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Africa Daily

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Jun 27, 2024 • 23min

How did Kenya's Gen Z protests stop the finance bill?

Kenya's Gen Z protests against an unpopular finance bill led to President Ruto conceding. The bill aimed at imposing tax hikes faced backlash, sparking violent street protests resulting in 22 deaths. President Ruto agreed to engage in dialogue with the young protesters. The episode dives into the economic frustrations, tax legislation, and revenue-raising efforts fueling the discontent among citizens in Kenya.
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Jun 26, 2024 • 17min

What will it take to end music-related killings in Lesotho?

“People will say nasty things about you in their lyrics. You will then be tempted to respond. That’s how the violence starts” – Molefi “Mantsoaki” Tjemolane – Lesotho musician Famo music is a genre whose origins can be traced back to the 1920s, among Lesotho’s migrant labourers. Over time, it became commercial and formed a big part of national culture, enabling artists to make a living and win awards. But the music is now associated with gangs primarily linked to illegal gold mining in neighbouring South Africa and Lesotho itself. The main factions are known as Terene, draped in yellow traditional blankets over their shoulders, while Seakhi prefer blue and black blankets. Now, the government of Prime Minister Sam Matekane has banned some of the groups accused of fueling the violence. This has angered some musicians. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Lesotho’s Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police Lebona Lephema as well as Famo musician Molefi “Mantsoaki” Tjemolane
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Jun 25, 2024 • 20min

Why are some parents in Nigeria using harmful skin lightening products on their children?

When Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja was in Lagos last year, he learned that some parents there are using harmful products on their children in order to lighten their skin and that in some instances parents are unintentionally lightening and damaging their children’s skin. The usage of skin lightening products is high in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organisation, the prevalence of skin bleaching varies across the continent in Mali it's 25% while in Nigeria it's 77%, so the market for these products is large and widespread. In today’s episode, Alan looks at what’s behind this trend and hears from the owner of a natural skin products business on the conversations she’s had with mothers looking for skin lightening products for their young children. And he speaks to a dermatologist on the young and damaged skin she’s seen in her clinic.With special thanks to producer Chigozie Ohaka.
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Jun 24, 2024 • 20min

Are liberation movements still relevant in Africa?

Today Alan Kasujja sits down with Dr.Philbert Komu from the University of Dar es Salaam and Dr. Gideon Chitanga of the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. They are discussing the role of former liberation movements in Africa’s contemporary politics. Is their performance in line with the expectations of their nations? The conversation was sparked by the dismal showing of the African National Congress in South Africa’s May 2024 elections. Others like Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe have also lost support over the years, relying on rural votes to remain in power. Although icons like Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel are still celebrated to this day, Alan attempts to understand if their ideas still work.
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Jun 21, 2024 • 15min

How did three Americans end up on trial for a coup attempt in the DRC?

More than 50 defendants are being tried for an attempted coup attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On May 19th, armed men dressed in military attire attacked the home of the economy minister, Vital Kamerhe and later moved on to President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa. Former Congolese military officer, Christian Malanga, is still expected to face charges for leading this alleged coup, despite being killed by security forces during the attack. Also on trial are three US citizens, one of them is Christian Malanga's 21-year-old son, Marcel. Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC's reporter in the capital Kinshasa, Emery Makumeno.
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Jun 20, 2024 • 15min

Could power ships be the jolt Africa needs to help overcome its energy challenges?

Millions in Africa live without a consistent supply of electricity, something which has caused a lot of socio-economic setbacks. Some countries, like Ghana, are turning to power ships to solve their energy problems. These floating power plants are a quick fix, providing an electricity supply and that helps to reduce those frequent blackouts. However, money troubles still loom large. Unpaid bills can lead to more power cuts, this has happened in Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. And there are questions about the sustainability of dealing with a country’s electricity needs in this way. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been hearing more about all this from the BBC’s Aaron Akinyemi who spoke to the Chief Commercial Officer at Turkish based Karpowership, Zeynab Harezi, as well as Tony Tiyou, the CEO of Renewables in Africa.
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Jun 19, 2024 • 20min

Is Africa doing enough to get women involved in science?

“I think historically, science or STEM related subjects have not been encouraged for young girls to participate in. It’s generally been viewed as a male dominated industry” – Lerato Kubushi, African Leadership Academy In today’s Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje speaks to four teenagers from Tunisia, Lesotho, Nigeria Zimbabwe and their teacher from Ghana about why African women are underrepresented in science and what’s being done about it. According to a recent United Nations Commission for Africa report, women make up only 20% of the science and engineering field on the continent. This, however, isn’t to say that Africa hasn’t produced people who are excelling in this sector and doing exceptional things.Back in 2002, Mark Shuttleworth gained worldwide fame when he became the first South African in space. 20 years later Sara Sabry became the first Egyptian and African woman to go to space. But is enough being done to ensure that more women get to reach the same heights?
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Jun 18, 2024 • 20min

Haiti: Will Ruto’s faith diplomacy work where politics have failed?

“We believe our president has taken a very, very wonderful initiative and we support it 100%... Our president is a Christian and he believes in the power of prayer.”For months now, a plan to send a thousand Kenyan police to quell gang violence in Haiti has been surrounded with uncertainty. There have been a series of hold ups to the deployment including challenges in the Kenyan courts, changing leadership in Haiti, and general opposition from the Kenyan public.It has now emerged that alongside pushing hard for the deployment, Ruto has also been making plans for faith diplomacy and has turned to a group of evangelical pastors close to him and the first lady for support.For the Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi speaks to one of the evangelical pastors Serge Musasilwa on why and how they are involved. He also speaks to international affairs expert Dr Kizito Saballa.
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Jun 17, 2024 • 20min

What has been the lasting impact of Zambia's 1993 football squad plane crash?

"This could be one of the greatest teams we’ve ever seen out of Africa… they were the hope of Africa for the 1994 World Cup. And that was taken away instantly.”In 1993, a plane carrying almost all of Zambia's national football squad crashed in Gabon, killing 18 players. The young team was carrying the hopes of many Africans as they progressed towards the 1994 World Cup. But out of that tragedy, an amazing story unfolded, as a team was rebuilt from scratch. That team later went on to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.Now 30 years later, the BBC podcast Amazing Sport Stories been speaking with the family members of those who died – who to this day have never received compensation - as well as to those who rebuilt the team. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje. Guests: Robert Earnshaw, Welsh former international footballer and the host of the podcast, and his mother Rita.
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Jun 14, 2024 • 17min

Why do workers in Nigeria feel so strongly about raising the minimum wage?

Last week Nigeria’s labour unions suspended a general strike, that caused widespread disruption across the country, for one week. Unions were demanding an increase in the national monthly minimum wage to help workers cope with the rising cost of living. The strike ended after the government agreed to a new national minimum wage. The government also said it will meet with the unions' representatives every day for a week for talks. In today’s Africa Daily Noni Muchiri speaks to the BBC’s Nkechi Ogbonna in Lagos about the union’s demands, the government’s response and the financial hardship facing many workers in Nigeria.

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