Africa Daily

Across Africa, if you ask people how they plan to improve the lives of their children, the answer is often ‘through education’. But what about 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.So in today's Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) speaks to Philip Ogola (@PhilipOgola) 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?

Later today world leaders will gather at Westminster Abbey in London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died peacefully on Thursday the 8th of September.Last week on this podcast, Alan held robust discussions with different guests and interrogated the queen’s legacy in Africa. He also heard – in passing – about the very special relationship she shared with the former South African president Nelson Mandela. Queen Elizabeth visited South Africa in 1995, a year after independence. So we thought it would be appropriate, today, to hear more about their friendship. Mpho Lakaje speaks with two key people from President Mandela’s close circle, his chief bodyguard Rory Steyn and his personal assistant Zelda Le Gange, and gets their memories of the times the Queen met Madiba.

Last month Emirates Airlines announced it was halting flights to Nigeria – saying it was owed millions of dollars. The plight of passengers suddenly forced to find creative and expensive ways to travel thousands of miles grabbed the world’s attention – and within days of the crisis, Nigeria said it would release some of the money owed to foreign airlines: $265 million. But the reason WHY the airline took the drastic step actually highlights a more widespread problem for Nigeria: a shortage of dollars to pay for foreign services – and two competing exchange rates: the official rate and what Nigerians can get on the black market. This has left the Central Bank of Nigeria – or CBN – technically subsidising travellers – and foreign companies being underpaid for their services. For Africa Daily, @kasujja speaks with Oluwatosin Olaseinde, an account and money expert who set up Money Africa, a financial literacy platform. “You’re seeing a higher cost of living, you’re seeing a reduction in the revenue of the government, so it’s just a whole lot of different (elements) mixed together in this dance.”

It’s been a big week for Kenya’s new president William Ruto. On Tuesday he was sworn in and immediately started reversing some of his predecessor’s policies. Straight after the ceremony he appointed six new judges – who’d been rejected by the former president Uhuru Kenyatta. He also announced that operations would revert back to the port of Mombasa. So what will his presidency mean for Kenyans and the surrounding region? Alan Kasujja speaks with International Relations analyst, Dr. Adhere Cavince, and Sylvanus Wekesa, an expert on African leadership.

Tanzania’s government is now preparing to build a Liquefied Natural Gas plant to process its vast natural gas. This comes after President Samia Suluhu Hassan said her administration had attracted $30 billion in foreign investment. Once it’s been liquified, the gas which forms naturally underground over many years, is expected to be exported to countries in Europe and Asia. The government say this will create thousands of jobs and help to ease some of the financial burdens on Tanzanians who’ve been dealing with hikes in fuel prices. In April prices across the nation hit a new record high. Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Modestus Lumato and Salum Awadh

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96, African leaders lined up to pay tribute. After all, her passion for the continent, and dedication to the Commonwealth were both clear to see. But because of her role as a figurehead of a former colonial power, many Africans have found the tributes difficult. For them, processing her death is far more complicated. So how is the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II seen across the continent? Alan Kasujja discusses the subject with BBC Monitoring’s Beverly Ochieng and Professor of history, Macharia Munene.

Queen Elizabeth II was actually Princess Elizabeth when she first visited Africa with her parents. And she was in Kenya – staying in the famous Treetops hotel – when the news of her father’s death arrived and she became queen.During the 70 years that followed she visited the continent many times and shook the hands of countless African leaders.But what was it like to actually meet the queen in person?For Africa Daily @Kasujja speaks to the former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation, who share their memories. “He announced me as the President of Zimbabwe… she said to me ‘don’t worry about that introduction, he’s new and I think he just got overwhelmed by the occasion’… She knew I wasn’t the President of Zimbabwe, she knew who I was. She made a nice, pleasant excuse for him”.

Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. Her 70- year reign ran parallel with significant events in Africa. At the time of her coronation, she became the ruler of 14 territories across Africa, as part of the British Empire. And her decades on the throne were a period of immense change. One after another, each African country became independent and took their own path in the world. So, who was Queen Elizabeth to Africa? And what did her life and reign mean for the continent? #AfricaDaily

Edward Enninful is the editor in chief of British Vogue, a magazine which is revered in the world of fashion. He was appointed in 2017 and became the first black man to do the job. He sits in the front row of catwalk shows from the world’s biggest designers – Dolce and Gabbana, Versace and Armani. Beyonce, Rihanna and Oprah Winfrey are close friends. But despite the glitz and glamour of the circles he moves in now, he had a very humble beginning. He came to UK as a refugee from Ghana when he was 13 years old. Now he’s telling his story in a new memoir - A Visible Man. His interview with Alan Kasujja contains discussion of violence that some people might find disturbing.#AfricaDaily

Africa is the most entrepreneurial continent according to the African Development Bank. And sometimes it seems like everyone is talking about starting a business or a side hustle. But starting a business and having it succeed are two separate things. As many as 80% of new businesses fail due to lack of funding according to investment advisors Shikana Group. So, are new businesses getting the funding they need? And what can entrepreneurs do to make sure their venture attracts investment?#AfricaDaily