Podcasts by Category
- 985 - Can a land-for-cash deal save Egypt’s economy?
The Ras al-Hikma peninsula on the north coast of Egypt is going to become a new city. But it’s going to be built and managed by another country, the United Arab Emirates.
In a deal signed earlier this year, Egypt gave the UAE the right to develop this 170 square kilometre area in return for $35 billion dollars. The Egyptian economy was in a critical position, and needed a quick cash injection to get it out of trouble, and the Ras al-Hikma deal was seen as the solution. But it is a very unusual deal. Both because of the amount of money involved, but also because it gives another country the right to essentially build and own a city in Egypt. And it’s not known whether it provides a long-term solution to Egypt’s economic problems. Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Wael Gamal, from ‘The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights’ a human rights think tank based in Cairo, Yomn Hamaky an Economics Professor at Ain Shams university in Egypt, and Ahmed Ghoneim, Professor of Economics at Cairo University.
Fri, 29 Mar 2024 - 984 - Nigeria: What’s it like when your child is kidnapped?
This month there have been six mass abductions in the north of Nigeria, many involving children.
One school that was attacked by armed men was in the town of Kuriga in the North West. There, the parents of 137 children had to wait, helpless, for the next 16 days, not knowing where their children were, or how they were being treated by the kidnappers.
The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, took a tough line, saying there would be no ransom paid.
But then, on Sunday, there was relief after it was announced they'd been released. It’s not clear how this happened, but all the children are believed to have survived. There was one fatality, a teacher called Abubakar Issa, who had been kidnapped with the children.
For today's Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Dahiru Abdulahi, the parent of one of the students who was taken.
Thu, 28 Mar 2024 - 983 - Can President Joseph Boakai make Liberia’s government more honest?
“Everybody wants to see you – everybody thinks this is an opportunity for employment…. a lot of people come into government believing they are there to enrich themselves.”
It’s nearly three months since Joseph Boakai started work as Liberia’s new president. But in an interview with the Africa Daily podcast he tells Alan Kasujja that he’s still fielding enquiries from people wanting government jobs every working day from early in the morning.
The 79-year-old, who was Vice President from 2006 to 2018 under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, narrowly defeated George Weah in November last year – after campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket. But he says while he’s spoken constantly about the need to clean up politics, many people ‘still haven’t grasped’ the concept that politics is about service and not about financial security for themselves and their family.
In a wide-ranging and frank interview, he also tells Alan Kasujja how poverty and badly paid jobs like rubber tapping helped prepare him for leadership, his plans for a war crimes court to work for justice and reconciliation after the country’s two brutal civil wars, and how he wants to sort out Liberia’s awful roads within his first 100 days in office.
And he and Alan discover a shared love of Arsenal Football Club…
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 - 982 - What happened to South Africa’s promise of low-cost housing?
“Life here is difficult. You have to be a resilient person to survive. There’s no electricity. The roads are almost non-existent. In sunny days, the shack gets too hot. You can’t stay inside. When it’s cold, it gets very cold. When it’s raining, it gets flooded” – Lala Maria Sebetlele, a resident of a Johannesburg shanty town When Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress took over in 1994, it introduced the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). It’s a policy that aims to build low-cost homes for the poor, thus reversing the legacy of apartheid. More than three million such houses have since been built, but many people still live in shanty towns due to a variety of reasons. They include internal migration and rapid urbanization. The University of Johannesburg has now come up with an initiative to use 3D printing technology to construct low-cost houses to help ease the accommodation burden. How exactly does it work? And will it make a difference? Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guests: Lala Maria Sebetlele, Dr. Alec Moemi and Professor Jeffrey Mahachi
Tue, 26 Mar 2024 - 981 - How have some Rwandans overcome the trauma of genocide, 30 years later?
It’s been 30 years since one of the worst atrocities in recent African history - the Rwandan genocide.
In 1994, between 800,000 and one million ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days.
Some Rwandans have worked hard to move on from the tragic events of 1994, but many - both in and out of the country - are still living with the trauma.
Jean Paul Samputu was already an established musician in Rwanda at the time.
He was living abroad during the genocide, but he lost his parents, two brothers and a sister, all killed by a neighbour and his childhood friend.
Now a global peace ambassador, Jean Paul says he has found healing in forgiving his family’s killer.
The Kora Awards winner tells Alan Kasujja what role music has played in his peace campaigns.
Mon, 25 Mar 2024 - 980 - Can there be a peaceful transition to power in Senegal?
After a turbulent few years of disputes and protests, and accusations that President Macky Sall was trying to hang on to office, Senegal is holding its presidential election on March 24.
Speaking to the BBC this week, the president refused to apologise for his attempt in February to postpone the vote by several months - saying he'd always acted according to the constitution and that he 'did nothing wrong'.
He decision led to violent protests, but was reversed after Senegal’s top court blocked the postponement.
So, will these elections be a turning point for Senegal and can the country have a peaceful transition of power?
Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: James Copnall and Professor Mamadou Bodian
Fri, 22 Mar 2024 - 979 - Why is FGM proving so contentious in The Gambia?
Female Genital Mutilation or FGM is a practice that divides people. In the countries where it’s common – it’s usually carried out for cultural or religious reasons - but in recent years many African countries have banned the practice saying it’s a violation of the rights of women and girls. It can cause serious health problems – including infection and complications in childbirth – and girls have died when the procedure has gone wrong.
But now in The Gambia – a bill has been introduced that would reverse a ban brought in under former President Yahya Jammeh in 2015. This week, the bill passed its latest parliamentary stage and will now go to a committee of MPs for further consideration.
For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Jaha Marie Dukureh, the founder for Safe Hands for Girls - an organization focused on ending FGM in The Gambia, and UN women regional goodwill ambassador for Africa.
Thu, 21 Mar 2024 - 978 - Could a coalition government finally bring peace to Libya?
For the last 10 years Libya has been split into two – East and West - each with its own government.
And in 2021 an attempt at elections failed after some questioned the eligibility of the main candidates.
But now three influential Libyan leaders have said they intend to try to form a new unified government. They say it's a 'necessity'. So why is this happening now? And could a coalition government finally bring some peace to Libya? Guest: Amira Fathalla, Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 - 977 - Will Kenya police lead a multinational force in Haiti?
So the question being discussed by Kenyans for the last 2 weeks: will the country really send police officers to Haiti or not?
US citizens have been evacuated and aid groups have warned that millions of Haitians face acute food shortages, as well-armed gangs wreak terror on the capital, Port-au-Prince.
It’s widely accepted that stopping the gangs will take determined international intervention – but the shape that it will take is still under question.
President Ruto is insisting Kenya will send 1000 police officers to fight the gangs once a transitional government is in place.
But many Kenyans are asking why their police officers are being offered to lead the force – when the US is so much closer to the violence stricken country.
In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to Dr Ekuru Aukot, a lawyer and opposition politician who successfully obtained a court order stopping the deployment in January.
He also talks to Kenyan security analyst George Musamali and BBC Africa’s Security Correspondent Ian Wafula.
Tue, 19 Mar 2024 - 976 - How easy is it for a rogue fake lawyer to escape detection in Kenya?
Earlier this month an arrest warrant was issued for a Kenyan man accused of practising law without qualifications after he skipped court, according to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
The case has captivated Kenyans ever since the man was outed as an illegitimate lawyer last October, there's been outrage, support and amusement.
At the time, legal officials in Kenya urged police to arrest the man, who had been practicing under the name "Brian Mwenda".
Alan Kasujja spoke to Mwaura Kabata, the Vice President Elect of the Law Society of Kenya. They’re known for advocating for lawyers' rights, shaping legal policies and providing crucial support and education to legal professionals across the country.
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 - 975 - Is there an opposition anymore in Chad?
It’s like something out of a Shakespearean drama. A strongman in power. A cousin threatens his position only to end up dead. But this is Chad, 2024 – and the strongman is Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Déby. Recently his most vocal critic, Yaya Dillo, who was also his cousin, was killed in a shootout with security forces.
So what is the relationship between different members of this powerful family? And as the country gears up to Presidential elections on the 6th May – meant to return the country to constitutional rule - does Chad even have a viable opposition anymore?
Guest: Beverley Ochieng, Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 - 974 - How will the United States' new sanctions affect Zimbabwe?
“As an ordinary Zimbabwean I have to be worried when my president is sanctioned, because an investor who is in Dubai will think twice before coming to Zimbabwe” – Dr. Alexander Rusero, Zimbabwean political analyst. The United States has imposed fresh sanctions, replacing a broader programme that was introduced more than two decades ago. Those targeted include president Emmerson Mnangagwa who is accused by President Joe Biden’s administration of corruption and human rights abuses. Others on the list are First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri. In a statement the United States says, “We continue to witness gross abuses of political, economic and human rights”. The White House further says, the targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity have stifled fundamental freedoms. But Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF has denied America’s claims. So, where do these developments leave ordinary Zimbabweans? Alan Kasujja speaks to Zanu-PF spokesperson Tafadzwa Mugwadi and political analyst Dr. Alexander Rusero.
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 - 973 - Why are actors in the multi-billion dollar Nollywood struggling in their old age?
Nollywood is Africa’s biggest film industry.
Many will associate it with lots of drama, addictive story-telling, the glitz and glamour of the red carpet. But a story that’s increasingly being told now is of financial hardship.
John Okafor, who was also known as Mr Ibu, died a few weeks ago, last year he posted a video on Instagram asking his fans for help with his medical bills. And he isn’t alone, many other household names in Nigeria have posted videos on social media asking for financial support as they struggle with the challenges of being older actors.
So why’s this happening in a multi-billion dollar movie industry?
In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas.
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 - 971 - Why don't all girls go to school in northern Cameroon?
Apologies: only part of this podcast was initially published because of a technical fault, but this has since been rectified. _______________________________________________________________________________
"They thought that paying fees for girls to go to school was losing money... We would not get husbands to marry us. People say that going to school is just building prostitution."
When Marthe Wandou was growing up in the village of Kaélé in northern Cameroon, she was the only girl to get to university. Most of her female classmates left to get married – and local people ridiculed her parents - especially her Dad – for sending their daughters to school.
She studied law, but returned to her home state and set up a foundation called Aldepa which works to support girls and women - especially in making sure they stay in school.
So what are the obstacles girls still face when it comes to their education? And what are women like Marthe doing about it?
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 - 969 - How are Zambians coping with the country’s drought?
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has declared a national because of the prolonged drought.
He says 84 districts out of a total of 116 in the country have been affected.
The President said almost half of the land used for planting crops had been affected by severe dry conditions.
There are also fears that the country will struggle to meet its electricity demands, as most of its energy comes from water sources.
So how are Zambians coping with this situation? Alan Kasujja speaks to Zambian journalist Kennedy Gondwe.
Mon, 11 Mar 2024 - 968 - What is the future of the African Games?
Africa's biggest multisport event - the African Games - get underway in Ghana tonight, with 49 nations competing in 29 different sports.
This is the 13th edition of the games – which are held every four years, usually one year before the Olympic Games.
But this time they’ve been delayed by 8 months - since August 2023 - because of a disagreement over marketing rights which delayed the completion of facilities.
It’s part of an ongoing dispute between the Africa Union (AU) which owns the games, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations – all of which are meant to work together to put on the event.
In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja re-lives his childhood memories from the fourth edition of the games held in Nairobi in 1987 as he talks to Africa’s former queen of sprints Nigeria’s Mary Onyali Omagbemi who lit up the games with phenomenal speed.
But with the standards of the games appearing to have dropped, he also talks to Ghanaian Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif, asking if there is a future for the Africa Games.
Fri, 08 Mar 2024 - 967 - What will it take for Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado to find peace?
“If the Islamist extremist groups succeed in entrenching themselves in Cabo Delgado, they will launch attacks in different parts of the continent” – Professor Adriano Nuvunga of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights Just as Mozambique's authorities thought Cabo Delgado province in the north of the country was beginning to stabilise, trouble started again. Insurgents linked to the group, Islamic State have launched new attacks on the area in recent weeks. As a result, more than 70 children are now missing. The authorities say they were separated from their families as thousands of people fled to a neighbouring province. According to Doctors Without Borders, over half a million people in that province remain displaced as of December 2023. The insurgency in gas-rich Cabo Delgado, launched by the IS-linked local al-Shabab militia, is now in its seventh year. High levels of poverty and disputes over access to land and jobs have contributed to local grievances. Today Alan Kasujja attempts to understand what it will take to end the conflict in Cabo Delgado.
Thu, 07 Mar 2024 - 966 - What rights do African employees have when working for multinationals?
In many parts of the continent, landing a job at a multinational company is a big deal – it promises growth and stability. But what happens when things go wrong? You get made redundant. Do you know what rights and protections you have?
That’s the scenario that staff members in Ghana’s Twitter office found themselves in back in November 2022. Musk tweeted that "everyone" would get three months' severance pay. But it turns out, "everyone" didn't seem to include the Ghanaian staff.
Alan Kasujja caught up with Carla Olympio, founder of Agency Seven Seven, the firm backing the Ghanaian staff fighting for their rights under Ghana's Labour Act of 2003. After a year-long battle, the agency successfully negotiated a redundancy settlement for the affected staff members.
Wed, 06 Mar 2024 - 965 - Can South Africa really benefit from the Russia-China led economic bloc?
“I think this community of BRICS is looking after each other and for sure it’s going to open more doors” – Gert Blignaut, South African beef exporter In August 2023, we brought you an episode on South Africa hosting about 70 heads of state from different parts of the world. They included China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi and Lula da Silva of Brazil, whose nations, along with Russia, form part of a bloc known as BRICS.
Founded in 2009, this group aims to promote economic co-operation and increase trade among its member states. Russia’s Vladimir Putin couldn’t attend because of the International Criminal Court warrant of arrest against him, because of claims relating to the on-going war in Ukraine. At that two-day meeting held in Johannesburg, it was announced that Egypt, Ethiopia and several other developing economies were joining the bloc from the start of 2024. And this year, South Africa started exporting beef to Saudi Arabia, one of the countries who’ve been invited to join BRICS. So, what do these developments mean? Is Africa starting to see the benefits of aligning with BRICS? Does America and its western allies have a credible economic rival? Or is it all a pie in the sky?
To answer these questions, Alan Kasujja sits down with South African beef exporter Gert Blignaut and Professor Patrick Bond from the University of Johannesburg.
Tue, 05 Mar 2024 - 964 - Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr: How tough is it being Freetown’s opposition mayor?
“You just learn that the people who are against you… will always exist and they’ll always use every opportunity they can to amplify mistakes and actually very often try to portray them as deliberate. That’s part of the learning I’ve had to go through.”
Being the mayor of Freetown is a tough job. Yvonne Aki Sawyer grew up in Sierra Leone but then went to the UK to study as a student. She stayed, built up a well-paid career in finance, got married, had kids. But after Ebola hit Sierra Leone in 2014 she took a sabbatical to help and became the director of Planning for Sierra Leone's National Ebola Response Centre.
In the years since, she’s been voted in as mayor of Freetown twice – running on a ticket dominated with environmental concerns. But she’s also been investigated for corruption and accused of misappropriating public funds - allegations she denies and says are politically motivated.
In a frank conversation, she tells Alan Kasujja about her attempts to work with the government, how women support women in Sierra Leone, and denies she’s drunk the political Kool-Aid.
“My life is very different to what it was (in the UK)… I certainly don’t earn a fraction of what I used to earn… I am here because this is my heart,” she tells Alan.
You can see the Africa Eye film about her work – and the pretty brutal election campaign she went through - “Mayor on the Frontline: democracy in crisis’’ on the BBC News Africa Youtube page.
Mon, 04 Mar 2024 - 963 - How is the Nigerian government responding to cost of living protests?
Earlier this week we heard on Africa Daily from people struggling to manage as the cost of essential food items and fuel rockets in Nigeria.
Inflation is now close to 30% and many stores have stopped displaying prices for the goods on sale - because prices are increasing so fast. Some people have begun hoarding food.
Protesters have taken to the streets in cities around the country calling on the government to intervene - but the unions cancelled a second day of strikes on Wednesday - giving the government two weeks to meet their demands.
So what has the government said in response? And what are they likely to do?
For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to the BBC’s West Africa reporter Nkechi Ogbonna - and we hear from Nigeria's Finance Minister, Wale Edun.
Fri, 01 Mar 2024 - 962 - How are waste pickers and ‘reclaimers’ joining forces across Africa?
“Society calls us waste pickers but I am a reclaimer, I don’t collect waste,” says Luyanda Hlashwayo, who for the last 12 years has made a living by sifting through household garbage to find recyclables for sale.
It is estimated there are 15-20 million people worldwide who, like Hlatshwayo, depend on the informal waste sector for livelihood.
Their work is dangerous and they are paid poorly.
Through the Africa Reclaimers Organisation which he helped found, waste pickers from South Africa and Kenya are discussing ways to improve their working conditions and livelihoods, as they continue to push for recognition as formal stakeholders.
In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to Hlatshwayo and Winnie Wanjira who has been a waste picker at one of the largest landfills in East Africa.
Thu, 29 Feb 2024 - 961 - Are South Africa’s troops prepared for the DRC peacekeeping mission?
“South African deployment of soldiers to DRC is out of order. It must be withdrawn with immediate effect. Not that South Africa is not supposed to deploy in DRC. We [are] supposed to deploy in the DRC and be in the forefront. We just don’t have the army” – Julius Malema, EFF leader The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo is affecting several African nations. Just recently, Africa Daily produced a podcast demonstrating how tensions between Burundi and Rwanda are tied to the conflict in the DRC. And now, it’s South Africans who’ve been affected. Local opposition parties insist that their nation’s army lacks the intended weapons, drones and mortar groups to protect them. It comes after two of the troops were killed in a mortar strike in eastern DRC. They were part of 2, 900 soldiers deployed to that country for a peacekeeping mission. So, is South Africa up for this operation? Why does president Cyril Ramaphosa’s government feel so strongly about having a presence in the DRC? What’s in it for them? But also, who decides which countries should be part of such missions?
Wed, 28 Feb 2024 - 960 - How is a satellite internet service aiding the displaced in Sudan?
It’s been 10 months since fierce fighting between the Sudanese army and the parliamentary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out. A civil war that continues to heavily impact Sudan and its civilians.
Earlier this month, the United Nations appealed for just over $4 billion to fund humanitarian operations in the country and neighbouring countries hosting refugees. They’ve described human suffering of epic proportions and say nearly nine million people have been displaced.
More recently, Sudan has been plunged into an internet blackout. The blackout has left people in the country unable to access essential services, like transferring money.
To find out more on the situation, BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Suliman Baldo who is the founding director of the think tank Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker and Buthina who was born and raised in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital. She had to relocate when the war started and now works for an international organization supporting local groups on the ground.
Tue, 27 Feb 2024 - 959 - Why are Nigerians protesting about the cost of living?
In Nigeria, consumers are struggling. The cost of many basic necessities like rice, yams and even onions, have doubled since last year.
It follows the decision by the government of President Bola Tinubu to remove a subsidy on fuel, and to devalue the naira – which had cost the government billions of dollars. But while the policies were aimed at increasing foreign investment, they’ve seen costs rocket for consumers in Nigeria.
People have reacted in a variety of ways: from protests, to food hoarding, to prayers and fasting in the hope God might just intervene.
For today’s Africa Daily, Alan @Kasujja speaks to a Tolani and Femi Sarumi, who work respectively as a travel agent and estate surveyor, to find out how they’re coping – and talks through the background to the crisis with business analyst, Endurance Okafor.
Mon, 26 Feb 2024 - 958 - Kelvin Kiptum: what pressures do Kenyan athletes face?
World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum will be buried on Friday in his village in south-western Kenya.
The 24-year-old died in a road accident two weeks ago alongside his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.
Kiptum’s death comes after several tragic incidents which have claimed the lives of Kenyan athletes in their prime.
In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to former Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir and asks if athletes are faced with greater risks outside the field of play.
Fri, 23 Feb 2024 - 957 - DR Congo: Could Goma fall to M23 rebels?
“This is a cycle in Congo. It’s been almost 30 years this has been happening again and again and again. And (it) is devastating to see the same civilian populations are moving again and again.”
Goma – the largest city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo - has an official population of 2 million people. But more than half a million displaced people are now also living there, following a spike in fighting between the Congolese army and the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group around the town of Sake - just over 20 kilometres away.
Sake is on the main road that connects Goma to the rest of the region – meaning the city is all but cut off for supplies by road.
Aid agencies say if the rebel group were to move into Goma it would be an even greater disaster for the local population.
But how likely is that, and what is M23’s goal?
Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja. Guests: Eric Batonon, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s country director and security analyst Alex Ntung.
Thu, 22 Feb 2024 - 956 - Why is Nigerian and South African music so popular?
Afrobeats and Amapiano are two of the most popular genres in Africa and both genres are now also being recognised and appreciated worldwide. This year's prestigious Grammy awards gave us 'Best African Music Performance’ for the first time. Out of the seven nominees- four were from Nigeria- Davido, Burna Boy, Asake and Olamide and there were two artists from South Africa, Musa Keys and the winner Tyla. The only other country represented was Arya Starr from Benin but even she lives in Nigeria. A lot of people raised the question of why this award didn’t recognise artists from other parts of Africa if it's an award created to celebrate music across the whole continent. So why does Nigerian and South African music seem to be dominating music from other parts of Africa? Guests: MC Yallah, ePianoh and Keiitumetse Maako
Wed, 21 Feb 2024 - 955 - What will it take to end tensions between Rwanda and Burundi?
Back in 2015, Burundi closed its border with Rwanda, amid internal violence that erupted from the disputed re-election of then President Pierre Nkurunziza. At the time, Burundi accused Rwanda of supporting the protesters and encouraging the perpetrators of a failed coup. But the two governments seemed to put that behind them, following the election of Évariste Ndayishimiye as Burundi’s president in 2020. Two years later, the crossing was reopened and trade was back on track. But at the start of this year, diplomatic ties between the two nations suffered a new blow. Burundi, once again, shut the entry points, accusing its neighbour of hosting and training a rebel group known as RED-Tabara. This armed militia claimed responsibility for a deadly attack near Burundi's western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what will it take to end tensions between the two nations? Guests: Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo and political analyst Kwezi Tabaro Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Tue, 20 Feb 2024 - 954 - How did a young South African woman start a mutual bank?
“This is a time for us to stand very tall and stop aid in Africa. We need to find a way of nurturing our natural resources that we have in Africa and really claim back this beautiful continent that we call the Mother Africa” – Nthabeleng Likotsi, South African entrepreneur Today Alan Kasujja sits down with award-winning South African entrepreneur Nthabeleng Likotsi, to discuss how she and her team are building a mutual bank. Her country’s central bank, SARB, recently granted her organization a license to officially run their organization. It took nearly a decade for Nthabeleng to secure this crucial document because businesses first have to tick all the boxes. Her organisation, Young Women in Business Network, is the very first black women owned financial services company of its kind to be granted such a permit in her country. Nthabeleng’s is a story of relentless optimism, perseverance, the ability to learn all the time and most importantly, having the courage to pursue your dreams. The lessons don’t only apply to business. As our listener, you could use them to start anything. It could be a small initiative that helps your community or anything that makes a difference in the lives of your loved ones.
Mon, 19 Feb 2024 - 953 - Afcon: what was it like for the female referees?
After the introduction of the first African woman referee at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 2021, the expansion of women into football decision-making on the continent continued in Ivory Coast where a total of six women were officiating at the 2023 Afcon tournament.
Zambian assistant referee Diana Chikotesha made history when she became the first female on-pitch match official to feature in a men’s Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday. She was assistant referee in the match that saw Ivory Coast crowned champions after a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
In this week’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Diana along with her fellow referee, South Africa’s Akhona Makalaima.
Fri, 16 Feb 2024 - 952 - Why are there warnings of famine in Tigray?
“The government has been reacting very strongly to the possibility of famine and they’re dismissing it, but they are admitting there is drought and that millions of people are being affected.”
It’s just over a year since the Ethiopian government signed a peace deal with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front – to end the brutal civil war in the north of the country.
The ‘Pretoria agreement’ saw the TPLF agreeing to disarm, in return for the reopening of Tigray, to allow in desperately needed food aid.
During the war hundreds of thousands of people are reported to have died – many from starvation. But now, international aid agencies are warning that people there are again in desperate need of food. And throughout the last year there have been outbreaks of violence in other regions in Ethiopia: Amhara, Afar, and Oromia. So what’s happening in Tigray and Ethiopia?
Alan @Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Kalkidan Yibeltal.
Thu, 15 Feb 2024 - 951 - How can governments and the diaspora work together for a more prosperous Africa?
The African diaspora are viewed by many as a valuable asset for Africa on the global stage. One country trying to harness that power and influence is Rwanda. They have events around the world to connect and engage with their diaspora. This year an event was held in Washington DC in the United States where President Paul Kagame spoke. So how can Africa tap into the diverse skills, knowledge and expertise gained from years of experience abroad to further develop the continent in terms of innovation, entrepreneurship and capacity-building? BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to the spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo, as well as Natasha Muhoza and Maudo Jallow - two young Africans living in the diaspora who spoke about their personal experience.
Wed, 14 Feb 2024 - 950 - Why is it hard to succeed as a female politician with a disability?
“Some members will still look at you as a person who is only there to talk about disability. So every time you want to speak about a different issue, people still want to push you into the disability corner and say ‘this is not your space… If you’re not talking about disability you better keep quiet’.” Women in politics already face a lot of challenges in Africa - with some of their male counterparts questioning their ability, criticising their clothing and telling them to stick to ‘women’s issues’. But what about if you’re a woman and deaf? Or blind? Or live with another disability? Today, Alan Kasujja speaks with two women with disabilities who’ve had success in politics – but who are still pushing to make sure they are represented at the very heart of government. “Of course I can be President! Why not?!” Presenter: @kasujja Guests: @ashura_michael and @LKanushu39049
Producers: Gbenga Ogundare and Tabitha Mwai
Tue, 13 Feb 2024 - 949 - Why is it so hard to find a job in Somalia?
“When I wake up every morning my work is only to find work, yet I have not heard from any employer for the last six months,” says Abdullahi Mohammed, a young Somali graduate. He has a degree in Information Technology, a master’s in Development Studies from the UK, and has some short-term experience working with international organisations. And yet he still can’t find a job in Somalia. This is the reality for millions of young people in the country, who are well educated but who face real challenges getting work. And it is particularly difficult for women. The statistics vary wildly according to who you speak to: The World Bank says about 20% of people are unemployed, while the Somali Congress of Trade Unions says it’s as high as 70%. In this episode of the Africa Daily Podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks with Abdullahi, another graduate Fardowsa Khalif, the president of Somali Trade Unions Mohamed Osman Haji Ali, and Mohammed Adam from Somali Public Agenda, a public policy research NGO.
Mon, 12 Feb 2024 - 948 - AFCON: Who will be crowned the kings of African football?
When the Africa Cup of Nations started, hosts Ivory Coast were on the verge of disaster after losing two of their first three matches. But they dusted themselves off and went on to reach the final. They will take on a Nigerian side who boast talented players like Victor Osimhen, who plies his trade in Italy, and Stanley Nwabili, who plays in South Africa. But the Ivorians have dangermen of their own, including Seko Fofana and Sebastien Haller. But before the final, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa will be fighting for the bronze medal. This has been hailed as one of the most captivating AFCON tournaments in recent history, with smaller nations like Namibia beating Tunisia while Equatorial Guinea shocked the hosts in the group stages, by defeating them 4-0.
So, come the end of the weekend, who will be crowned the kings of African football?
Fri, 09 Feb 2024 - 947 - How did Senegal end up postponing elections?
Senegal has long had the reputation of being a bastion of democracy in Africa.
It has been a stable democracy in a region that’s often been blighted by instability.
In fact, it is the only country in mainland West Africa that has never had a military takeover.
But a recent postponement of the election by 10 months has seen Senegalese take to the streets saying they are worried their country’s reputation is at risk.
So how did Senegal get to this point and what next for the country?
Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Senegalese journalist Borso Tall and political analyst Ibrahima Kane.
Thu, 08 Feb 2024 - 946 - Could entrepreneurship be the remedy to high youth unemployment?
It’s a common story across the continent. A student graduates from university. They celebrate the end of their hard work with proud family members.
But when they start job hunting they find they face fierce competition for a small number of jobs.
The International Labour Organization say one in five African youth were not in employment, education, or training in 2021.
But a similar proportion of Africa's working-age population are starting new businesses - the highest rate of any region in the world, according to the African Development Bank. So is entrepreneurship the answer to low job creation?
Alan Kasujja has been looking at this issue with a budding entrepreneur who is about to graduate and a university professor who has witnessed trends in graduate employment.
Wed, 07 Feb 2024 - 945 - What are billionaire philanthropist Mo Ibrahim’s priorities?
"It's time to bring the decent story about Africa forward."
It’s not every day you get to chat to a billionaire.
But for today’s episode Alan Kasujja speaks with Mo Ibrahim - the Sudanese born businessman who’s made it his life's mission to counter corruption.
His charitable organisation ‘The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’ rewards African leaders for good governance with awards of $5 million.
He made his wealth by building a telecommunications company called Celtel which he sold in 2005 for $3.4 billion.
In a lively conversation, Alan talks to him about celebrating Africa’s heroes, corruption – and how much cash a billionaire carries in his wallet…
Tue, 06 Feb 2024 - 944 - How do Israelis and Palestinians in South Africa view the war in Gaza?
In today's episode, Alan Kasujja sits down with Michayla Moss who is American-Israeli and Iyad Abu Kalusa, a Palestinian from Gaza. Both of them currently live in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conflict started on the 7th of October 2023, when Palestinian group Hamas and other armed factions attacked Israel, killing about 1,300 people - mostly civilians - and taking 240 hostages. Israel subsequently retaliated, killing more than 27,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
South Africa then asked the international Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
So what's it like to watch a war unfold in your homeland from thousands of kilometres away?
Mon, 05 Feb 2024 - 943 - What’s the point of Ecowas and other regional blocs?
A regional bloc is a group of countries that team up to work together on common goals, like trade or security, to benefit all members. In Africa they include Ecowas, which stands for the Economic Community of West African States, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) amongst others.
But are they always as effective as they set out to be? Recently, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso quit the West African bloc - Ecowas. The military-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.
From Liberia in 1990 to the Gambia in 2017, regional groups have deployed troops to address coups, civil wars, and disputed elections. While some interventions, like the restoration of President Kabbah in Sierra Leone, were successful, others such as the intervention in the Liberian civil war, faced criticism for human rights abuses.
BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to BBC Africa’s Beverly Ochieng about the role regional blocs play in Africa and how their interventions impact citizens.
Fri, 02 Feb 2024 - 942 - Should churches and religious leaders be regulated?
Religion is a close to the heart of many Africans – closely linked as it is to identity, culture and values.
So no-one will have been surprised at the ferocious response to the BBC Africa Eye documentary series called ‘Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua’ – in which a number of former followers recounted experiences including sexual abuse, rape and manipulation by the self-proclaimed prophet.
But do allegations of abuse of power – levelled at a number of religious leaders over the years – suggest regulation is needed? And how can the followers of different religious groups be best protected?
Today on Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja brings together two Christian theologians who’ve wrestled with this question: Bishop Zac Niringiye, who was assistant Bishop of Kampala with the Church of Uganda, and Rev Dr Kenneth Ofula, a priest in his Anglican Church of Kenya and currently Tutorial Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University.
Thu, 01 Feb 2024 - 941 - Why do people join TB Joshua-style cults?
"I was so thankful that at my age, at 18, I had discovered this. Grown men were moved to tears… it was a collective state of euphoria."
Before his death in 2021, TB Joshua, the TV evangelist and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, was often seen alongside presidents and powerful politicians. But for the last few weeks, he has been the subject of furious debate, after the publication of a 3-part documentary series which exposed his rape, abuse and mistreatment of his ‘disciples’.
The former disciples accuse him of using both fake miracles and threats to win and then retain followers.
His church didn’t respond to the allegations in the documentary series but said previous claims against TB Joshua have been unfounded.
In the first part of a two-part series on cults, prophets and religious leaders, Alan Kasujja hears about the experiences of one of TB Joshua’s disciples – and speaks to Professor Maria Frahm-Arp from the department of religious studies at the University of Johannesburg.
He discusses why prophet-led, ‘single-man’ churches are so attractive to many people – and asks how people can spot if their church is actually a cult.
For more, listen to the World of Secrets 'Disciples' podcast from the BBC World Service. Or watch "Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua" on Youtube.
Wed, 31 Jan 2024 - 940 - Can table tennis raise its game in Africa?
Table tennis lacks the glamour of football and the investment that athletics gets in Africa. However, it is played to a high standard in many countries, and in 2023, over 500 million people watched the World Table Tennis Championships in Durban, South Africa, according to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
So do the young dedicated players of today believe that their game can raise its profile, and if so, what is needed for that to happen?
Alan Kasujja talks to two table-tennis playing students in Lagos, Ayuba Daniel Ikko-Allah and Ayomikun Oyenuga, about their hopes and dreams, and Latifat Ohiosumuan from the Africa branch of the ITTF to find out what needs to change to put table tennis on the map in Africa.
Tue, 30 Jan 2024 - 939 - Will the ICJ verdict stop the war in Gaza?
In November 2023, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice, to consider whether Israel is committing acts of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. It also called for an immediate ceasefire. And on Friday, the 26th of January, the UN’s top court made its interim ruling. It said, among other things, that Israel must do everything in its power to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. But the court did stop short of ordering an immediate halt to military operations. So, what’s next? Will this ruling change anything in relation to the war in the Middle East? Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje talks to Palestinian ambassador to South Africa, Hanan Jarrar, and Benji Shulman of the South African Zionist Federation. He also sits down with Dr. Hlengiwe Ndlovu from the Wits School of Governance in Johannesburg, to unpack the recent developments.
Mon, 29 Jan 2024 - 938 - Is femicide a silent epidemic in Kenya?
20 year old Rita Waeni was brutally murdered and dismembered. Her remains were discovered in rubbish bags at a rental apartment in the capital, Nairobi this month. The news shocked Kenya and led to uproar both online and offline with many saying that the government isn’t doing enough about violence against women.
Research by Africa Data Hub shows that from 2016 to 2023, over 500 femicide cases were uncovered in Kenya. Each representing a shattered life and a broken family. These numbers, though staggering, only scratch the surface of a much deeper problem rooted in intimate partner violence and systemic gender inequality.
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to politician Esther Passaris about claims that Kenya’s leaders have been quiet on this matter. He also spoke to Njeri Migwi, the founder of Usikimye, an organization working towards ending the prevalence of sexual and gender based violence. Usikimye, along with two other organisations in Kenya, have organised an anti-femicide march in multiple counties over the weekend in Kenya.
Fri, 26 Jan 2024 - 937 - Will a vaccine eradicate malaria?
Malaria kills more than 600,000 people around the world every year. But this week, Cameroon became the first country to start a mass rollout of the world’s first ever malaria vaccine – the WHO-approved RTS,S vaccine.
It is hoped that other countries will follow, in a move projected to save thousands of children's lives across Africa.
But will vaccine hesitancy stop parents having their children vaccinated?
On today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja talks to Professor Rose Leke, an internationally acclaimed Malaria expert who’s studied the disease for decades.
Thu, 25 Jan 2024 - 936 - What is it like to work in a morgue?
We all have a beginning to our lives and we will all have an ending.
At the end it is the work of morticians to look after our bodies when we die and to prepare them for burial.
It is an incredibly important job, but one that most of us give no thought to.
One person who is trying to change that is Filinda Wakuthi Kamau, a mortician and funeral director in Kenya. She publishes TikTok videos, using the handle @frimahkuthi, which get up to 25 million views, to demystify her work and get us talking a bit more about death.
Alan Kasujja called her up at Egerton University Funeral Home where she works to find out why.
Wed, 24 Jan 2024 - 935 - Can the conflict in eastern DR Congo be stopped?
At the weekend, Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo – starting his second term in office. Last week on the podcast we talked about whether democracy and the political classes were doing anything to improve the lives of normal citizens across the country. And today we’re taking a closer look at the Eastern DRC – where decades of war has left millions killed or displaced. Despite ongoing fighting between government forces and the M23 rebels and other armed groups, Tshisekedi’s government has demanded that regional and UN peacekeepers leave the region – arguing both have failed to stop the violence, and accusing the East African Community forces of colluding with the rebels. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja discusses the implications of the peacekeeping forces’ departure with Goma-based journalist Akilimali Saleh and BBC Africa’s security correspondent, Ian Wafula.
Tue, 23 Jan 2024 - 934 - How are the Red Sea attacks affecting Africa?
“Usually I would spend about 10,000 to 12,000 [South African Rands] on a bulk buy for the units of hair. But when I got this particular quotation, the hair on its own, the units I usually buy were at a total of 28,000 to 30,000” – Ziyanda Khumalo, South African small business owner Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja looks at how the attacks by the Houthis, a Yemen-based rebel group, are affecting Africa. He sits down with Johannesburg business owner Ziyanda Khumalo, who imports her products from overseas. He also hears from economist Joseph Busha, who explains how the events of the recent months in the Middle East are influencing the price of commodities in Africa. It all started on the 7th of October 2023, when Hamas and other factions attacked Israel. That country reported that more than 1,200 people were killed. This was followed by a barrage of Israeli air strikes and artillery on Gaza, which have so far claimed the lives of more than 23,000 Palestinians. This is according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The Houthis subsequently launched attacks of their own on vessels passing through the Red Sea. They claim to be targeting Israeli-linked ships, in protest at the war in Gaza.
Mon, 22 Jan 2024 - 933 - What can people in the DRC expect from their new government?
A new government for the Democratic Republic of Congo will be sworn in at the weekend, and President Felix Tshisekedi will start his second term of office.
The country faces many challenges: from conflict in the east, to poor infrastructure, to lack of investment in public services. There are also questions about how connected the political elite in the capital are with the rest of the country, the biggest in Africa south of the Sahara.
So what are the expectations of the population for this new government?
We discuss this with Fred Bauma, a civil society activist and leader of a social justice collective called ‘La Lutte pour le Changement’, known as LUCHA. For many years he has been a leading voice in the DRC calling for political participation and peaceful activism.
Fri, 19 Jan 2024 - 932 - Why is cholera proving so hard to control in Africa?
On the podcast in November last year we heard the terrible stories of South Africans who’d lost their loved ones to cholera. Then, the disease was sweeping across Southern Africa and was causing a public health crisis in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Cameroon. Now, just two months later – Zambia is scrambling to contain the disease with more than 9,500 people affected.
Since 2023, 13 countries in the region have battled one of the worst cholera outbreaks to hit the region in years and, as of 15 January 2024, more than 200,000 cases, including over 3000 deaths, have been reported.
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja discusses with BBC Africa’s Health Correspondent Dorcas Wangira why this preventable disease is proving so hard to control.
Thu, 18 Jan 2024 - 931 - Why is Sierra Leone’s former president facing treason charges?
Former president Ernest Bai Koroma is due in court on Wednesday to face treason charges and other offences in connection with an attempted coup last November.
More than 20 people were killed when key sites across the country were attacked, including a military barracks and a prison where more than 2,200 inmates were set free.
Ernest Bai Koroma was elected in 2007 and was president for 11 years, he has denied any involvement.
In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja spoke to journalist Umaru Fofana in the capital Freetown on the charges and what this case means for Sierra Leone.
Wed, 17 Jan 2024 - 930 - Could hairdressers be the answer to helping African women with their mental health?
For many women and girls in Africa, getting their hair is a done is an essential ritual to feel and look good. Many find the hair salon to be one of the few places where they have time for themselves, to chat, laugh, to share good news and sorrows. But what if seeing your stylist was about something much more than getting your hair done… what if that relationship could help to save your life? In today’s Africa Daily Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Marie-Alix de Putter, the founder of the ‘Heal by Hair’ initiative. She explains why she believes that hairdressers have the under valued skills that could help African women with their mental health challenges and how her hair stylist helped her at the worst moment of her life.
Tue, 16 Jan 2024 - 929 - How a Guinean student’s epic bike journey inspired megastar, Will Smith
“When you commit to a journey, the universe conspires to help you.“
In a surprise zoom call with student Mamadou Barry, Will Smith quoted those words from Paulo Coelho’s novel 'The Alchemist'. That story is about a boy who goes on a journey across north Africa to Egypt when he dreams of gold.
In a case of real life mirroring fiction, Mamadou also gave up his normal life to undertake a long journey across northern Africa. But his dream was of studying at the Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt.
When he realised he couldn’t raise enough money for a flight, Mamadou decided he’d simply cycle there, and so he began a journey that was to take him four months and thousands of miles through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad.
His amazing bike ride caught the attention of strangers - who helped him to his end goal - and eventually of Will Smith who sent him a bike, a laptop and flight vouchers in Egypt to help him get back home to Guinea to visit his family.
In this edition of the Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi speaks to Mamadou about his journey, his motivation and the unexpected attention and support he’s received.
Mon, 15 Jan 2024 - 928 - How is Ivory Coast preparing for the AFCON tournament?
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja takes a look at how Ivory Coast is preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to kick off this Saturday. The host nation will take on Guinea-Bissau in a clash that promises to set the tone for the rest of the competition. Other countries to watch include title holders Senegal, 2022 finalists Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Morocco who reached the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup two years ago. But some are weary of spoilers like Zambia who defeated Ivory Coast in 2012 and South Africa who last won it in 1996. Ivory Coast is also using this sporting event for social development, having spent over a billion dollars on stadia and other infrastructure. But many street vendors in the capital Yamoussoukro are fuming after the authorities moved them from areas closer to the stadium, to make way for the visitors. This is the reason some locals say that this event is excluding the poor.
Fri, 12 Jan 2024 - 927 - Introducing World Football at AFCON
The drama, the excitement and the big talking points – every match day. Star guests join the BBC’s John Bennett for reaction and analysis.
We’ll take you from the group stage all the way to the final, with everything you need to know from one of the biggest tournaments in the global game.
Search for World Football, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Thu, 11 Jan 2024 - 926 - Can South Africa’s court case against Israel stop the war in Gaza?
On the 7th of October 2023, Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and other factions, launched a surprise attack on Israel. It led to the deaths of about 1,200 people, including foreign nationals, according to the Israeli government. More than 200 others were taken to Gaza as hostages, over a hundred have since been released.
Israel retaliated with a series of air and artillery strikes in Gaza. The Hamas-led Health Ministry says more than 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed to date. South Africa subsequently filed a case against Israel at the United Nations’ top court alleging that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza amounts to an act of genocide. But Israel has dismissed this accusation, promising to fight back. The hearing officially kicks off at the Hague in the Netherlands today.
Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been looking at the significance of this court case.
Thu, 11 Jan 2024 - 925 - Sudan: Why has RSF leader Hemedti decided to visit African leaders?
This week, pictures of the leader of the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, better known as Hemedti, at a genocide memorial in Rwanda and in Kenya hugging President William Ruto might have confused many.
That’s because a civil war has raged in Sudan since last April.
It began after Hemedti and the head of the armed forces General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan disagreed on the direction the country was going in and the proposed move towards civilian rule. The most contentious issue were plans to include the Rapid Support Forces’s 100,000 troops into the army. With no peace talks in sight, why is the RSF’s leader choosing to meet African leaders instead? Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to the BBC’s Africa correspondent Anne Soy and Suliman Baldo, an expert on Sudan and Executive Director of the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 - 924 - Can the world wean itself off plastics?
Can you imagine life without plastic?
It’s cheap and convenient – but makes up an estimated 400 million tonnes of waste every year, of which only 10% is recycled.
It’s hoped ongoing negotiations could lead to an internationally legally binding treaty on ending plastic pollution by end of this year.
But calls for a reduction in the production of plastics is being strongly opposed by the plastics industry as well as oil and petrochemical exporting countries like Saudi Arabia. They insist the best solution to plastic waste is recycling. In this episode of Africa Daily, Peter Musembi speaks to Dr Tiwonge Mzumara-Gawa from the Malawi University of Science and Technology, who is also a campaigner against plastic pollution. She says she's a conservation biologist by training; and an activist by passion.
Tue, 09 Jan 2024 - 923 - Why are women winning at STEM in Africa?
The number of women studying STEM subjects in African universities - that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – has risen dramatically over the last five decades. Female students now make up for almost 50% of the total number, a higher percentage of female representation than any other continent in the world. How has this happened and does this translate into similar representation in the job market once students graduate?
Alan Kasujja speaks to Professor Verdiana Grace Masanja, the first woman to gain a Maths Phd in Tanzania, and the first female Maths professor there. When she started she was the only woman in the room and throughout her life she has encouraged young women to seize the opportunities that she herself had to struggle for.
Mon, 08 Jan 2024 - 922 - Why is Somalia so concerned about a sea port agreement?
"I don't think the Somali government is interested in a fist fight with Ethiopia."
A diplomatic row broke out this week in response to a deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland allowing landlocked Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coastline.
Somalia described the agreement as an act of "aggression". Both the African Union and US have issued statements saying Somalia’s sovereignty must be respected. Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised as an independent state.
Somaliland said in a statement that in exchange for sea access, Ethiopia would "formally recognise" it.
But Ethiopia said that other countries had done deals with Somaliland in the past, and it had not "transgressed" any laws.
Confused? For today’s Africa Daily podcast Peter Musembi goes back to the basics – and hears about the background to this latest dispute.
Fri, 05 Jan 2024 - 921 - What drives the Toronto Raptor’s Masai Ujiri?
Like many children in Africa, Masai Ujiri was obsessed with football as he was growing up.
But one day a new love struck him and he started what was to become a lifelong love affair with basketball.
He’s been a player, a scout, an agent and today he’s the president of the NBA side the Toronto Raptors, making him the first and only African-born president of a professional sports franchise in North America.
He’s also the founder of Giants of Africa: an organisation that aims to empower young African boys and girls through sport and basketball.
Alan caught up with Ujiri to talk about his journey and what drives him.
Presenter: Alan Kasujja Guest: Masai Ujiri
Thu, 04 Jan 2024 - 920 - What’s parenting like after a traumatic childhood?
Peter Mutabazi is a Ugandan single dad who has fostered 38 children and adopted three of those kids. He lives in North Carolina in the US and these children come from different backgrounds and walks of life. This is something that gets him regularly noticed when he’s out with his family- he’s a black man in America raising white children. Peter was drawn to fostering and adoption because of what happened to him as a child. He was born in rural Uganda and lived in poverty without money for food, clothes or school. He ran away from home when he was 10 years old and became a homeless street kid in the capital Kampala. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja spoke to Peter about growing as a vulnerable child in Uganda, life in the US and why he decided to parent so many children.
Wed, 03 Jan 2024 - 919 - What can African architecture teach the world about sustainability?
'The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability.’ Think about architecture and you probably think about tall buildings of steel and glass. But the theme of this year’s Sharjah Architecture Triennial is design influenced by scarcity – and how we can build in a way that adapts to decreasing resources and hotter climates. Africa has been disproportionately impacted by climate change. The Triennial is designed as a platform for architects from the global south – allowing them to share ideas on sustainability and reuse. Africa Daily hears from the curator of the exhibition, Nigerian architect, Tosin Oshinowo – as well from reporter Ijeoma Ndukwe who went to the opening week of the exhibition.
Tue, 02 Jan 2024 - 918 - What does 2024 hold for the continent of Africa?Mon, 01 Jan 2024
- 917 - What events shook Africa in 2023?
2023 has been an eventful year for Africa and it's that time of the year when Africa Daily reflects on some of the things that have happened.
There's so much to discuss from South Africa's Springboks winning the rugby world cup to the Nigerian elections, as well as some disastrous floods and earthquakes in different regions.
Guests: Anne Soy, Mpho Lakaje, Sally Nabil, and Thomas Naadi. Presenter: Alan Kasujja.
Fri, 29 Dec 2023 - 916 - What does it take to become the next big African star in athletics?
Letsile Tebogo is well on his way to becoming an African superstar.
He took the athletics world by storm when he became the first African and first man from Botswana to win a medal in the 100 metres. He won silver and ran with a race time of 9.88 seconds, making him the first man from Botswana to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds.
And he’s only 20 years old.
His talent is a huge topic of conversation in the athletics world and the continent.
In today’s episode, we hear from the man himself on how he went from playing football to becoming fast on the track.
Thu, 28 Dec 2023 - 915 - Why is access to medicine such a challenge for many Africans?
Buying affordable and safe medicines across Africa is often difficult. There are not enough pharmacies and the price of medicine is often too high for many people to afford.
If you do get hold of the medicine you need, then there is the question of whether you can trust it; shocking statistics from the United Nations show that close to 500,000 people in sub Saharan Africa die each year due to fake or substandard medicines.
So in this episode of Africa Daily we look at the journey of a packet of medicine from start to finish, to find out where the problems are, and how they can be solved.
Our two experts are Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, Director of Research at Global Health Focus, and Chimwemwe Chamdimba, the Principal Policy Specialist at the African Union Development Agency.
Wed, 27 Dec 2023 - 914 - How do you cope with suddenly losing your sight?
"The majority of the men who come into my life feel they want to be my saviours... they can say: 'I'm dating a blind girl. Guess what guys, I'm taking one for the team'."
Imagine losing your sight after 31 years of clear vision. The simple tasks like attaching a file to an email, entering an office building or going for a walk unassisted now become so difficult. And what about things like dating and socialising?
According to the WHO, about 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment.
And even though sudden blindness cases are rare - conditions like glaucoma, where there’s increased pressure within the eyeball causing gradual loss of sight, affects over 80 million people.
BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Evelyn who - as a filmmaker – relied on her sight for work – but who lost her sight completely in 2020.
She now aims to educate, inspire and 'share her daily nonsense' with people via Youtube and her social media platforms.
Producers: Gbenga Ogundare, Tabitha Mwai and Muthoni Muchiri.
Tue, 26 Dec 2023 - 913 - Why climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest and more?
"Every one of us has his or her personal mountain to climb. It might not be Everest or it might not be a physical mountain. Yours might be in the boardroom, on a bicycle, in your family, at school... There's always something we need to achieve. Something big, something difficult and something meaningful... And when you get there, remember to be thankful and reach down and pull someone else up with you."
Africa has its fair share of mountains ranges – the Rwenzoris, the Drakensburgs, The Atlas mountains, the Nuba, Mt Kenya, and of course Mt. Kilimanjaro.
They all form a nice backdrop, but very few look at them and say: “I’m going to go and climb that mountain!” Those who do lace up their hiking boots and set out to conquer those mountains are a special group – the mountaineer extra-ordinaries.
But one woman is in a league of her own. Saray Khumalo has done all there’s to do with African mountains and once that was done and dusted, she turned her gaze to Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain on earth at 8,849m.
But that wasn’t enough. She recently travelled to the South Pole, and she’s now planning her trip in the opposite direction – the North Pole.
Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda Guest: Saray Khumalo
Mon, 25 Dec 2023 - 912 - Egypt: What are al-Sisi’s priorities after his re-election?
On Monday, Egypt’s incumbent president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi won a third term in office with just under 90 % of the vote.
This is despite ongoing economic turmoil in the country, caused by high inflation.
A former army chief, Mr Sisi has ruled Egypt since overthrowing the democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, a decade ago. He will now be in power until 2029.
In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja talks to BBC Arabic’s Mohamed Taha to find out why Sisi is so dominant and if he is likely to leave power after the next six years.
And he discusses the impact of the country’s economic crisis on ordinary Egyptians with economic journalist Doaa Abdelmoneim
Thu, 21 Dec 2023 - 911 - Is enough being done to preserve traditional Igbo musical instruments in Nigeria?
The Ubo-aka is one of Africa’s oldest musical instrument and keeping the sound of this ancient instrument alive has been challenging.
Musician Gerald Eze says the number of young people playing this instrument has declined and that he wants to make sure this Igbo tradition survives by performing with the Ubo-aka and teaching people how to play it.
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja met Gerald when he was in Lagos a few months ago and learned more about why this instrument and sound are important to Igbo culture.
Producers: Chukwumerije Obiejesi, Chigozie Ohaka, Richard Moran and Sharon Hemans.
Thu, 21 Dec 2023 - 910 - Is Liberia’s court system failing the victims of sexual violence?
This episode discusses difficult issues including sexual violence and suicide.
“You have thousands of cases and you have one judge. So every day you go to the court, they say come back tomorrow. The families they just get tired.”
Miatta Grey is a woman with a very personal mission. She’s the founder of ‘Sister’s Hand’ - an organisation in Liberia which supports victims of gender-based violence – having herself survived rape and domestic abuse. She was also badly injured through female genital mutilation - or FGM - in a ceremony that killed her sister.
She – like many campaigners within Liberia’s civil society – have long been pressurising the government to improve the situation. But she says things actually got worse under the last government.
So what needs to be done to protect women from sexual violence in Liberia?
Wed, 20 Dec 2023 - 909 - How are DRCongo’s elections being viewed by people there?
Millions of people will be voting in elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week. President Félix Tshisekedi is seeking a second, and final, five-year term in office. It’s a country the size of Western Europe with an estimated population of more than 100 million people. It’s also a country rich in natural resources- it has 70% of the world's reserves of coltan, a mineral used to make mobile phones. But it’s also a country with many challenges, there’s been a bloody conflict in eastern DRCongo for three decades which has left millions dead. Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been looking at what’s a stake with the BBC's Roncliffe Odit in the capital Kinshasa.
Tue, 19 Dec 2023 - 908 - How has Somalia got rid of its debts?
Imagine paying off someone else’s debts from 30 years ago. That’s what the Somali government has been having to do, as it tried to pay off debts built up by governments in the 1990s.
Five years ago Somalia was using 64% of its Gross Domestic Product – the value of all the goods and services it produces – to pay off foreign debts. Now it’s only using 6%.
It’s come after a process of painful economic reforms – supported by the IMF and World Bank – which culminated in it having $4.5 billion worth of debts written off last week.
For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Dr Hodan Osman, Senior Advisor & National Coordinator of Human Capital Development, in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and to Laura Jaramillo, who led the IMF teams in talks with the Somali government.
Mon, 18 Dec 2023 - 907 - How can music unite a nation?
“Our ancestors, our forefathers and our great grandmothers used to come together and have discussions and sing songs and dance. This is how we would document our lives and our history and this is how we would begin very important and critical conversations” – Masechaba Ndlovu, Rainbow Nation Music Fest ambassador.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the Rainbow Nation Festival in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. It aims to bring different racial groups together and promote social cohesion.
This is particularly important as the country continues to be haunted by its apartheid past, with disturbing incidents of racism making headlines from time to time. The festival will take place on the 16th of December, a public holiday known as the Day of Reconciliation.
But can music really unite South Africans?
Fri, 15 Dec 2023 - 906 - Did Africa win or lose at COP 28?
“The words ‘fossil fuels’ have never (before) made it into a COP decision. We’re finally naming the elephant in the room. The genie is never going back in the bottle again.”
So the talking is over and the weary delegates have headed home.
This year’s climate conference, COP28 – when world leaders, activist and lobbyists get together to discuss how to limit global warming - was certainly eventful.
$700 million was pledged to the Loss and Damage fund to help poorer nations deal with the impact of climate change before the conference had even began.
And the ‘elephant in the room’ – fossil fuels and how to wean ourselves off them – was mentioned in the final agreement for the first time in the history of COP… but only after a rejected first draft which took the conference into an extra 24 hours of argument and negotiation.
So has it been a good or bad conference for Africa? Peter Musembi – Africa Daily’s Environment enthusiast, gets an assessment from Mohamed Adow from Powershift Africa.
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 - 905 - How did Zimbabwe become one of the world’s fastest growing blueberry exporters?
Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje talks to Zimbabwean blueberry farmer Stuart Torr. He and his brother studied in the UK, before returning to Africa to farm.
Their company is among those exporting blueberries to countries like the Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, Singapore and Malaysia.
They operate in a sector that has seen significant growth in recent years. Fruit industry analysis group, East Fruit says Zimbabwe has been increasing its blueberry exports by 63%, annually.
So, what’s behind these developments? Mpho is also joined by Zimbabwean economist Prosper Chitambara.
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 - 904 - Should African attire be allowed in African parliaments?
Kenya's parliament has banned the wearing of a suit, named after the late Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, within the building.
Speaker of Parliament Moses Wetangula said Kaunda suits, as well as traditional African clothes, were not welcome.
And Kenya is not alone – African clothes are not permitted in many parliaments across the continent.
Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Senator Gloria Orwoba about her specific challenges around being a female in Senate and historian Godfrey Sang told him more about the evolution of African attire.
Tue, 12 Dec 2023 - 903 - How is a culinary initiative empowering women in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania where more than 99% of the population are Muslim. In a community that places high value on family and marriage, being a divorcee is something that is often looked down upon, especially for women. However, one woman is breaking down those stereotypes through her culinary initiative, Mamas of Zanzibar. BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Maskat on why she started her initiative and the impact it’s had on her life as a single mother as well as the lives of other ‘mamas’ on the island.
Mon, 11 Dec 2023 - 902 - How did Nigerian refugees re-green a desert region in Cameroon?
Since 2013, more than 70,000 Nigerians have crossed into northern Cameroon fleeing Boko Haram attacks.
As they settled in Minawao as refugees, they were faced with difficult desert conditions, with nowhere to hide their heads when the sun was scorching.
So they opted to join forces to plant trees and have build what is now known as The Green Refugee Camp.
In today’s Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to one of the refugees, Isaac Luka, who gives an account of how step-by-step, refugees embraced tree planting to counter a hot climate, and how the initiative is providing jobs, shade, health and food for hundreds of refugees and local families.
Alan also speaks to reporter Henry Tataw Ekambi to understand how Minawao looked before the refugees arrived, and to expert, Teboh Emmanuel, who shares insights into what it takes to successfully plant trees in arid areas.
Fri, 08 Dec 2023 - 901 - How can AI be made more accessible to people with disabilities?
Artificial Intelligence is playing a growing part in modern life. We’re told it can make things faster, more efficient and cheaper.
But people with disabilities can struggle to use machines which use AI because they don’t recognise their special needs and adapt to them. Instructions are often visual – making it impossible for a blind person to use without the assistance of someone else.
A number of African countries have AI strategies but in Nigeria this is still being discussed – and so people with disabilities there are pressing for their needs to be recognised within any legislation.
For today’s Africa Daily, Alan hears from journalist Gbenga Ogundare, Olufemi Bayode, a teacher at Kings College, and Opeolu Akinola, an ICT consultant and the co-founder of the Microsoft Experience Centre in Lagos. All three are blind.
Thu, 07 Dec 2023 - 900 - How are Sweden’s African communities responding to gang violence?
“Families who have young brothers and sister or sons being killed didn’t even know they were in criminal environments. It caught politicians off guard. It caught everyone off guard.”
Sweden’s police chief has described a spike in gang violence – including shootings and bomb attacks - as “unprecedented”. The police force in the capital Stockholm have said they are overwhelmed and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has asked the army to provide support. The police have linked the violence to a widening gap between rich and poor and drug use. More than 40 people have died in nearly 300 shootings in Sweden this year, according to official police statistics. There are many African communities in Sweden, the largest is the Somali community. Second generation Somali-Swedes say the situation has changed life for many there. Victoria Uwonkunda has been speaks to a woman who offers group therapy to young people and a journalist who has covered the story for years.
Wed, 06 Dec 2023 - 899 - Ten years on…what legacy did Mandela leave behind?
“Look at the Middle East right now, Israel and Palestine. They could have come to terms with each other a long time ago. We were fortunate that we had a Mandela” – Roelf Meyer, former South African cabinet minister. South Africa’s first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela died on this day, a decade ago. So today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje sits down with two of his former ministers, Sydney Mufamadi and Roelf Meyer. What was it like reporting to one of the most prominent political figures of the 21st century? But most importantly, what type of legacy did the man affectionately known as Madiba leave behind? His country is facing a mountain of problems including joblessness, power outages and persistent government corruption. If he was still alive, would Mandela associate with the ruling ANC party? These are some of the questions Mpho is asking his guests.
Tue, 05 Dec 2023 - 898 - Malawi: why go and work in a war zone?
In November this year, 221 Malawians flew to Israel to start working on farms there. The Malawian government has a labour export deal with Israel, and says it is eventually aiming for a total of 5000 people to travel there for work.
According to the World Bank, Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the world.
But the deal has provoked debate in Malawi because of the current conflict in Israel. The political opposition says the scheme is putting citizens in danger, pointing out that 39 agricultural workers from Thailand were killed at the start of the fighting. The government in Malawi says they have assurances the workers will be safe.
So we got in contact with one of the workers who has just arrived in Israel, Andrew Chunga, to ask him what life was really like there.
Mon, 04 Dec 2023 - 897 - What are the key priorities for African leaders at COP28?
Across Africa, the impact of climate change is becoming more and more apparent. This year alone, multiple countries across the continent have been hit with an array of severe natural disasters – ranging from floods to excruciatingly high temperatures.
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference - or COP28 - kicked of this week, delegates agreed to launch the long-awaited 'loss and damage' fund to pay for damage from climate-driven storms and drought. The EU, US, UAE and others immediately announced contributions totalling around $400m for poor countries reeling from the impacts of climate change.
But in the past pledges for climate funding - for example to the Green Climate Fund - have far exceeded the actual amount of money that has been given.
So should Africa be cautious about these new pledges?
In a discussion recorded before the launch of the new fund, Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja hears why the issue of money has been so fraught in the past from our resident environment reporter, Peter Musembi - and talks over Africa's priorities for the summit with Eva Masudi, the Environment and Sustainable Development Minister for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 - 896 - Did the authorities in the Horn of Africa ignore flood warnings?
The Horn of Africa region is experiencing torrential rainfall and floods linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon, claiming dozens of lives and causing large-scale displacement.
In Somalia the number of those killed by the floods has surpassed 100, and more than 700,000 have been displaced.
The rains are forecast to continue battering East Africa till the end of the year.
It comes as the region emerges from its worst drought in four decades after multiple failed rainy seasons that left millions of people in need and devastated crops and livestock.
The current El Nino phenomenon had been predicted since the beginning of the year.
In today’s Africa Daily Podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to Somalia deputy prime minister Salah Jama, to find out why it has not been possible to mitigate the damage despite this early warning.
Thu, 30 Nov 2023 - 895 - Is the grass greener outside Nigeria?
Brain drain is an issue across the continent but has become closely associated with Nigeria.
Several surveys have found that the country has the highest proportion of young people wanting to move overseas.
The tendency even has its own term – Japa – meaning to run, flee, or escape, in the Yoruba language.
But does this tell the whole story? On a recent trip to Lagos, Alan Kasujja brought together a group of Nigerians with different perspectives on the topic.
Among them are people thinking about leaving and those who have left but later decided to return home.
Alan also heard from a couple of Kenyans, who saw an opportunity in Nigeria, the same country some want to leave, and moved there for a better life.
Wed, 29 Nov 2023 - 894 - Why is cholera still killing people?
“The water is dirty. You can see it with your own eyes. It looks muddy. When you pour it in a glass and leave it overnight, the following day you start seeing small things swimming in the water” – Kamogelo Stock, South African citizen In this episode, we hear from people who’ve gone through the agony of losing their loved ones to cholera in South Africa. The disease is currently wreaking havoc in several parts of the African continent including Malawi, Cameroon and Mozambique. Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, is currently under a state of emergency following a deadly outbreak. Cholera is an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. It can spread in places with insufficient water treatment, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene. In today’s episode Alan Kasujja attempts to find out why so many African countries are still struggling to contain the disease.
Tue, 28 Nov 2023 - 893 - Why does Lesotho have an alarming suicide rate?
Some people may find the issues discussed in this episode upsetting. _____________________________________________________________________
“Some of the children that I talk to who attempted suicide would simply tell me that: 'I think I’m a burden to my parents. They want me to pass, I don’t pass. I think if I die I would solve their problems.'” - Tsepiso Siseoana, Lesotho psychotherapist.
Recently released data from the World Health Organisation shows that Lesotho is amongst a group of African countries with an alarming rate of suicide. The southern African nation recorded 87.5 deaths per 100 000 people.
Other countries with a similar problem include neighbouring Eswatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. Alan Kasujja attempts to understand why Lesotho’s suicide level is so high.
Please note: If you are experiencing emotional stress and would like details of organisations which offer advice and support, visit www.befrienders.org
Mon, 27 Nov 2023 - 892 - Is Mali’s government in control of the north?
Last week the Malian army seized the town of Kidal, in the country's north - weeks after the United Nations stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, withdrew from its base there.
For the past decade, Kidal has been a stronghold of the Tuareg rebel group - and so its capture was a symbolic success for Mali’s military leaders, who seized power in 2020. They have made the restoration of territorial sovereignty a key priority.
The military government has given UN forces until the end of the year to withdraw from the country - triggering a race to seize territory between the army, rebel groups and jihadists.
But while the army is now in control of the military base – the question of who’s in control of the region is far more complicated. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Beverly Ochieng and MINUSMA spokesperson, Fatoumata Kaba.
Fri, 24 Nov 2023 - 891 - How is one man dismantling Zimbabwe’s opposition party?
It’s an astonishing story of political intrigue: a man called Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the Secretary General of Zimbabwe’s opposition party – the Citizens Coalition for Change, or the CCC, has been issuing recall letters, which say they are no longer members of the party – and getting opposition MPs barred from parliament. At the time of recording, 32 MPs have lost their seats. Some already face re-election battles in December.
But the opposition MPs say they have no idea who he is – and that he definitely isn’t their Secretary General. So who is this person? And how is he gradually dismantling the opposition party in Zimbabwe’s Parliament?
Alan Kasujja has been talking to Zimbabwean journalist Ish Mafundikwa, as well as one of the MPs affected, Gift Ostallos Siziba, the CCC’s Deputy National Spokesperson.
Thu, 23 Nov 2023 - 890 - Which countries will soon get the malaria vaccine?
12 countries in Africa will receive 18 million doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in the coming days. The roll out will begin in the new year. The doses are injections for children between 5 months and 2 years old.
Kenya, Ghana and Malawi have already been using the vaccine in a pilot programme since 2019, but in other countries - including Uganda, Mozambique and Cameroon - this will be new.
So today, Africa Daily asks how parents view the vaccine – and about how the rollout is likely to go.
Wed, 22 Nov 2023 - 889 - Rainbow revisited: a musical reflection on the Rainbow Nation
The South African singer and pianist Thandi Ntuli was surrounded by music as a child – her grandfather was a key part of the musical scene in Sophiatown, a suburb in Johannesburg known for its music.
She now has a new album out called ‘Rainbow Revisited’ – referring to the term coined by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu “Rainbow Nation” to describe post-apartheid South Africa – a nation where its diverse people could live together in harmony, following years of racial segregation.
Now – nearly thirty years on, with Victoria Uwonkunda, Thandi explores where that optimism has gone – and what hope there is for the future.
Tue, 21 Nov 2023 - 888 - Should we change public names associated with colonialism?
Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje attempts to find out whose heritage is being preserved and whose is being sacrificed when we change the names of Africa’s roads, towns and cities. Zimbabwe for example, changed its name after independence from white minority rule in 1980. White people, however, remain very much part of that country. Neighbouring South Africa has also been doing away with public names associated with the apartheid regime. Some people are even calling for the nickname of the rugby national team, the Springboks, to be abolished because it represents “white supremacy”. Is this the way to go? Mpho is joined by Charlotte Ashamu, the Director of International Programs at Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and Cameron Peters who runs Cape Town Heritage Tours.
NOTE: edited to correct Charlotte's job title on 20th Nov 2023.
Mon, 20 Nov 2023 - 887 - How do we prevent sex trafficking in Africa?
Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud or coercion - often by those they know. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists say the UAE is a major destination for sex trafficking. African women are forced into prostitution by illicit networks operating in the country. BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to Mary*, a survivor of human trafficking who courageously shared her story of how her life changed when she went from Nigeria to Dubai. He also speaks to the Director General of the Nigerian National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons - Fatima Waziri-Azi, for more insight on the scale of this problem in Nigeria.
Fri, 17 Nov 2023 - 886 - Why are thousands of people fleeing Darfur?
“Those who are not killed are hiding”.
Thousands of new refugees have crossed into Chad from Darfur in recent weeks - all describing scenes of horror as the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, establish their dominance across the region in western Sudan.
The RSF was created from the feared Janjaweed militia which destroyed villages and killed or displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. Its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo - widely known as Hemedti - used to be a Janjaweed commander.
Now the RSF is expected to take the capital city of north Darfur - Al Fashar - previously a safe haven for the non-Arab population. Around 50 thousand internally displaced people had already sought shelter there earlier in the war, prompting fears of an even greater humanitarian disaster.
For today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja gets the latest on the situation from Suliman Baldo of the Sudan Crisis Research Network as well as from Seif Nemir who managed to get his family out of the embattled city of El Geneina in June.
Thu, 16 Nov 2023 - 885 - Will the election in Madagascar bring any change?
On the 16th of November, millions of people are expected to vote in the presidential election in Madagascar.
Long-time political rivals Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana will take each other on, along with eleven other candidates.
Rajoelina, the former DJ-turned-politician, rose to power back in 2009 when he replaced Ravalomana as head of state, following a bloodless coup.
Madagascar is among the poorest nations in the world.
The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line rose from 72% in 2012 to 75% in 2022, according to the World Bank.
Africa Daily's Alan Kasujja has been looking at what's at stake in this election.
Wed, 15 Nov 2023 - 884 - What can the humble cassette tape tell us about Somali culture?
“Divorces were happening on these cassette tapes… And the messenger wouldn't know that there had been a divorce recorded on this cassette tape, so when they got to the partner and offered them the cassette tape and it was played they were the unwilling participant in this divorce.” Nowadays we’re so linked up - via whatsapp, email, phone calls. But how did people stay connected in the days before the mobile phone? In Somalia – from the 1970s to 90s –the cassette tape was a crucial tool for sending messages – especially to family members who had fled to other countries after war broke out. Letter tapes were used for verbal love letters, regular family updates, to plan political resistance – and even as a means of divorce. Now a Somali feminist art group called Dhaqan Collective (@DhaqanC) - based in Bristol in South West England - is using these tapes as a way to explore Somali history and culture in a project called Camel Meat & Cassette Tapes. They’ve also used cassettes as a vehicle to encourage young Somalis to record interviews with their older family members – and so to connect with their history and traditions. For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks with two members of the collective.
With thanks to producer @layla_mood
Tue, 14 Nov 2023
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