Focus on Africa

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

Once the target of an assassination attempt, Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu is now behind bars awaiting trial for treason. His case has become a test of political freedoms in the country and drawn international attention. BBC Africa Eye has now spoken exclusively to Lissu's wife, Alicia Magabe, about the toll his incarceration has taken on his family.
And Lesotho's women are highly educated, but many are still being left behind in the workplace and in leadership. We ask why.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Ayuba Iliya and Bella Twine
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Alopecia, the medical term for hair loss, affects an estimated 160 million people worldwide. Some forms of the condition disproportionately affect black women, due to a combination of factors including hairstyles that place tension on the hair, as well as genetic and hormonal influences. Now, some dermatologists are also saying they're seeing more cases, particularly among younger people. Meanwhile, researchers in Japan have hinted at potential new treatments for hair loss. Focus on Africa podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to 23-year-old Sharon Chepkoech, known online as Kechi, from Kenya, and 47-old-year Mpume Dlamini from South Africa about their experience of living with alopecia and how they are using social media to raise awareness of the condition.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo and Keikantse Shumba
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy and Bella Twine
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

A compliant submitted by ​the Nigerian Press Organisation, which represents newspaper owners, journalists’ unions, ⁠broadcasters and online publishers, has prompted the country's President Bola Tinubu to issue an investigation by the country's competition regulator into major technology companies over alleged anti-competitive practices and unauthorised use of news content. Growing influence of big-tech companies in Africa has sparked concerns over dominance in digital advertising, the use of news content without fair compensation, algorithms that control what people see, and the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and copyright.
Also, we take a look at a new Malawian National Action Plan that seeks to improve the rights of people with albinism in the workplace. We hear from Malawi's Bonface Massah, head of the Africa Albinism Network, who also lives with albinism.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Ayuba Illya, Helen Oyibo and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla