Africa Daily

Bruises and broken bones. Dambe is not kind to the human body. As extreme as this combat sport may be, it’s amassed legions of fans not only in Nigeria, where it was born, but also around the world. What’s it all about? And how did it become so popular? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) Guest: Maxwell Kalu, founder and CEO of African Warriors FC; Dogon Kyallu, Dambe fighter. #AfricaDail...

It’s been a week since South Africa first reported Omicron…a name now recognised around the world. While South Africa discovered the new covid variant, it’s unlikely we’ll learn exactly where it first appeared. The WHO has praised the country for its transparency. So, how did South Africa discover the omicron variant? Host: Alan Kasujja Reporting: Mpho Lakaje Guests: Wasim Abdool Karim and Dr Thie...

On Saturday, Gambians will head to the polls to vote for their next leader. Many people say they feel they’re voting in a ‘new Gambia’. In 2016, Yahya Jammeh was ousted after 22 years in power. So, what’s at stake for the continent’s smallest country? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja Guests: Omar Wally and Assan Jobe

Fistula is an uncomfortable medical condition. It is particularly common in women after a difficult childbirth. And can sometimes be found in men. The condition leaves a hole in the bladder or rectum. It allows faeces and urine to leak uncontrollably. And although it can often be fixed with surgery, many thousands of women are thought to need treatment across the continent. This episode contains f...

Since long-term leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011, Libyans have endured a decade of instability. The last elections in 2014 left the country divided between competing factions in the east and west. Fresh parliamentary and presidential elections are planned for the end of December. But there is even disagreement over how they will be run. So, can the upcoming vote unite Libya? #AfricaDaily...

Scientist in South Africa have identified a new variant of the Covid-19 virus. Cases of the Omicron variant have been identified in countries including Belgium, Germany, Australia and Hong Kong. Some countries have put restrictions on travel from parts of Southern Africa. Scientists say that it will be a couple of weeks before we understand exactly how the Omicron variant behaves. But what do we k...

A little over two years since winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Abiy Ahmed is leading a country at war. Rebels from the northern Tigray region have taken increasing territory over the past few months. Thousands have died and more than two million have been pushed from their homes. The international community is showing increasing concern about the situation. Many countries have told their citizens to...

Gender based violence is a problem around the world. And Africa is no exception. For years, women across the continent have been raising their voices and demanding change. On Thursday, many of them will join women around the world for ’16 days of activism against gender based violence’. So, how are women leading the conversation? #AfricaDaily hears from women across the continent This programme co...

A leaked report by an inquiry panel found that Nigerian armed forces shot and killed #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate in October 2020. The report refers to the incident as a massacre. But Nigeria’s information minister Lai Mohammed has dismissed the report as a ‘triumph of fake news’. He denies that soldiers fired live bullets at protesters. Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporter: Is’haq...

Tourism is an important part of Kenya’s economy. And the money spent by visitors is vital for funding conservation programmes, that protect wildlife and biodiversity. But some critics are questioning whether conservation and tourism are too dependent on each other. And whether indigenous people are being treated unfairly to make space for conservancies. #AfricaDaily

Highlife music has been getting people on to the dance floor for decades. It originated in Ghana in the 19th century. And has been embraced around West Africa…and the world. Now a Nigerian duo - The Cavemen - are bringing the music to a new young audience. So, is highlife back and here to stay? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Reporting: Hannah Ajala (@hannah_ajala) Guests: The Cavemen (@staycavy) #A...

The COP26 climate summit concluded in Glasgow on Saturday. Despite an agreement being reached, many people on the continent have asked whether it delivers enough for Africa. The next round of negotiations will take place next year at COP27 in Egypt. So, how should Africa’s environmentalists be moving forward? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Peter Musembi (@musembipm) Wanjira Mathai (@MathaiW...

On Tuesday, three people were killed in suicide attacks on Kampala. The government is pointing the finger at the ADF, a rebel group which has pledged allegiance to IS. And IS have claimed responsibility for these attacks. Kampala has witnessed other bomb explosions in recent months. Police say they were also linked to the ADF. So, why is Kampala coming under attack? Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) G...

A quarter of Ghana’s population lives along its 500km coastline. But devastating tidal waves and flooding are becoming more common. There have been three this year alone. Earlier this month, the latest tidal surge left more than 4000 people displaced in the Volta region. And people are starting to demand action from the government. So, what can be done to protect coastal communities? #AfricaDaily...

Tina was diagnosed with a rare heart condition as a baby. She fought against odds that said she wouldn’t live to be a teenager. Thanks to double lung and heart transplant, she has just celebrated her 40th birthday. But for the 5000 people in need of an organ transplant in South Africa today, there is a long and difficult wait. And the pandemic has only made things more difficult. #AfricaDaily Host...

Botswana has moved all remaining rhinos out of the Okavango Delta after a surge in poaching. More than 90 of the endangered animals were killed over the past two years. And it’s a similar story in other parts of southern Africa. Rhino horns are valuable on the international black market. So, what can be done to save the remaining rhino species? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Dr...

Dozens of schools across Kenya have burned down in recent weeks. There are suggestions that students may be to blame. The education minister has warned that any students found to be responsible for starting fires will be banned from public schools. So, what’s going on with Kenya’s school fires? #AfricaDaily

The war in Ethiopia started just over a year ago. The conflict between forces from the northern Tigray region and the federal government has escalated in recent weeks. It’s been caused by various recent political issues. But it also has it’s roots in modern history…events that go back more than 100 years. So, to understand Ethiopia’s present, do we have to look to the past? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan...

Uganda’s coffee exports have seen significant growth in the past year. And income from the crop had increased by almost 50%. It’s partly due to production issues in countries like Brazil and Vietnam. But Uganda is among the countries in Africa to take advantage of the disruption in the market. So, how have they done it? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Darren Allan Kyeyunye (@all...

Some of Zimbabwe’s teachers are going on strike. They say that inflations means they’re no longer being paid enough to live on. And that conditions in the classroom are making teaching more and more difficult. The government in Zimbabwe denies that schools lack resources and say they aren’t aware of strike action. So, why do teachers in Zimbabwe say they’re struggling to get by? #AfricaDaily Host:...

It’s nearly ten years since Agnes Wanjiru died. Her family believe she was killed by a British soldier. An inquest in 2019 found the same. Agnes lived close to a British army training camp in Kenya. The base has been blamed by local people for a wildfire earlier this year. And they have complained that British soldiers there aren’t ever held accountable for their poor behaviour. So, is the British...

World leaders are continuing to negotiate a plan to tackle climate change at the COP 26 summit. Global warming will affect most people on the planet in some way. But not everyone will feel the impact equally. Africa is thought to be among the most vulnerable continents. And research suggests that women will face a greater burden from a changing environment. Journalist Ugochi Anyaka-Oluigbo has hea...

In recent weeks, the Beitbridge border crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa came to a standstill. Truck drivers were stranded for as long as ten days. They complained about robberies and going without food. The crossing is one of the busiest on the continent, helping to connect countries across southern Africa. But when a new toll for trucks was introduced, delays led to queues going back mi...

When South Africa’s cricket team took to the pitch last week, one player was missing. Quinton de Kock refused to play, after the players were told they must ‘take the knee’. Sports teams around the world have adopted the gesture to take a stand against racism. The former captain has since apologised and took the knee at the next match. He explained that he was initially unhappy at being ordered to...

People in Sudan are back on the streets. In 2019, they protested for months to remove President Omar al-Bashir after 29 years in power. They stayed on the streets until the military agreed to share power with civilians. There were supposed to be elections in 2023, but a coup two weeks ago has put that in doubt. Is democracy the Sudanese worked so hard for now in jeopardy? #AfricaDaily Host: Alan K...