Combing Africa for stories about the unseen forces that bind us together and tear us apart. A single story, every week. Hosted by Kim Chakanetsa. #thecomb
Senegal’s missing men: The other side of the migrant crisis. Ndeye lost contact with her husband once he reached Europe. Yayi’s son died at sea when he embarked on the same journey. For those left behind it can be a life filled with loss and longing. It also means fighting the stigma associated with women whose husbands and sons are ‘missing’. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Living with albinism: Navigating issues of identity, race and beauty. An intimate journey through the eyes of Perpetua and Anneline, two women living with albinism. The prejudice they face and the pride they feel when it comes to their identity. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
From hope to disappointment. It's been a decade since 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest against the Tunisian police. This sparked an uprising that transformed the country. But how much has actually changed for the better? Dhouha and Sahar are now the same age Mohamed was when he took that desperate action. They reflect on their lives before and after the revolution. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Nour Abida
Myths, misconceptions and superstitions. Why is epilepsy still so misunderstood? After Lawrence had his first epileptic seizure at the age of eight, his family began to search for a cure. They tried clinics, prophets, witchdoctors and prayers. When, as an adult, he finally got a medical diagnosis, it changed his life. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
More African governments are building digital ID systems. In Kenya, the government is assigning a unique identification number to each citizen. The Huduma Namba will soon be the single key needed to unlock access to a range of government services. The process requires getting the finger prints and faces of every Kenyan scanned. But many people born in Kenya don’t have the documents they need to prove citizenship and critics of the Huduma Namba system are worried that, as the IDs become essential...
‘A second chance at life’. South Africa’s organ donation waiting list is long but donors are in short supply. Sandrisha has been waiting for a donor for seven years, whereas Nomsa’s life was saved by her twin sister donating her kidney. Through their stories, we explore why organ donation is still a difficult subject for many in Africa. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
The agony of not knowing. As Tigray stood on the brink of war, contact was severed between families and their loved ones in the diaspora around the world. What’s it like to be cut off from your family when they’re at their most vulnerable? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Pressure, prayers and persistent questions: Damilola Oduolowu is turning thirty. His aunt Muti thinks he should be married by now. Through a conversation with his aunt and his friends in Tanzania and Sierra Leone, Damilola explores the social pressures and stigma that come with turning 30 before you've tied the knot. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
The family she didn’t know. When Marcia was four she left Angola with her mother, losing touch with her father. 16 years later, she received a Facebook message from someone claiming to be her uncle. In the quest to reconnect with her long lost family, Marcia discovers why understanding her past is crucial for her future. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
‘It’s a survival issue for us’. The creeping threat of climate change is catching up with all of us, and more lives than ever are being transformed by the reality of climate change in Africa. Nirere in Uganda and Adenike in Nigeria can’t ignore what they’ve witnessed. They are fighting for their future. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Tricked by their parents into going back to Africa. Growing up in the UK, Hannah was told by her parents that if she didn’t behave they would send her back home. When she was 11, Hannah found herself at a rural boarding school in Nigeria. Arif thought he was going on holiday but ended up back in Uganda. The experience had a long-lasting impact on them both. We ask Arif’s father why he chose to trick and ship his son. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecom...
An unfair burden or a necessary responsibility? Many young professionals feel obliged to financially support extended family members who may be less fortunate, but it can be a stressful burden and leave people trapped in debt. The impact of black tax on three young professionals in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
A ‘dark secret’ shared by many. Every year, dozens of Kenyan women die from unsafe abortions. Why is it still so difficult to talk about? In Kenya, one woman is trying to challenge the taboo by talking about her abortion. This episode includes frank discussions about abortion, including women candidly discussing their experiences. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Combing Africa for stories about the unseen forces that bind us together and tear us apart. A single story, every week. Hosted by Kim Chakanetsa. #thecomb
The American dream? Three Africans from Botswana, Kenya and The Democratic Republic of the Congo, who are now living in the US, explain how the racial justice movement of 2020 has reshaped their identity and sense of self. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb
Love, security, and a crisis of identity - the promises and the cost of international adoption. What’s it like growing up a world away from where you were born? And why are African countries turning their backs on the practice? Two women share their experiences of being adopted by foreign families. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Guns, drugs and brutal violence - What happens when women are sucked into the macho world of gangs? What draws them in, in the first place? And what happens when they leave? The world of Cape Town’s gangs through the eyes of two women. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
Does Sudan's new dawn finally mean a chance for justice? The country’s former president, Omar al-Bashir, is charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. Having lost power, he’s finally facing trial. But after so long, what does it mean to the victims? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Money, time and stigma - the cost of travelling on an African passport. Your passport should be a window to the world – but if you’re from a country in Africa, visa queues, fees and expensive airline tickets mean crossing the continent can be tough. What happened to Africa’s borderless dream? And when travelling internationally, are visa denials more common for Africans? #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
Evicted from paradise. Fifty years ago, the UK forced the Chagossian people to leave their island homes, to make way for a US military base. Will they ever be allowed to return for good? This is the story of eviction, exile, and the long-running battle over the Chagos islands. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Murder in the mountains. A feud, a former first lady dead and another on the run. How the mysterious killing of Lipolelo Thabane, Lesotho’s former first lady, transformed the country’s political landscape. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
‘You probably have to lie that you are married and your husband had to be out of town’. Being a young, single woman can be a heavy burden when trying to find somewhere to live in Nigeria. Why do landlords keep saying ’no’? #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
Confronting the realities of care for patients with the most severe illnesses. Palliative care focuses on relieving patients’ pain, and helping families to cope. Why is this aspect of healthcare so misunderstood? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Can computers be racist? The unseen forces shaping our reality. Artificial intelligence is embedded in our lives in ways we may not even notice. With numerous examples of AI appearing ‘racist’, how can we stop building computer systems with prejudices that deepen social inequality? #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Taking the leap away from faith: Stories of losing and embracing new spiritual beliefs. What happens when you lose faith in the religion you were brought up to believe in? And, how can embracing new spiritual beliefs change your life? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Lies spread online can reach millions in an instant: ruining lives, stoking hatreds and inciting violence. Do you know what you’re sharing? Facebook’s new Oversight Board is trying to stop the lies, but will it make a difference? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Raised apart in Ghana and Germany, sisters Nana and Adjoa had very different childhoods. Now, Adjoa has sacrificed opportunities in Europe to come home to Ghana, but Nana can't understand why. Whilst many still dream of a life in the west, more and more of Africa’s diaspora are returning home to the continent. Is the grass always greener? #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Killing for sand: a village shaken by one of the biggest and least-reported resource battles of our time. From buildings and roads, to glass and paper, sand is a crucial ingredient in modern civilisation. But we’re running out and a black market is thriving. In The Gambia, the demand for sand has already proven deadly. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Easy lending, easy debt? It takes less than five minutes to get a small digital loan, and advocates say that lending apps are providing financial inclusion for the ‘unbanked’. But some young Kenyans are getting caught out by the high interest rates and small print.
Is home a place or a feeling? Leaving home to pursue your dream job is often seen as the best route to success. What happens when a pandemic closes borders, shuts down travel and you are stuck far away from everything you know? Thanks for listening. Where you can, please leave ratings and reviews. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
