Africa Daily

DISCLAIMER: This episode first aired on 20 September 2022Across Africa, if you ask people how they plan to improve the lives of their children, the answer is often ‘through education’.But what if the school system isn’t set up for how their brain works?We now know that dyslexic brains work differently to those of other people – with more activity in the frontal lobe and less in other areas. This means people with the condition can struggle with reading, writing, spelling and memory. They can be punished for not trying and for perceived laziness.But in reality, it isn’t a choice and doesn’t mean they lack intelligence – and they are actually better in some areas, like thinking visually.Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Philip Ogola who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult and is now campaigning for better understanding - and to Phyllis Munyi-Kariuki, the Director of Dyslexia Organisation-Kenya and asks: how can people with dyslexia be better supported?

DISCLAIMER: This episode originally aired on 18 August 2022. In recent years Uganda has made great progress in treating patients with kidney failure. They can now receive dialysis at several hospitals, which can sustain their health for many years. But for those who need a kidney transplant, for the time being they have no option but to travel overseas. Doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala have been working to make transplants possible on Ugandan soil. But with no legal framework for organ donation in place, changing the law is also part of their plans.

DISCLAIMER: This episode originally aired on 18 July 2022In July Alan Kasujja went on the road with Africa Daily and his first stop was Johannesburg. Alan wanted to hear from people, out and about, and - as luck would have it – he’d arrived just in time for a special day: Nelson Mandela’s birthday, when the legacy of the former President and anti-apartheid hero is celebrated in South Africa. As the country’s new President in 1994, Mandela faced the massive challenge of bringing black and white South Africans together. But not many people know that he started this task with those closest to him: his bodyguards. Alan spoke to a black former freedom fighter and a white former apartheid police officer – who both became Mr. Mandela’s bodyguards. They hated each other at first – but eventually became close friends.

Anglophone Cameroon has been ravaged by more than 5 years of conflict pitting separatist militants and the government. Naturally, it is civilians suffering the most. Many people from the Anglophone region have been displaced and are living in the French speaking regions where it’s safer or there is more work. It means some families have been separated by hundreds of miles, which makes being together at this time of year even more important. So how are people in Cameroon coming together to celebrate Christmas?

Many people across South Africa are getting ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year with friends and family. But there might not be so much to look forward to for people living on the streets. In the city of Durban, officials say there are 4000 people living without a permanent home and some NGOs believe the figure is much higher. So, what is the holiday season like for those living on the street? And how are people trying to help them?#AfricaDaily

Another global summit - COP15 – has concluded in Canada. It focused on biodiversity, which is the variety of all living things on earth. Activists, charities and ministers came together hoping to find solutions to protect and save forests, wetlands and water bodies before it’s too late. Recent studies have suggested that nearly a third of all species are currently endangered due to human activities such as logging, climate change and farming. And scientists are warning that the biodiversity clock is ticking in Africa and around the world, putting human life and wildlife at risk. So how bad is the situation and what needs to be done to protect biodiversity? Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC World Service Environment correspondent, Navin Singh Khadka.

Tunisia held parliamentary elections over the weekend. Reports show that 11.2% of the nine-million-strong electorate turned out to vote.Opposition parties accuse Tunisian President Kais Saied of reversing the democratic progress made since the 2011 Arab Spring. This has all come at a time when Tunisia has been dealing with high unemployment and shortages of basic goods like milk, cooking oil and sugar.President Saied rejected complaints about the low turnout and the legitimacy of the elections. "The situation is similar to announcing a final result of a match at the end of the first half," he said in a statement.Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at what this all means for the political future of President Kais Saied.#AfricaDaily

Young Maasai recently came together during a sports competition with a goal to preserve wildlife. Hundreds played in various games in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, including spear throwing, athletics and high jump. It is part of a new tradition – the Maasai Olympics founded by their elders in 2008. Prior to this, young warriors took part in lion hunts as a rite of passage when coming of age. But as the number of large cats began to plummet in Africa, Maasai elders and environmentalists came up with an alternative. So, is it working?#AfricaDaily

President Cyril Ramaphosa is hoping to hold on to power in South Africa as his party gathers to pick a new leader. The winner will not only lead the party, but also become its presidential candidate, come 2024 general elections. He is being challenged by Dr. Zweli Mkhize – the president’s former ally and health minister, who helped him steer the country through the pandemic. Mr Ramaphosa has been caught up in an escalating political scandal over recent months. He is accused of concealing the theft of a large amount of money from his farm but denies any wrongdoing. The African National Congress has become divided over whether he is the right person to lead them any further. So, can Cyril Ramaphosa survive as leader of the party and country? #AfricaDaily

Heads of state from 49 African countries have been invited to Washington DC this week for a three-day US Africa summit hosted by President Joe Biden. The meeting’s agenda includes strengthening relations with the continent, the climate crisis, good governance, food security, global health and trade. In his speech to the gathering, President Biden said the shared benefits of closer cooperation and economic activity would be significant.So what does Africa gain from its relationship with the US? Africa Daily’s Ferdinand Omondi has been finding out.