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BBC World Service
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Episodes
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Sep 13, 2023 • 21min
Should you go into business with your family?
The family-run business model is as old as business itself.Across Africa and the rest of the world, it is family businesses that dominate production and trade.From massive global brands like BMW or Nike to your local grocery store, it is a common set-up.But a family business can be difficult to manage, and often they don’t survive beyond one or two generations.Issues around money, control, who does what, are complex enough in a commercial setting, let alone with your own flesh and blood.So today we are looking at the pros and the cons of going into business with your family, with a focus on a family farm in Kenya, run by 3 generations of the Chiira family.

Sep 12, 2023 • 14min
How important is a seat at the G20 table?
Every year the G20 – a group made up of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful countries - meet to discuss and make decisions on global challenges: climate change, energy security, trade and conflict.
For many years there have been complaints that many of those affected by those decisions aren’t represented.
So with the African Union now a member, will this mean Africa’s voice will be heard more?
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Mikatekiso Kubayi, a researcher at the Institute for Global Dialogue at the University of South Africa.

Sep 11, 2023 • 19min
How is President Bola Tinubu dealing with Nigeria’s challenges?
Bola Tinubu was officially sworn in as President of Nigeria just over 100 days ago. Since then, opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have alleged widespread fraud in the election.But last week, Nigeria’s Appeal Court rejected challenges to his narrow victory.
The problems President Tinubu inherited are huge. There’s widespread insecurity, the cost of living crisis, high unemployment, a shrinking oil industry and high inflation.
So how’s he begun to deal with those challenges? And are people happy with the job he’s doing so far?
Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje has been looking at this with the BBC’s Chris Ewokor in the capital Abuja.

Sep 8, 2023 • 20min
Are African countries united on climate change?
This week the first ever Africa Climate Summit took place in Nairobi, to discuss ways the continent can respond to the threat of climate change .At least 23 African heads of state and government joined thousands of delegates at the summit, with a goal to influence climate commitments, pledges and outcomes.At the close of the summit on Wednesday, the African leaders adopted a joint declaration outlining the continent’s position on climate finance and green growth. In the declaration- the African leaders proposed new taxes across the world to fund action against climate change.The heads of state say the declaration will form the basis of their negotiating position at November's COP28 summit in Dubai. They've proposed taxes on shipping, aviation and the trade in fossil fuel.
Although the summit was largely hailed as a success, there has been outcry over the small number of African heads of state and governments who attended.Civil society groups say they were side-lined, and claim the process of preparing the summit was hijacked by western influencers.

Sep 7, 2023 • 21min
Does rugby have a bright future in Africa?
As the World Cup is set to start in Paris, President of Rugby Africa says investment is needed for more countries to replicate the Springbok’s success

Sep 6, 2023 • 14min
Why are buildings being hijacked in South Africa?
“What I saw was really traumatizing. It was traumatic to see people jumping out of a building”
On the 31st of August, a fire destroyed a block of flats in the Johannesburg inner city, in South Africa.
A total of 77 people died while dozens of others remain in hospital.
The police are still investigating how the fire started.
The authorities say those who died in the catastrophe were living in the derelict and abandoned building illegally.
This is part of what has been described as ‘building hijacking’.
Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg speaks to former mayor Herman Mashaba and constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos, to get an understanding of this problem.

Sep 5, 2023 • 23min
Will the coup in Gabon bring real change?
The leader of Gabon's military junta has vowed to return power to civilians after "free, transparent" elections.
However, in a speech after being sworn in as interim president, he did not give a date for military rule to end.
The coup, that ended more than 50 years of rule by the Bongo family in Gabon, was welcomed by crowds of cheering civilians that turned up at the inauguration.
However, some question his links to the old regime and say Gen Nguema's rule will be a continuation of the Bongo dynasty.

Sep 4, 2023 • 18min
After a near 60 year ban, can Zanzibar embrace boxing?
Young people in Zanzibar are able to pursue boxing for the first time in nearly six decades, now that a ban on the sport has been lifted.
Zanzibar’s first president Abeid Karume banned boxing in 1965, saying it was inhumane and against the culture of Zanzibaris.
In the years since, some aspiring boxers had to travel to mainland Tanzania to pursue their ambitions.
It means that people on the island were only recently able to enjoy one of Africa’s most popular sports in person for the first time in nearly 60 years.
But after all that time, are people on Zanzibar ready to lace up their gloves and embrace boxing again?

Sep 1, 2023 • 22min
Does your language have a digital future?
We speak hundreds of languages across the African continent.
But only a small number are represented on the internet.
So what future do the languages we speak at home and with our families have, if we cannot use them in a digital world?This is where machine learning comes in, Artificial Intelligence. Because there are translation tools out there, built through Natural Language Processing (NLP), which can allow you to be understood anywhere in the world. But the data needed is complex and takes a long time to create.
So we brought together 3 women who work in this field and are ‘language champions’ for African languages – Salomey Osei from Ghana, Jade Abbott from South Africa, and Kathleen Siminyu from Kenya – to find out whether our African languages can have a digital future.

Aug 31, 2023 • 17min
How did a young singer from South Africa become a star in China?
When South African Motswedi Modiba made her first appearance on Sing China, one of the world’s biggest TV shows, the video went viral.
It wasn’t just because she sang the song beautifully or because she belted out the words in perfect Mandarin.
People were also excited because she became the first black African to appear on the show.
The show has more than 150 million viewers and since her audition, she’s picked up thousands of new followers across Asia.