Focus on Africa

Africa’s beauty and personal care industry is growing, as more people look to achieve glowing skin and the perfect make up look.

But many products on the market still do not cater to black skin. Last year, a study by US-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that over 3000 beauty products targeting black women contain health hazards. 

Focus on Africa: The Conversation host, Nkechi Ogbonna spoke with Zithobe Macheli, a skincar...

The military government in Guinea-Bissau has suspended a scientific trial for the hepatitis B vaccine administered to newborns. The trial is funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the tune of $1.6 million and conducted by scientists from the University of Southern Denmark. The Bissau government says the study will be subjected to a technical and ethical review.

And, almost three decades after his death, Nige...

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 o...

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 g...

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 compl...

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 Sou...

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...

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 i...

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 ar...

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 mis...

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 tha...

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 a...

Somalia has accused the United Arab Emirates of undermining its sovereignty, including allegedly facilitating Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, which Somalia considers part of its territory. In response, Mogadishu has canceled all agreements with the UAE, from ports to defence, raising questions about trade and security.

We then turn to Botswana, following a recent visit by American YouTuber IShowSpeed to the Diamond Trading Cent...

Uganda’s election campaign enters its final days ahead of voting on January 15th, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his four decades in power. His main challenger, opposition figure Bobi Wine, has rallied younger voters amid concerns raised by the UN about the political climate. We hear from voters and from the BBC in Kampala on the mood in the country. Then, we travel to Benin’s coastal city of Ouidah, where thousan...

In his first interview since taking office on 1 Jan, the new head of the UN refugee agency, Dr Barham Salih, speaks to the BBC about US concerns over the organisation’s effectiveness and his push for reform. Speaking during his first working visit to Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, he stresses the continuing scale of global civilian displacement and the need for more efficient humanitarian responses. We also look at how social media p...

Now, despite a start-up boom happening in Africa, a recent study showed that many of Africa’s start-up founders say their jobs have negatively impacted their mental well-being.

60% of founders reported experiencing anxiety, 58% high stress, 52% exhaustion, and 20% depression. Key stressors include fundraising, inflation and economic instability.

Focus on Africa host Nkechi Ogbonna had a discussion with Jihan Abass, founder of Lami I...

Heavy fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has intensified in the central region of Kordofan, forcing tens of thousands of civilians from their homes. The UN says entire communities were displaced late last year, as residents describe horrific abuses, fleeing attacks and searching for safety.

We then turn to AFCON in Morocco, where one DR Congo supporter has captured attention by posing as a living...

Burkina Faso’s military government says it has stopped an attempt to assassinate junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, just hours after soldiers allegedly plotted to remove him and other senior officials. The latest plot follows years of coups and instability in the West African nation.

We then turn to Africa’s digital frontier, where disinformation is evolving fast. Generative AI and deepfakes are being used to manipulate videos and...

African governments are weighing in after Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro was arrested and flown to New York following a US operation in Caracas. Ghana and South Africa have criticised the move, while the African Union says it is watching events with great concern. We also hear how ordinary people in Accra, Ghana, view the unfolding crisis.

Plus, we then turn to AFCON in Morocco, where excitement on the pitch contrasts with fru...