Africa Daily

Midwife or mid-husband? That’s a common question on social media posts highlighting the work of the very few men who help women to deliver babies. Midwifery is a profession that has traditionally been dominated by women. Less than 1% of people registered as midwives globally are men. According to research conducted by the University of Northampton in the UK, 19 countries have no men registered as midwives and five countries legally prohibit men from being midwives.In today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to 63-year-old Robert Aule, a man who has helped to deliver more than 500 babies over the last four decades in one of the most remote regions in Kenya. Could the recruitment of men help to deal with the shortage of midwives?

“The writers of our time who used to criticise the government are no longer there.”Today on the podcast, Alan has the pleasure and privilege of speaking to one of Africa’s great writers: the South Sudanese author Taban Lo Liyong.In the 1960s he rubbed shoulders with independence politicians like Jomo Kenyatta and Kwame Nkrumah and with giants of African literature like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Ngugi wa Thiong’o. He was taken to Uganda as a young child and spent his formative years there – but now lives in his native South Sudan. On today’s podcast he discusses language, the impact of HIV Aids, and why he’s not ready to stop work at the age of 93 years. He says he still has two more books in him…

“This is the new reality that we are going to have to face and it is a fantastic opportunity for us to redefine our position away from the US trying to tell us who we can or cannot be, because they really don’t care about us” - Ugandan coffee farmer Robert Kabushenga In the year 2000, the United States government set up the African Growth and Opportunity Act also known as AGOA. It's aim was to give qualifying sub-Saharan African countries access to the US market, without paying import taxes, thus promoting economic growth in Africa. But there’s no certainty that president Donald Trump will renew the deal when it expires later this year, especially considering many of the moves he's made in recent weeks. His administration cut off financial aid to countries like South Africa and many others around the world. So, what lies ahead for trade relations between Africa and the United States? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Ugandan coffee farmer Robert Kabushenga, Eswatini economics lecturer Sanele Sibiya and South African exporter Nhlanhla Dlamini

Tommy Charles, the team lead of the Sierra Leone Open Mapping Initiative, discusses the rising temperatures in Freetown and its harsh impacts on daily life. He shares insights from a recent Urban Heat Hackathon, where technology and urban greening emerged as key solutions. With the help of mapping technology, they are identifying hot spots and advocating for community engagement. The conversation highlights innovative strategies like tree planting and the use of satellite imagery to combat extreme heat in crowded areas.

Tensions between South Africa and the United States are heating up over land expropriation laws aimed at rectifying apartheid injustices. A pressure group of Afrikaners has been lobbying for U.S. support, fearing the new laws could undermine their rights. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's comments on the political climate spark further debate on diplomatic ties. The podcast also delves into the ongoing racial and political challenges in post-apartheid South Africa, shedding light on the complex dynamics of these international relations.

Meskerem Tadesse Goshime, the Confederation of African Football’s head of women’s football, discusses the inspiring growth of women’s football in Morocco. The conversation reveals how cultural shifts have allowed more girls to play, with packed stadiums and increasing TV audiences as evidence. Young Imane shares her journey as a budding player amidst challenges, while forward Rosella Ayane highlights the Atlas Lionesses’ historic achievements, including their World Cup qualification. Together, they explore the hopes and aspirations for a brighter future in the sport.

It’s now two weeks since the rebel M23 group took over Goma in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo – so what has the experience been like for the city’s inhabitants? For today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to two people who live in Goma: one woman who has stayed and says finding food is almost impossible, and an activist who has fled the city after receiving threats of abduction and death from the M23.

One person living with HIV has described how these cut would change their life and said "please tell the American government that this is a death trap for us. If I don’t get my tablets next month and the following month, how much longer will I have to live?”USAID—the United States Agency for International Development—has funded life-saving aid across Africa for decades. Programmes assisting with famine, disease control, and poverty are now at-risk following President Trump's decision to cut its budget and merge the agency with the State Department. From HIV patients fearing a “death sentence”, to food aid programmes coming to a sudden stop, the effects are already being felt across Africa. Alan Kasujja speaks to Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, about the consequences of these cuts and whether African governments can step up in the face of an uncertain future for global aid.

South Sudan is facing another deadly cholera outbreak, with over 24,500 suspected cases and nearly 500 deaths, according to charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Overcrowding, poor sanitation and a lack of clean water are fuelling the crisis, while political instability and logistical challenges hinder the response. With a history of recurring outbreaks and 9 million people in need of aid, experts warn the situation could worsen. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Juba-based journalist Nichola Mandil and Dr. Harriet Akello Pasquale from South Sudan’s Ministry of Health.

This year it will be 30 years since Nigerian author and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed by the Nigerian military government for leading protests against environmental pollution caused by oil exploration. He remains an icon of resistance against environmental degradation beyond Nigeria. The campaigns he led saw the exploration of crude oil stopped in Ogoniland, in the country’s Niger Delta region, after it became clear oil spills had extensively polluted rivers and farmland, destroying the livelihoods of farmers and fishers. A report published by the United Nations Environmental Programme in 2011 said cleaning pollution in Ogoniland could take up to 30 years. Yet president Bola Tinubu recently announced that his government would begin negotiations to resume oil production in Ogoniland. This sparked protests from environmental rights groups who warned that the region was yet to heal from the damage wrought by decades of oil exploration. In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja has been speaking to lawyer and leading environmental activist Celestine Akpobari and Niger-Delta-based journalist Ndume Green. Producer: Peter Musembi