Death threats and exile: Local environmental defenders are the front line of the climate crisis - protecting the land they live on when it’s threatened by powerful business interests. But as the battle against climate change grows more intense, it’s becoming an increasingly dangerous role. Global Witness recorded 227 killings of land and environmental defenders around the world in 2020, including 18 in Africa. Alfred Brownell is an environmental lawyer and activist and was forced to flee his hom...
Feb 18, 2022•24 min
‘The fire has gone out’: African evangelists are working to revitalise Christianity in Europe, a continent that is increasingly turning away from religion. Harvey Kwiyani grew up in Malawi, where church was central to daily life. It was only after he left for Switzerland that he realised how different the religious landscape was in Europe. He’s part of a new generation of African missionaries trying to bring God back to Europe. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in to...
Feb 11, 2022•25 min
Grief without closure: Tens of thousands of families in Africa live with the agony of a missing loved one. Kenny Chikonka disappeared without trace nearly 30 years ago. His family have been searching for answers ever since. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Feb 04, 2022•24 min
“He just starts touching me”: The grim and lonely reality of sexual harassment in the workplace, through the eyes of two women in Kenya. As an intern, Lupita* was excited to start a new role but she quickly had to come to terms with unwelcome sexual advances. Sofia Rajab wanted to find a way to shatter the silence around sexual harassment within the legal profession. Her solution? Dear Law - a podcast that takes a frank look at the issue. This episode includes discussions about sexual harassment...
Jan 28, 2022•26 min
Unpicking stories that matter to you. The Comb returns on 28 January 2022
Jan 14, 2022•2 min
Scams, hustles, and cyber fraud: What happens when you think you’ve struck gold, only to lose it all? Cryptocurrencies are on the rise in Africa, but as more people get on board, cyber criminals smell an opportunity. Vivienne and Daniel both thought they were making sensible investments for their families. But hope and excitement turned to devastation when they learned they had handed their savings to scammers. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc....
Nov 05, 2021•29 min
‘I am African first’: Exploring race and identity for South Africans of Indian descent. Karnie Sharp has spent years discussing the complex crisis of identity that many feel in modern South Africa. In the wake of rising tensions between communities, and vitriolic statements from some political leaders, how can people from different backgrounds build bridges with their fellow citizens? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Oct 29, 2021•26 min
‘The evil you have done is enough’: One year after the EndSARS protests, some young Nigerians say they no longer recognise their country and are choosing to leave. Olivia, Tolu and Benjamin contemplate joining their friends who are now scattered across the world. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Oct 21, 2021•27 min
Lurking in the lake: What’s driving hippos to attack and kill fishermen on Lake Naivasha? As climate change alters our planet, animals and humans are coming into conflict, competing over the same diminishing natural resources. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Oct 14, 2021•28 min
The vendor who changed Malawi: Mayeso Gwanda took the state to court after his arrest for an outdated and vague petty crime. While he was successful in changing the law, the African Union is calling for more to be done. Enforcing these sorts of minor offences leads to lifelong consequences for the continent’s most poor and vulnerable people. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Rob Wilson
Oct 08, 2021•29 min
What happened to the class of 2020? We’re catching up with The Comb’s first ever guests - students whose studies were disrupted by Covid-19. Have their dreams and ambitions weathered the challenges of the global pandemic? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Sep 30, 2021•18 min
Young, educated and broke: almost a year since Kananelo left university in South Africa, she has been struggling to find work. Kananelo is part of a generation of graduates who find themselves unemployed and living with their parents. After struggling to find a suitable job in Nigeria, Agu Raphael Chibuke decided to strike out on his own. He now juggles numerous freelance roles and says young people are no longer waiting on the government when it comes to finding work. Thanks for listening. Let ...
Sep 23, 2021•26 min
‘Neither a girl nor a boy’: Baby John Musamba was born with a rare sexual disorder which stopped her from developing either male or female reproductive organs. She was raised as a girl, and hid her truth for 26 years until finally telling her friends and the world, on a very public platform. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Sep 16, 2021•29 min
‘H’ in Cameroon always dreamt of having kids but after he got married he quickly realised that his journey to parenthood would not be straightforward. In Uganda, Phiona and Derick Ngoga were hoping to have a family of five but found themselves struggling to conceive. Now they are challenging the silence and shame that surround infertility. Stories of heartache, hope and happiness. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa...
Sep 09, 2021•29 min
Blame and heartache: Exploring the emotional and physical burden of being unable to conceive. Why do women still bear the brunt of infertility? And why is the issue still shrouded in silence and shame? #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
Sep 02, 2021•29 min
Lost memories and strange behaviour: As Africa’s elderly population grows, more families are dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. But there is still misunderstanding and stigma attached to the conditions. After losing her father, Elizabeth started a mission to raise awareness about the illness and help families still dealing with it. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Aug 26, 2021•28 min
How criminals and corporations use hidden software to control smartphones without the owners’ knowledge. Malware and bloatware are two of the tools that are used, but there are steps you can take to keep your phone safe. This week we’re in Nigeria and Kenya to meet mobile malware victims, those seeking to educate about cyber hygiene, and an activist pushing for more privacy and data protections on cheap devices. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc...
Aug 19, 2021•29 min
A story of race, wealth and family. Sam is a black South African who was brought up by her mother’s white employers. Meanwhile, her biological sister Ziyanda stayed at home to be raised by her mother. In a country where things are often seen through a black and white lens, what can their experiences tell us about South Africa’s often tempestuous relationship with race? And what is more important for shaping our identity - our nature or our nurture? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you thin...
Aug 12, 2021•26 min
‘This is me’: Embracing my African identity. At birth Ciku Kimeria was given the name Carrie, but it was a name that never quite fitted. She later would reject it for her Kikuyu name, Wanjiku or Ciku. When Ehi Ekhator was younger, he thought swapping his Nigerian name for an English one would make his life easier but he later came to realise the value of his African name. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa...
Aug 05, 2021•27 min
Enslaved by the past: Hamden Atig Dali went to court to remove a painful reference to slavery from his name. 175 years after abolition, the legacy of slavery still impacts on black Tunisians. But a new generation are demanding better. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Jul 29, 2021•28 min
Tempted and trapped: How promising job offers abroad turned into a horror story for two young men. Athi from South Africa and Douglas from Kenya both thought they’d found great opportunities for work overseas, but the experience turned into a nightmare. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
Jul 22, 2021•29 min
‘Everyone deserves to be happy’: As lives and lifestyles change, so have views on relationships and the role and rights of women in them. A new generation are more accepting than ever of divorce, but many still suffer in silence when their marriages fall apart. Two women, from Nigeria and Egypt, share their stories. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Jul 15, 2021•27 min
Humiliated and harassed: What happens when your private images are shared online without your consent? How ‘revenge porn’ changed the lives of two women in Uganda and Kenya. And why there is often little sympathy for victims. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
Jul 08, 2021•26 min
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
Jul 02, 2021•1 min
‘A linguistic famine’: More than 2000 languages are spoken across Africa, but young Africans are often told that they need to speak English or French in order to succeed. In the process, native languages are being marginalised. Three people who have been pressured to adopt a different language reveal the impact on their lives and relationships. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
May 06, 2021•27 min
‘Because you’re a girl’: For women in Morocco, a lot of things are ‘Hashouma’ - shameful. But some women are using art to tackle these taboos. A rapper and an illustrator explain how sexism at home and at work inspired them to express themselves freely through their art. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com
Apr 28, 2021•25 min
‘I can remember every detail’. Victoria Uwonkunda’s childhood was shaped by death, genocide and displacement. Years later, she is still dealing with the impact of these traumatic events. She regularly experiences panic attacks - a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In Sierra Leone, Dr Rebecca Esliker is helping to build a mental health service in a country recovering from war, Ebola, mudslides and floods. She says mass exposure to trauma has had a long lasting effect on Sierra Leo...
Apr 22, 2021•27 min
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
Apr 15, 2021•2 min
“Our children are in danger”: After Solome’s child was publicly outed as being transgender she first felt shame and anger. It also set her on a journey of learning and acceptance that transformed their relationship. Her priority now is protecting her daughter, and teaching other parents in Uganda to accept their LGBTI children. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Apr 09, 2021•27 min
From anger to acceptance: For parents in Uganda, having a child come out or be exposed as gay, lesbian, or trans can be traumatic and shameful. Many are caught between widespread homophobia, and the love they have for their child. But a new support group is trying to make things easier. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart
Apr 08, 2021•23 min
