Africa Daily

South Africa is no stranger to xenophobic violence. In recent years, reports of attacks against immigrants have become common. Somali nationals are often targeted – and so, when a recent shooting was reported in a Western Cape township, the Somali community got worried. Why exactly? Host: Karnie Sharp (@KarnieSharp on Twitter) Guests: Mpho Lakaje, reporter; Ali Osman, South African Somali Communit...

It’s probably fair to say that the one thing the whole world has collectively been thinking about in the last year is Covid and the vaccines that will defeat the infection. Although some countries in Africa have done well at getting their citizens the jab, Africa remains the least vaccinated continent. Lately, there’s been a lot of discussion about what difference could be made to the situation if...

Her critics describe her as populist and a demagogue. But Abir Moussi’s sudden popularity has taken many in Tunisia by surprise. She’s known for attention-grabbing stunts and for peddling conspiracy theories – and yet some believe she’s the answer to the country’s many problems. But is that really the case? And what does her rise tell us about Tunisia today? Host: Nancy Kacungira (@Kacungira on Tw...

One wife. Several husbands. Why not? South Africa is considering an update to its marriage laws. Among other things, it could make polyandry legal. If the changes go through, this would be a big first for Africa - but perhaps unsurprisingly, not everyone’s up for it. Host: Nancy Kacungira (@Kacungira on Twitter) Guests: Latashia Naidoo, investigative journalist; Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, African Ch...

The Democratic Republic of Congo is looking for help from it’s neighbours to solve the problem of rebel militias in the east of the country. The government recently imposed temporary martial law in the troubled eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri - a region that has more than one hundred known armed groups. These groups have been responsible for thousands of deaths and led to the displacemen...

European, American and African leaders, together with financial institutions, are looking for ways to help restart growth in Africa after the Covid health crisis. Described as the “New Deal” for African economies, leaders aim to find solutions to Africa’s international debt, which could see the continent fall into recession. In Africa Daily Nancy Kacungira has been looking at the extent of Africa’...

For a long time, African literature didn’t get the recognition it deserved – certainly in the west. But walk into any bookshop nowadays and the shelves are piled high with African authors. More and more are winning international book awards, including Chigozie Obioma and Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi – who we hear from in today’s episode. So, what’s prompted this change? And what does it take for Afr...

Covid-19 is, once again, spreading in the Seychelles. In just a few months, the country has managed to vaccinate most of its people against the virus. But a recent rise in the number of cases has many scratching their heads. What went wrong – if anything at all? Host: Victoria Uwonkunda (@Msuwonkunda on Twitter) Guests: Sharon Ernesta, Seychelles News Agency ; Dr Christian Happi, African Centre of...

Who’ll be king of the hoops? Africa’s top basketball teams are joining a brand new league backed by the American NBA. It’s called the Basketball Africa League (BAL) - and it will kick off in Kigali, Rwanda on 16 May. The tournament is yet another sign the NBA has its eyes on the continent - but what does it all mean for the continent? Host: Victoria Uwonkunda (@Msuwonkunda on Twitter) Guests: BBC...

West Africa’s seas are under threat. Illegal fishing is destroying marine life and crushing people’s livelihoods. Local fishermen point their fingers at foreign vessels – mainly Chinese, but also European. By some estimates, illegal fishing is costing the region at least two billion dollars a year. But a new surveillance centre in the Gulf of Guinea is trying to stop this from happening. Will it m...

Young Ghanaians have had it with their politicians. For more than a week now, many have been using social media to send their government a message: #FixTheCountry. Their list of grievances is long: they complain about unemployment, poor roads, power cuts, water shortages, rising living costs… You name it. The Ghanaian government says that “a flame has been lit”, and that this is an opportunity to...

Increasing incidents of insecurity in Nigeria have led to mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to take control of the situation. And recently parliament even urged President Buhari to declare a nationwide state of emergency. The country has struggled to end a jihadist insurgency in the north-east now for more than a decade, a conflict that has, according to the Nigerian government and t...

The Zulu nation is still in shock. The death of Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu caught South Africa by surprise. She became leader of the Zulu nation last month, after her husband, King Goodwill Zwelithini, died. The Zulu royals have no formal political power, but remain hugely influential figures. For that reason, deciding who’s next in line for the throne is actually a big deal. Problem is:...

Has the LRA finally hit the end of the road? The Lord’s Resistance Army was once a force to be reckoned with in northern Uganda. But today their forces are depleted and their leader, Joseph Kony, is in hiding. On Thursday, one of Kony's top commanders, Dominic Ongwen, will be sentenced by the International Criminal Court. And yet, for some people back in Uganda, finding some sense of closure is st...

East Africa is not done with oil – not quite yet. A major oil pipeline will soon be built across Uganda and Tanzania. This could mean good money for both countries, as well as new jobs for people there. But activists worry about the impact the project will have on the environment. Amid a global climate emergency, they also say it’s misguided to invest in fossil fuels. So why does this project matt...

Red bandanas. Gold chains. Gang signs. A new generation of Ghanaian drill artists has taken the music charts by storm. Inspired by US drill and UK grime, they created “Asakaa” - Ghana’s fresh take on drill music. Their critics say they’re making a cheap replica of American gang culture. But on streaming platforms their songs have been played millions of times. So what’s behind the rise of this new...

Recent images of Algerians queuing up for milk paints a picture of just how difficult it’s become for people trying to get the very basic food staples they rely on. Not just milk but things like chicken, red meat and now even potatoes. Potatoes, once accessible and cheap are now very expensive. The country’s concentration on its oil industry has meant it’s not done enough to reduce its reliance on...

What’s Somalia come to? For months now, holding elections has proven to be a real nightmare. Politicians are at loggerheads – and so are their supporters, who last week clashed in Mogadishu. But how exactly did we get here? And where did things go wrong? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #AfricaDaily

Your perfect night out will have to wait. In some countries, lockdowns or curfews have forced bars, restaurants, clubs to shut their doors. The pandemic has taken its toll on the so-called night-time economy. And, for many of these businesses, surviving meant coming up with new ideas to reach customers. So, how exactly has the continent's nightlife changed - and will it ever be the same? Hosted by...

Buying a house is part of adult life – or, at least, that’s what we were told growing up. But for thousands of people in Ghana, this remains a lifelong dream. For years, the country has struggled with what politicians describe as a housing crisis. Many Ghanaians simply can’t afford the current price tag of houses being built. The government’s taking action – but how quickly will things change? Hos...

Is this the end of Malawi’s “green gold”? Tobacco is by far Malawi’s most lucrative export. And yet, President Lazarus Chakwera says farmers need to turn to other crops. The world is changing, moving away from smoking – and farmers need to change with it, he says. But which other crops can allow Malawi to prosper like tobacco did? And how easily can farmers adapt? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja...

In the fight against Covid-19, every vaccine counts. And yet, both Malawi and South Sudan say they might destroy as many as 70,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. The World Health Organization pleaded with them not to. So what exactly is behind their plan? And what does it tell us about Africa’s struggle to immunise more than a billion people? Hosted by Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja on Twitter) #Afr...

Can anyone thrive amid the madness of Covid-19? The pandemic has battered South Africa’s economy. When the country went into lockdown last year, many businesses struggled to survive. In the months that followed, a staggering 2.2 million people lost their jobs. And yet, amid the economic devastation left behind by Covid-19, there are stories of hope. For many businesses, this was just the opportuni...

Chad’s on full alert. Earlier this week, President Idriss Déby was reportedly killed during a battle with rebel forces. Since then, the army has appointed his son as leader. But the opposition says Chad “is not a monarchy”. Tensions are running high. Government and parliament have been dissolved. A curfew remains in place. Chad’s neighbours are nervous too: the country’s been a key player in the f...

Covid-19 has put teenage girls’ futures at risk. Thousands of young girls across the continent never returned to school after lockdowns were lifted. And this is because, while they were away, many of these teenagers got pregnant. In fact, spikes in teen pregnancies have been reported in several countries across sub-Saharan Africa. So how did the problem get so bad? And what exactly can be done abo...