessing Aderogba and Chiamaka Dike Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Alfonso Daniels, BBC journalist who covered Namibia’s Samherji fish scandal, and Liesl Lowe Vondron, African Union adviser at the International Crisis Group. They discuss why Egypt and Morocco were tapped for Trump’s new Board of Peace. They also cover the Samherji leaks, the whistleblower’s first public account, and the broader fallout for Namibia’s fishing industry.

Cocoa farmers in Ghana are disgruntled over delayed payments from the state regulator - COCOBOD. The farmers say the delay is endangering investments for the next farming season. Ghana, which is the world's second largest cocoa producer, changed the system through which farmers receive their payments in an attempt to reduce reliance on debt. And we hear from Giel Malual and John Kuei - the two South Sudanese men who have just completed a walk across the length of mainland UK to raise awareness about the war in Sudan, and mobilise donations to build schools for young refugees displaced by the conflict.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike, Blessing Aderogba and Patricia Whitehorne Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Around the world, more women are choosing to delay motherhood. In countries like Italy, Spain and South Korea, the average age of first-time mothers has risen to around 32. While many African countries still have some of the youngest ages of first-time mothers - a shift is also happening in parts of continent. So, what’s behind this change?Focus on Africa: The Conversation host, Nkechi Ogbonna spoke with Vanessa Tloubatla, from South Africa, who became a mother at the age of 46; and Barbara Mugeni from Uganda who had her third child at the age of 45.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Negash Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

In this insightful discussion, Martin Mwangi, a BBC Monitoring contributor focused on the Sahel, provides a gripping analysis of recent jihadist attacks that have claimed many lives in Niger's Tillaberi region. He highlights the factors fueling violence, including weak governance and militant groups like the Islamic State. Meanwhile, Professor Sinfri Makoni, a South African linguist, explores how accents influence social perception and opportunities. He delves into the complexities of accent changes and their implications for identity and power dynamics.

A new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change says that most countries, including those in Africa, will find it difficult to have full autonomy over AI systems. According to the Institute, only 32 countries worldwide host AI-specific data centres, leaving around 160 nations dependent on foreign infrastructure. We hear how the situation is for African countries. And, Nigeria wants to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland in Southern Rivers State; thirty years after environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were executed following a protest that saw the killing of four tradional chiefs of an oil producing community known as Ogoni. This led to the suspension of exploration by oil giant Shell – the company accused of causing the environmental damage. We hear the views of the Nigerian government and environmental activists. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Ayuba Ilya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime reveals that a third of cocaine consumed in Europe is transported via West Africa. Since 2019, the region has become a key global hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to markets in Europe and Asia, according to the organisation. We look at how the region gained this reputation as a hub of global trafficking. Also Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are among African countries where internet blackouts have been witnessed recently. We explore the technologies and techniques that youth in these countries are using to stay online.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla