Africa Daily

By BBC World ServiceNews

Africa Daily episodes

July 05, 2024 Why did one woman make it her mission to travel through Africa on a motorbike?
Udoh Ebaide Joy has just finished what many would describe as an epic adventure.
She rode her motorbike across Africa – stopping in ten countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Angola and Cameroon. She covered over 9,000 km and ended her journey in her country Nigeria.
Why did she make the journey? And what was it like travelling solo as a woman on a motorbike?
In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to her about the experiences she had on the road, the challenges she faced, and the moments she'll never forget.
14 min
July 04, 2024 Why are nuclear power plans proving controversial in Africa?
Is nuclear power a possible answer to the challenge of phasing out fossil fuels in response to global warming?
Many African governments say yes – and 18 are now in the feasibility stage of developing nuclear power stations. Currently, South Africa is the only country on the continent which generates electricity from a nuclear power plant.
But activists argue there are too many risks – and that Africa lacks the capacity to dispose of the waste nuclear power produces.
In Kenya, residents of Uyombo village in Kilifi are opposing the development of a power plant in their area – even though its construction is only due to start in 2027. The government says when – or if – it comes online, it should generate 1000 megawatts of electricity, nearly a third of the energy Kenya currently produces.
For the Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja speaks to renowned environmental activist Phyllis Omido, who is leading the campaign against the project. He also speaks to Justus Wabuyabo, the head of Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), the body tasked by the government with developing nuclear energy in the country.
21 min
July 03, 2024 How has Gorongosa National Park recovered from Mozambique’s Civil War?
Over one million people died during Mozambique’s civil war – which continued from 1977 to 1992. By its end, much of the country’s infrastructure was also gone.
One place which was heavily impacted was Gorongosa National Park – in the middle of the country – where virtually all the wild animals were slaughtered for food or for ivory, which was then traded for weapons. Wildebeest and Zebra populations dropped from thousands to less than twenty of each. Elephant numbers decreased by more than 90%. And for the people living there, there were no schools, hospitals or jobs.
But in 2004, the then-president, Joaquim Chissano, appealed to American philanthropist, Greg Carr, to help with the rebuilding of Mozambique - and he chose to concentrate on the park. Now, after 20 years, it’s been transformed.
For today’s Africa Daily Mpho Lakaje finds out more about what’s been called ‘Africa’s most successful rewilding effort’ with journalist Ish Mafundikwa who’s just visited the project.
20 min
July 02, 2024 Can South Africa’s government of national unity really work?
Today South Africa’s cabinet ministers will be sworn-in at a ceremony in the country’s capital, Pretoria.
They are from various political parties and form part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of national unity.
Many of them have, in the past, taken each other to court over policy differences.
But they now have to work together as a team, in the same cabinet.
These political events were triggered by the outcome of the May 2024 national election, where no party secured an outright majority.
So, can South Africa’s politicians park their ideological differences aside and pull together to set their nation on a path towards prosperity?
22 min
July 01, 2024 Why does Africa perform poorly in mathematics?
Thousands of students in secondary schools across Africa are sitting their final year exams at the moment and in the coming few weeks.
In the maths paper, they are certain to come across one question from the quadratic equations topic requiring them to find X.
Very few people on the continent look back at their days of finding X with joy, because maths has never been a popular subject for the vast majority.
Statistics from the 2023 exams show there was a mean score of less than 30% in maths in most countries.
For the Africa Daily podcast, Alan Kasujja embarks on finding out where the problem lies by talking to the man ranked by Stanford University as the second best mathematician in the world.
Originally from Cameroon, Prof Abdon Atangana is currently professor of Applied Mathematics at South African University of the Free State. He’s also the chairman of African Mathematical Commission for Research and Innovations.
17 min
June 28, 2024 Is Zimbabwe’s government clamping down on dissent?
Rights groups in Zimbabwe have criticised the deteriorating human rights climate in the country.
Complaints of arbitrary arrests, abductions and harassment have also come from individuals such as politicians and writers. The finger of blame has been pointed at state security forces.
So, what exactly is going on?
In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the BBC’s Shingai Nyoka in Zimbabwe, and a human right's lawyer who says that defending people who say they have been arrested unjustly by authorities, puts him in a very risky position.
21 min
June 27, 2024 How did Kenya's Gen Z protests stop the finance bill?
“I concede.”
After a dramatic - and bloody - week of protests on the streets of Kenya, President William Ruto has agreed to ditch his unpopular finance bill. In an address to the nation he said that it was clear that Kenyans “want nothing” to do with the bill which would have introduced controversial tax hikes. Protesters say they would have hit the poorest who are already struggling with rising living costs.
On Tuesday, parliament was set ablaze and lawmakers hid in the basement garage after voting for the bill. At least 22 people were killed in the protests.
Now President Ruto says he will enter into a dialogue with the young people who have led the protests.
For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to protesters outside Kenya’s High Commission in London – and gets an explanation of what was behind both the bill and the protests from Julians Amboko, an Economist and Business Journalist based in Kenya.
23 min
June 26, 2024 What will it take to end music-related killings in Lesotho?
“People will say nasty things about you in their lyrics. You will then be tempted to respond. That’s how the violence starts” – Molefi “Mantsoaki” Tjemolane – Lesotho musician
Famo music is a genre whose origins can be traced back to the 1920s, among Lesotho’s migrant labourers.
Over time, it became commercial and formed a big part of national culture, enabling artists to make a living and win awards.
But the music is now associated with gangs primarily linked to illegal gold mining in neighbouring South Africa and Lesotho itself.
The main factions are known as Terene, draped in yellow traditional blankets over their shoulders, while Seakhi prefer blue and black blankets.
Now, the government of Prime Minister Sam Matekane has banned some of the groups accused of fueling the violence.
This has angered some musicians.
Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Lesotho’s Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police Lebona Lephema as well as Famo musician Molefi “Mantsoaki” Tjemolane
18 min
June 25, 2024 Why are some parents in Nigeria using harmful skin lightening products on their children?
When Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja was in Lagos last year, he learned that some parents there are using harmful products on their children in order to lighten their skin and that in some instances parents are unintentionally lightening and damaging their children’s skin.
The usage of skin lightening products is high in Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organisation, the prevalence of skin bleaching varies across the continent in Mali it's 25% while in Nigeria it's 77%, so the market for these products is large and widespread.
In today’s episode, Alan looks at what’s behind this trend and hears from the owner of a natural skin products business on the conversations she’s had with mothers looking for skin lightening products for their young children. And he speaks to a dermatologist on the young and damaged skin she’s seen in her clinic.
With special thanks to producer Chigozie Ohaka.
20 min
June 24, 2024 Are liberation movements still relevant in Africa?
Today Alan Kasujja sits down with Dr.Philbert Komu from the University of Dar es Salaam and Dr. Gideon Chitanga of the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.
They are discussing the role of former liberation movements in Africa’s contemporary politics.
Is their performance in line with the expectations of their nations?
The conversation was sparked by the dismal showing of the African National Congress in South Africa’s May 2024 elections.
Others like Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe have also lost support over the years, relying on rural votes to remain in power.
Although icons like Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel are still celebrated to this day, Alan attempts to understand if their ideas still work.
20 min

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