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 c...
Nov 27, 2023•16 min
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 ...
Nov 24, 2023•21 min
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 – ...
Nov 23, 2023•24 min
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....
Nov 22, 2023•17 min
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 t...
Nov 21, 2023•11 min
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...
Nov 20, 2023•18 min
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 chang...
Nov 17, 2023•18 min
“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 com...
Nov 16, 2023•20 min
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...
Nov 15, 2023•16 min
“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 sendi...
Nov 14, 2023•18 min
Last month a ‘controlled spillage’ was conducted at the Akosombo and Kpong hydro-electric dams near the southern tip of Lake Volta. But for those living downstream it felt anything but controlled; rather residents described sudden and massive floods which took water levels to the rooftops of their houses – destroying homes in minutes which had taken them years to build. Around 26,000 people were left homeless. With water levels still high, any thoughts of rebuilding are for the future and for no...
Nov 13, 2023•19 min
On yesterday’s episode, Alan heard that the traffic in Lagos has become unbearable for many people. Hours spent in gridlock mean that some people aren’t spending enough time at home for a good night’s sleep. For years, commuters have been promised a new train service linking the island with the suburbs where many people live. It finally launched in September and has been a huge hit. Alan took the train for a evening commute to find out whether it is meeting expectations and can continue to match...
Nov 10, 2023•22 min
If you are visiting Lagos, you’ll likely be away for the traffic long before you arrive. People are eager to warn you about the gridlocked roads when they find out you’re travelling there. For commuters in the city, it has been an ongoing problem for years. Journeys that should take just an hour, can sometimes take over five hours. And some people have to miss out on sleep to make enough time for the commute. So, it’s no surprise that people are looking for any shortcut, even if that means stepp...
Nov 09, 2023•20 min
For many Kenyans illness and needing healthcare can result in serious financial hardship or mean those who can’t pay don’t get the healthcare they need. President William Ruto says new legislation will ensure that healthcare is affordable and accessible to all Kenyans. The changes have been described as controversial and the biggest shake-up of the health sector in more than two decades. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke to the BBC’s Health correspondent in Nairobi Dorcas Wangira about what this ...
Nov 08, 2023•20 min
King Charles and his wife Camilla wrapped up a four-day state visit to Kenya last week. The visit was at the invitation of Kenya’s President William Ruto and came as the country prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence at the end of the year. This was his first visit to a Commonwealth country since the start of his reign. Kenya is where the King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, found out she was going to be Queen after her father passed away while she was there on a private visit in 1952. BBC Af...
Nov 07, 2023•19 min
On the 11th of October, the citizens of Mozambique voted in their country’s municipal elections. The authorities later announced that the ruling Frelimo won 64 out of 65 municipalities. The main opposition Renamo, however, disputed the election results saying the process was rigged, a claim that has been denied by Frelimo. Two people have lost their lives since the unrest started. The violence has been condemned by the European Union and US embassy who’ve urged all parties involved to find a pea...
Nov 06, 2023•17 min
In his reports from Lagos this week, Alan has heard that the naira doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. Expensive exports, the removal of fuel subsidies and high inflation means that many people have less cash in their pockets. Nigerians are having to find creative ways to make ends meet. In this episode, he hears from young men who are turning to sports betting. He hears stories of people winning big when luck is on their side. But he finds that making big money isn’t always as easy as people ...
Nov 03, 2023•23 min
More and more Africans are being displaced, largely due to conflict. And that number has risen over the past year and now totals over 40 million people. For a while, the displacement crisis has been viewed as a humanitarian issue - with the burden of response largely left to international aid organisations. But that might be about to change. Business stakeholders are getting together to look into how the private sector can play a role in helping solve the refugee crisis. Africa Daily’s Peter Mus...
Nov 02, 2023•13 min
At Balogun market in Lagos almost everybody has something to say about the economy. Financially, Nigerians have been on a bumpy ride since the election in February. The new government removed fuel subsidies, meaning every car journey now costs significantly more. A weak naira is adding to the price of imported goods. And inflation is soaring. So, how are people coping? How are they still striving to thrive? And why aren’t people excited about a government plan to put a bit of extra cash in their...
Nov 01, 2023•22 min
Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October, which resulted in killing more than 1,400 people and taking almost 230 hostages. Since the attack Israel has been carrying out strikes in Gaza. The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry says more than 8,000 people have been killed. Following the surprise attack, many of Israel’s allies and others quickly condemned the assault and said they were standing with Israel. Israel then launched airstrikes into Gaza...
Oct 31, 2023•15 min
Alan Kasujja is back in Lagos. He was last there in the days before the presidential election in February. Since then a lot has changed. The country has a new government and a new president – Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. A surprise removal of subsidies on fuel has seen prices saw at petrol stations. And inflation currently at 26% has seen the cost of many other products soar. In the first of three episodes looking at a changing Nigeria, Alan looks at how life in Lagos...
Oct 30, 2023•23 min
“The world wants us to constantly fight and struggle and be on the offensive. I think in those moments of sport, we become who we truly are, which is people who really wanna live with each other, be at peace with each other” – Khanyi Magubane. South Africa arrived in France and the 2023 Rugby World Cup as defending champions, with the hope to hoist the trophy for a 4th equalling time. The African nation last lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in Japan in 2019. But for South Africa, win or lose, this i...
Oct 27, 2023•17 min
Often seen as the workhorse of transport in some parts of Africa, the humble bicycle is going through a change on the continent, as people start to cycle for fun and fitness. Modern bikes with more gears and the rise in popularity of taking exercise to get fit have contributed to an increase in recreational cycling. However, safety on the roads remains a major challenge, and United Nations figures from a report last year say 18 cyclists are killed on Africa’s roads every day. So with that in min...
Oct 26, 2023•22 min
A daughter complains to her father that she never gets to see him. She says she feels like they don’t spend enough time together. Craig Phakathi is a long distance truck driver in Zimbabwe and he too wants to have time with his daughter. So he invites her along and they go on the road together, with Bhule joining her dad for five days. Alan Kasujja also decides to enlist the help of his own daughter Zuri, in this chat about parent-child relationship, finding that work and life balance and what i...
Oct 25, 2023•15 min
Sierra Leone has managed to reduce the number of women who die during and after childbirth by half in the last 2 years. But the maternal mortality figures are still too high, and the government has called it a ‘national emergency’. A new maternity centre is being built in the east of the country as part of the drive to improve the medical care of women and the training of midwives. And it’s being built mostly by women. Alan Kasujja hears from workers Bintu Missah and Hawa Baryoh and midwife Isat...
Oct 24, 2023•18 min
Many governments around the world have been questioning how prepared they were for covid- 19 and discussing what they might do in another pandemic. But what about Africa? One of the most interesting and significant things happening on the continent is an early warning system in Nigeria which could alert Africa and the world to an emerging pandemic. It’s been developed by Professor Christian Happi, he’s the Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeem...
Oct 23, 2023•18 min
In 2015 the price of crude oil fell and since then Nigeria has struggled with a shortage of foreign currency- dollars. It led the previous government to place restrictions on who could access dollars through the official markets – including banning the use of foreign exchange for the importation of 43 items including rice, cooking oil, tooth picks, and cement. That ban has now been lifted as part of a series of reforms introduced by Nigeria’s current government. When President Bola Tinubu came t...
Oct 20, 2023•20 min
The Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza is not just an international border point, but is a symbol of the complicated nature of the north African country’s relationship with the Middle East conflict. Since the 7th October 2023 attacks on Israel by the militant group Hamas, and Israel’s military response, the Rafah Crossing is back in the headlines. It’s seen as a lifeline for Gaza, but has also been closed and opened many times over the years. We discuss its significance with the BBC’s Amal Sa...
Oct 19, 2023•18 min
Since April this year, South Africa has been hit by its worst bird flu outbreak since 2017. Known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or HPAI, it’s caused the deaths of millions of chickens and a severe shortage of eggs. Now the flu has been detected in Mozambique leading to the concern that it could become a regional problem. Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje speaks to Dr. Abongile Balarane from the South African Poultry Association to understand the flu's impact and its potential risks to humans – a...
Oct 18, 2023•19 min
In recent years, Morocco has been spending millions of dollars in developing its football. It now boasts six FIFA approved stadiums, a competitive local league and has world class transport infrastructure. Some of its investment paid off in 2022 when it reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But what exactly is Morocco trying to achieve with its multimillion dollar investment in football? Can hosting the 2030 World Cup boost its economy? Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Jalal Bouno...
Oct 17, 2023•19 min
