Focus on Africa

Every year, July 18 is marked as the Nelson Mandela International Day. It is a moment not only to celebrate the life of South Africa's first democratically elected president, but also to reflect on the values he championed which include justice, reconciliation and service to humanity. This year's commemorations included a live concert at London's Trafalgar Square, where artists gathered to honour the man affectionately known as Madiba. We speak to South African musician Asanda Mvana, better known as Msaki, about the role music can play in preserving Nelson Mandela's legacy as well as South Africa's minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
And how do scientists go about discovering new species of animals? We hear from Junior Amboko, the scientist who named the recently discovered species of monkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Victor Chege, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

You may have heard about South Africa’s viral Netflix show, The Polygamist. The series has been trending across the continent, sparking conversations about relationships, marriage and fidelity.
Now, according to the Pew Research Center, a US-based think tank, only around 2% of the world's population lives in polygamous households. However, the practice is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 11% of people are part of polygamous families.
So, what is it really like to be in a polygamous marriage, and why do some people choose this way of life? We hear from Takid Master, his first wife, Cecilia, and his second wife, Mariam, about how their relationship works.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Bella Twine
Senior Producers: Priya Sippy and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Sierra Leone's government has dropped its charges, including treason, against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested in connection with an attempted coup nearly three years ago. The charges had been dropped on health grounds, Information Minister Chernor Bah told the BBC. The 72-year-old former president has always denied involvement in the November 2023 attempted coup when gunmen broke into a military armoury and several prisons, freeing almost 2,000 inmates. We hear what this move means for the country's politics.
And how female sports commentators are excelling in a male dominated field while using local languages to bring the World Cup closer to African audiences.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Days after the rescue of 48 school children and their teachers from kidnappers in Nigeria's Southwest Oyo State, authorities call for investigations into the abductions and the release. We hear from the families of the victims.
And Somalia cites insecurity and money laundering in a bid to oppose the roll out a new WhatsApp feature that will allow users to utilise usernames instead of registered phone numbers.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine and Priya Sippy
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

A Sudanese court has sentenced the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - known as Hemedti - to death for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide over atrocities committed in the West Darfur region. Hemedti, along with 15 other senior RSF leaders were sentenced in absentia. We look at what this means for the RSF and its three-year civil war with the Sudan Armed Forces.
And in Kenya, whistleblowers are tipping off police, helping authorities intervene before girls undergo female genital mutilation.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla