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BBC World Service

Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the big topics and news from Africa, the people behind them, plus an African perspective on global stories. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna. Five days a week, ready by late afternoon, Monday to Friday.

Focus on Africa

January is marked worldwide as cervical cancer awareness month. According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer, yet it kills over 350,000 women globally every year. We look at how Kenya, where more than half of those diagnosed die within a year, is approaching the disease; and how Botswana manages to keep prevalence low. Also, weddings are a big deal in Nigeria, but what options do couples have when that dream wedding is just too expensive?

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Blessing Aderogba and Chiamaka Dike
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Kenya, Botswana efforts against cervical cancer

Morocco and Egypt are the only African nations in President Trump's Board of Peace. The body was initially meant to help implement a ceasefire in Gaza, but Trump says it could serve a wider role in ending global conflicts. We look at why Morocco and Egypt got the invitation to join the Board and what influence African countries will have, if any. 

Also, seven years after a corruption scandal involving an Icelandic company and some government officials rocked Namibia’s fishing industry, the case is finally heading to trial. The whistleblower who leaked the evidence speaks for the very first time. 
 
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
 
Producers: Bella Twine, Basma El Atti and Blessing Aderogba
 
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
 
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
 
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Egypt, Morocco join Trump's Board of Peace

Cocoa farmers in Ghana are disgruntled over delayed payments from the state regulator - COCOBOD. The farmers say the delay is endangering investments for the next farming season. Ghana, which is the world's second largest cocoa producer, changed the system through which farmers receive their payments in an attempt to reduce reliance on debt.
And we hear from Giel Malual and John Kuei - the two South Sudanese men who have just completed a walk across the length of mainland UK to raise awareness about the war in Sudan, and mobilise donations to build schools for young refugees displaced by the conflict.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike, Blessing Aderogba and Patricia Whitehorne 
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Ghana cocoa farmers decry delayed payments

Around the world, more women are choosing to delay motherhood. In countries like Italy, Spain and South Korea, the average age of first-time mothers has risen to around 32. While many African countries still have some of the youngest ages of first-time mothers - a shift is also happening in parts of continent. So, what’s behind this change?

Focus on Africa: The Conversation host, Nkechi Ogbonna spoke with Vanessa Tloubatla, from South Africa, who became a mother at the age of 46; and Barbara Mugeni from Uganda who had her third child at the age of 45.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Negash
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Are more women delaying motherhood?

A recent attack in Niger's south-western Tillaberi region led to the deaths of 31 civilians. It adds to a trend of deadly assaults by jihadist militants in the tri border area of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled), Tillaberi was the deadliest region in the Sahel in 2025, with more than 1,200 civilian deaths recorded.
Also, we take a look at how different people form their accents and how an accent may affect perceptions and social status.
 
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya, Makuochi Okafor and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Jihadist attacks on the rise in the Sahel

A new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change says that most countries, including those in Africa, will find it difficult to have full autonomy over AI systems. According to the Institute, only 32 countries worldwide host AI-specific data centres, leaving around 160 nations dependent on foreign infrastructure. We hear how the situation is for African countries.
 
And, Nigeria wants to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland in Southern Rivers State; thirty years after environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were executed following a protest that saw the killing of four tradional chiefs of an oil producing community known as Ogoni. This led to the suspension of exploration by oil giant Shell – the company accused of causing the environmental damage. We hear the views of the Nigerian government and environmental activists.
 
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Ayuba Ilya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Who is "in charge" of Africa's AI?

A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime reveals that a third of cocaine consumed in Europe is transported via West Africa. Since 2019, the region has become a key global hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to markets in Europe and Asia, according to the organisation. We look at how the region gained this reputation as a hub of global trafficking. 

Also Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are among African countries where internet blackouts have been witnessed recently. We explore the technologies and techniques that youth in these countries are using to stay online.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Global Initiative flags West Africa for cocaine trade

In this episode, we look back at the Africa Cup of Nations, where Senegal edged hosts Morocco in extra-time in a dramatic final. We explore the key moments and what they reveal about African football’s future.

We also investigate a darker story: Across West Africa, criminal gangs are luring young people with fake overseas jobs. BBC Africa Eye follows Interpol’s anti-trafficking unit in Sierra Leone and a father searching for his missing children.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Bella Twine 
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

AFCON's Over - what’s the main takeaway?

Think back to when you were younger, what did you want to do when you grew up? A recent study in Kenya found that many young people would choose to be a TikToker or a YouTuber over a more conventional career, like a doctor or a lawyer.

Nowadays, content creators have become as influential as athletes and artists, but while Africa’s content creator ecosystem is growing rapidly, more than half of the continent’s creators earn less than $70 a month.

Focus on Africa: The Conversation host Charles Gitonga sat down with Chef Abbys - a Ghanaian TikToker with millions of followers - to find out what it takes to make it big in the industry.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy
Technical Producer: Terry Chege 
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

"TikToking my way to millions"

Focus on Africa’s Charles Gitonga joined The Global Story podcast hosts Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman to explain why the United States, Russia and China are so interested in Africa. The US recently moved to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a major trade deal allowing many African countries to export goods to the American market tariff-free, while also tying promises to end the conflict in eastern DR Congo to access rare earth minerals. China sees Africa as a key part of its Belt and Road Initiative, investing heavily in infrastructure across the continent. Meanwhile, Russia has positioned itself as an alternative partner to the Central African Republic and Sahel countries, particularly in security and military cooperation.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Hannah Moore 

Senior Producer: Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producers: Terry Chege and Philip Bull
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Kenya, Botswana efforts against cervical cancer

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