What happened to the class of 2020? We’re catching up with The Comb’s first ever guests - students whose studies were disrupted by Covid-19. Have their dreams and ambitions weathered the challenges of the global pandemic?

Young, educated and broke: almost a year since Kananelo left university in South Africa, she has been struggling to find work. Kananelo is part of a generation of graduates who find themselves unemployed and living with their parents. After struggling to find a suitable job in Nigeria, Agu Raphael Chibuke decided to strike out on his own. He now juggles numerous freelance roles and says young people are no longer waiting on the government when it comes to finding work.

‘Neither a girl nor a boy’: Baby John Musamba was born with a rare sexual disorder which stopped her from developing either male or female reproductive organs. She was raised as a girl, and hid her truth for 26 years until finally telling her friends and the world, on a very public platform.

Produced by Mary Goodhart

‘H’ in Cameroon always dreamt of having kids but after he got married he quickly realised that his journey to parenthood would not be straightforward. In Uganda, Phiona and Derick Ngoga were hoping to have a family of five but found themselves struggling to conceive. Now they are challenging the silence and shame that surround infertility. Stories of heartache, hope and happiness.

Produced by Kim Chakanetsa

Blame and heartache: Exploring the emotional and physical burden of being unable to conceive. Why do women still bear the brunt of infertility? And why is the issue still shrouded in silence and shame?

Produced by Kim Chakanetsa

Lost memories and strange behaviour: As Africa’s elderly population grows, more families are dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. But there is still misunderstanding and stigma attached to the conditions. After losing her father, Elizabeth started a mission to raise awareness about the illness and help families still dealing with it.

Produced by Mary Goodhart

How criminals and corporations use hidden software to control smartphones without the owners’ knowledge. Malware and bloatware are two of the tools that are used, but there are steps you can take to keep your phone safe. This week we’re in Nigeria and Kenya to meet mobile malware victims, those seeking to educate about cyber hygiene, and an activist pushing for more privacy and data protections on cheap devices.

Produced by Rob Wilson

A story of race, wealth and family. Sam is a black South African who was brought up by her mother’s white employers. Meanwhile, her biological sister Ziyanda stayed at home to be raised by her mother. In a country where things are often seen through a black and white lens, what can their experiences tell us about South Africa’s often tempestuous relationship with race? And what is more important for shaping our identity - our nature or our nurture?

Produced by Andre Lombard

‘This is me’: Embracing my African identity. At birth Ciku Kimeria was given the name Carrie, but it was a name that never quite fitted. She later would reject it for her Kikuyu name, Wanjiku or Ciku. When Ehi Ekhator was younger, he thought swapping his Nigerian name for an English one would make his life easier but he later came to realise the value of his African name.

Produced by Kim Chakanetsa

Enslaved by the past: Hamden Atig Dali went to court to remove a painful reference to slavery from his name. 175 years after abolition, the legacy of slavery still impacts on black Tunisians. But a new generation are demanding better.

Produced by Mary Goodhart