Nigeria approves Shell's watershed exit from oil-rich Niger Delta-but activists are not pleased. Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan receives an early nomination for being the ruling party's presidential candidate. And why are some African countries moving towards banning wigs in court? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Bella Hassan and Sunita Nahar in London, Charles Gitonga in Nairobi and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre ...
Jan 21, 2025•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why has the case against the Kenyan police officers allegedly involved in the death of six-month old Samantha Pendo been delayed yet again? Seven years on, her parents are still seeking justice after a court hearing into the case was adjourned for the third time. What happens to stolen funds and assets when they are recovered and repatriated to the country where they were taken from? And as President Trump begins his second term in office, will he make it a mission to end wars in Africa? Present...
Jan 20, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Canadian mining giant Barrick halted its operations in Mali after the government seized gold stocks worth $245 million. What's the story behind the Nigerian words added to the Oxford English dictionary ? And what the death of the warlord turned politician Prince Yormie Johnson means for Liberia. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Victor Sylver, Blessing Aderogba, Rob Wilson, and Nyasha Michelle in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer:Craig Kingha...
Jan 17, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mozambique’s new president, Daniel Chapo, has been sworn in, after winning a violently disputed election held in October last year. Many people have been killed in clashes with the police and the opposition is still calling for protests. So what next for Mozambique under President Daniel Chapo? How will the China-based online giant Temu, now operating in Nigeria, affect similar local companies? Also in the podcast, we hear from the Kenyan woman who spent eight years in a Malaysian prison – more ...
Jan 16, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dozens of survivors and dead pulled from an abandoned South African gold mine How Russia is expanding its partnership in Africa's nuclear sector And ice hockey gains popularity in Kenya. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Victor Sylver, Nyasha Michelle, Priya Sippy and Sunita Nahar Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Chris Kouzaris Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi .
Jan 15, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kenya's high court has struck down a law that criminalised the act of attempting suicide. We hear from one of the petitioners who brought the challenge, on why the judge's ruling is important. Also in the podcast, we revisit the dumpsite in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, that collapsed and killed more than 30 people last August. How is the city managing its waste problem? And a shop owner tells us about the devastating impact of a fire at one of the biggest open air markets in Ghana, and efforts ...
Jan 14, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pulls out of the largest free hospital in Sudan’s capital Khartoum. Fears over a cargo of explosive fertiliser in a harbour in Ivory Coast And who are the Baye Fall muslims in Senegal? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Amie Liebovitz and Nyasha Michelle in London and Blessing Aderogba in Lagos. Senior Producer : Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Francesca Dunne Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Jan 13, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Benin forces have suffered heavy losses in an attack which the military chief described as 'a heavy blow'. The assault happened at one of Benin's most well-equipped military positions. So who was behind the attack and what does it tell us about Benin's security preparedness? Also in the podcast, after São Tomé and Príncipe's president fired the prime minister accusing him of failing in his job, are political tensions on the verge of being ignited in the central African island nation? And why is ...
Jan 10, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast What can be done to tackle a water crisis in South Africa's largest city Johannesburg? Can Somalia's army tackle jihadists when peacekeeping forces withdraw? After space debris landed in a Kenyan village we ask : will this become more common? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Sunita Nahar, Yvette Twagiramariya, Nyasha Michelle and Bella Hassan in London. Frenny Jowi in Nairobi Senior Producer :Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Gabriel O'Regan Editors :Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi...
Jan 09, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast The M23 rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have captured the key town of Masisi in the in the mineral-rich North Kivu province, in renewed, intense fighting. Why has there been an upsurge in the the violence and why is seizing control of Masisi so significant? Also in the podcast, why does Nigeria have the highest rates of neonatal jaundice? And we hear from two farmers in Sierra Leone - who are both amputees - about a project called Farming on Crutches, that is aimed at helping pe...
Jan 08, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Will increasing tax in South Africa help stop excessive drinking? Why are Nigeria's rice farmers struggling despite government policies to boost local production. And as more athletes break records we ask: just how long will records continue being broken? Presenter :Audrey Brown Producers: Blessing Aderogba in Lagos, Susan Gachuhi and Frenny Jowi in Nairobi with Bella Hassan and Nyasha Michelle in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jack Graysmark Editors: Andre Lombard a...
Jan 07, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast 55 African airlines have been banned from EU skies after a newly revised blacklist was released. Which airlines are they and why the ban? Also why are some Kenyan farmers resisting government plans to vaccinate their livestock? And the legacy of Dada Masilo, the young South African dancer who died at the age of 39. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya and Aime Liebowitz in London. Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Edito...
Jan 06, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Egypt once had the highest rate of hepatitis C in the world, but has now almost completely wiped out the liver attacking virus in less than 10 years. How did they do that? Could the African mealworm be a solution to tackling plastic waste? Kenyan researchers say the larvae of the darkling beetle species native to Africa can digest plastic in their guts and degrade styrofoam, one the most harmful materials to the environment. Also in the podcast, how Nigerian pet owners are having to make heartbr...
Jan 03, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ivory Coast has confirmed, French troops stationed in the region for decades, will begin withdrawing from Ivorian soil this month. This marks another shift in the growing trend across West Africa, where France is seeing a reduction in their military presence. An analyst explains the genesis of this resentment. Also, French President Emmanuel Macron was recently heckled during his visit to cyclone-hit Mayotte. What's France's relationship with Mayotte? And will the rights of the Kua people in Bot...
Jan 02, 2025•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast During his first term as US president, Donald Trump had a very limited engagement with Africa, so what will his return to the White House mean for the continent? We hear from a political analyst on the potential opportunities and perils for US-Africa relations. Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally for children and young people under 30? Podcast host Audrey Brown has a conversation with the World Health Organization about how they are helping countries, includ...
Jan 01, 2025•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast South Africa has become a key player in the International drugs trade, that's according to the global crime index. The country has a growing domestic market and now shares trade connections with South America, Europe, Hong Kong and Australia. We'll hear from South African journalist and author Caryn Dolley who has written about how deeply entrenched South Africa is in the international narco scene Also, why are there so few legal protections for whistleblowers? And advice on pension funds and wh...
Dec 31, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast More than 80 people have been abducted over recent weeks in Kenya, sparking a rise in public anger and more protests on the streets. But why are the kidnappings happening and who is being targeted? We talk to our reporter in Nairobi who has been following events. Also in this episode, we hear about the journeys of African migrants from West Africa to the Canary Islands, the painful realities that push them away from home, and the dangers that come with crossing the Atlantic ocean. And we hear fr...
Dec 30, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast What is “ Ivoirité ” ? We explore this controversial concept and its effects as Ivory Coast prepares for general election in 2025. Also, why women in Morocco are welcoming a review of child custody, divorce, and polygamy law, and why dolls aren’t just dolls- find out how they can affect a child’s behaviour in later life.
Dec 27, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Air Tanzania, has been added to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) list of airlines that have been restricted from operating within the European Union. So what are the shortcomings? We sought answers from an aerospace expert. Did you know that South Africa’s unique succulent plants are under threat from poachers? We have a first-hand account from our correspondent who has been to the remote biodiversity hotspot that has become the hub of an illegal trade. And new research, that i...
Dec 26, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thousands of Sudanese Christians face Christmas away from home as the Sudan war continues. We hear from one woman who was born into a Muslim family but converted to Christianity, on how her community tries to help those fleeing the war, and how she maintains Christmas traditions despite living in exile in Egypt. We meet one of the young people who was at the forefront of the unprecedented #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests in Kenya. And Ivorian chef Brice Assemian joins us in the studio to discuss ...
Dec 25, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dozens of people have died in stampedes to collect Christmas hampers in Nigeria raising concerns about safety at these events. Also in the programme, why South Sudanese civil servants have not been paid their salaries for nearly a year, and what South African shop owners are saying about the government's new regulations to address food poisonings.
Dec 24, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Malawi's government is demanding billions in unpaid taxes and royalties from a US-based gemstone company for rubies exported over the last 10 years. The companies deny the claims The tale of the child bride social media sensation in South Sudan. And a couple share their painful experience with infertility Presenter Audrey Brown Producers: Susan Gachuhi and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Stefania Okereke, Yvette Twagiramariya and Amie Liebowitz in London. Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Pr...
Dec 23, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Piracy off the coast in Somalia, had cost the global economy around 7 billion US dollars just over a decade ago. Since then, international security patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lane all but eliminated piracy. But in recent months, there’s been a resurgence off the coast of the autonomous region of Puntland. Why is that? Also, what's behind the fire at the parliamentary buildings in Liberia? And why Nigerians are not all that happy about "Detty December"? Presenter: Charl...
Dec 20, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast An underfunded and undermanned contingent of 400 Kenyan police are on a mission to quell gangs in Haiti. How are they coping? More Somali migrants stranded in Libya return home. And Algerian Kamel Daoud was recently awarded a top French prize for his novel Houris- why is it banned in Algeria? Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Amie Liebowitz in London and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical producer: Jonathan Greer Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi....
Dec 19, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Over a thousand Sierra Leoneans were recently arrested on the streets of Conakry in Guinea and deported. Sierra Leoneans reciprocated with their own deportation of Guineans. This all resulted in a diplomatic spat between the two countries. We'll get the details. Also is Kenya really increasing state surveillance of its citizens? We'll hear government response to these claims And a fresh start for Mali as production begins at the largest non-exploited lithium mine in the world! Presenter: Charles...
Dec 18, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast The World Health Organization recently published its first-ever report on drowning prevention. The rates are highest in Africa-with Uganda one of the highest And a Ghanaian shares his close encounter with jihadists in Burkina Faso Are there academies in Nigeria where people are taught online scamming? Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi, Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Amie Liebowitz in London. Senior producer: Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer Philip Bull Editors: And...
Dec 17, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Residents of Mayotte have spoken of "apocalyptic scenes" caused by the worst storm in 90 years to hit the French Indian Ocean territory. Twenty people have been confirmed dead, but local authorities say that number could rise into thousands. We'll look at the impact. Also a look at the painful legacy of landmines in Africa and why campaigns to end their use is always welcome And the life and times of a political cartoonist. We'll hear from South Africa's Zapiro and Kenya's Maddo! Presenter: Char...
Dec 16, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ethiopian authorities have reportedly deported hundreds of Eritreans. Many Eritreans there are refugees who fled forced military conscription and government oppression We hear about the lives of Syrians who fled war at home for a new life in Somalia Why did China give the least developed countries it has diplomatic ties with tariff free access.? Presenter Charles Gitonga Producers: Sunita Nahar and Yvette Twagiramariya in London. Blessing Aderogba in Lagos and Susan Gachuhi in Nairobi Senior Pro...
Dec 13, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa's plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the "historic agreement", which he said would eventually ensure landlocked Ethiopia's access to the sea. How significant is this? Also what's keeping protestors on the streets of Mozambique? And a look at the complicated relationship between South Africa and Nigeria. Presenter: Char...
Dec 12, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Zambia's constitutional court says former President Lungu is ineligible for re-election. He alleges political interference We'll look at Operation Serengeti, a multinational attempt to stamp out cybercrime Plus, a BBC investigation into how influencers are spreading disinformation on women's health on TikTok Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Victor Sylver and Yvette Twagiramariya in London and Charles Gitonga in Nairobi. Senior Producer :Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Nick Randell Editors: ...
Dec 11, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
