Faces of Africa

David de Villiers, is a master seaman. Based in Cape Town in South Africa, sailing is his life. David believes that the ocean around this historic city is particularly special.

The bright lights of the catwalk, fashion capitals of the world, where beautiful models strut their stuff. It is here that budding and established designers gather. But before they graced the runways, some of them led an ordinary existence. One such story is that of Mpule Kwelagobe, a girl from Botswana who dared to dream.

Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, is being called the most dangerous place on earth. For more than 20 years, the country has been wrecked by a bitter civil war. But today, things are changing. A fragile peace is holding, and there's hope that the long-standing conflict is finally reaching its end. But while for many here, life is getting better, for some, it's getting worse.

When Isabel's son Yani was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, she decided to open the association Colmeia to offer a safe haven for children like him in Cape Verde. The association has become the face of intellectual disabilities in a country where stigma is rife.

Wangari Maathai was recognized across the globe as a warrior for the environment and a campaigner for human rights. Widely known just by her first name Wangari, she was responsible for planting more than thirty million trees across Africa in her lifetime. But she did much more than simply plant trees.

In 1993, all but one of the Zambian national football team died in an air crash in the Atlantic Ocean. With a warrior-like obsession, a new generation of Zambia's team players finally won the Africa Cup 19 years after the air crash.

In 1993, all but one of the Zambian national football team died in an air crash in the Atlantic Ocean. With a warrior-like obsession, a new generation of Zambia's team players finally won the Africa Cup 19 years after the air crash.

While COVID-19 made crime a big issue for careers working in the community, the Bishop Lavis area experienced crime and drug activities for decades. Many people attribute this to the brutality and forced removals that took place during apartheid times.

Doctor Mumtaz Abbas provides clinical support and training at the Bishop Lavis Clinic, providing care and services to a community that sprawls across Cape Town’s notorious cape flats. It’s a role that can be difficult at the best of times, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought entirely new challenges.

The East African Coastline boarding the so-called Indian Ocean is a treasure trove of history.