BBC News Africa

15 April marks three years since the Sudan war began, as the vicious power struggle between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. More than 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Yet even in the darkest moments, music lives on. Sudanese musicians are using their voices to spread hope - and to heal. Focus on Africa podcast host, Nkechi Ogbonna speaks to one of Sudan’s most influential bands, Aswat Almadina, on how music is helping them survive. #focusonafrica #bbcafrica #sudan 00:00-00:40 Coming up 00:40-02:30 Meeting Ibrahem and Timon from Aswat Almadina 02:30-04:20 Remembering their last concert before the war 04:20 -06:10 The moment the war broke out 06:10- 07:55 When Ibrahem and Timon decided to leave Sudan 07:55-10:30 Making music through the war 10:30-12:50 Sudan's music scene before the revolution 12:50-14:11 Did music play a role in Sudan's revolution? 14:11-15:20 Favourite memories from being in Aswat Almadina 15:25-17:30 Making new music 17:30- 20:30 Rebuilding their lives outside of Sudan 20:30-22:30 Being a member of Aswat Almadina 22:30-23.20 Will Aswat Almadina reunite in-person? Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Basma El Atti and Bashar Osman Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editor: Maryam Abdalla Thumbnail: Khbbab Photography Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

What are your thoughts on surrogacy? Watch the full episode on - https://bbc.in/4ssbyNu Influencer and entrepreneur Nancy Umeh spent the past year sharing her journey of welcoming her third child through surrogacy. In many African countries, surrogacy is not legally recognised and still heavily stigmatised. On the Focus on Africa podcast - The Conversation, host Charles Gitonga sits down with Nancy to discuss why she chose surrogacy and what the experience has truly been like. We also hear from family lawyer Eliud Ngugi on the laws Africa needs to protect both surrogates and commissioning parents. Watch the full episode on BBC Africa YouTube–link in the bio. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

The four astronauts who flew in Nasa's Artemis II mission around the Moon have splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after a flawless return. The crew were carefully extracted from the capsule and taken by helicopter to the USS John P Murtha for medical evaluations. During their 10-day mission to the Moon, the astronauts went further from Earth than any humans in history. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

After orbiting the Moon, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday. The final descent is the most dangerous phase, with the capsule facing temperatures of nearly 2,760°C - about half as hot as the Sun. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

“Men tend to blame the mother - it all comes down to knowledge.” #BBCAfricaEye shares the experience of one father raising his two autistic children with his wife in Malawi. 🎥 Watch the documentary: https://youtu.be/oWE5ZKv08gA #AutismAwarenessMonth Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Robert is a midwife in the remote town of Tiati, Kenya - one of the most dangerous places in the country to give birth, with a maternal mortality rate of 488 per 100,000 live births, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. In a community with limited medical resources, mothers rely on his skill and dedication. Over the years, he has helped deliver dozens of babies. In a moving testament to his impact, fifty of those children later returned to visit the man who brought them into the world. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Around the world, women are delaying motherhood. While this trend is mostly visible in Europe and in the US, it is also happening in Africa. Watch the full episode 👉 https://bbc.in/4dIJLnq Focus on Africa's Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to Vanessa Tloubatla and Barbara Mugeni about their experiences becoming mothers at age 46 on The Conversation podcast. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

The UK government’s student visa ban on Cameroon, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar has come into effect. Justifying the measure, British authorities said students from these countries largely abused the terms of their visas by seeking asylum to remain in the country. However, analysts have described the move as collective punishment, leaving many aspiring students in limbo. The BBC’s Paul Njie and Michel Mvondo spoke to some students affected by the visa ban, who revealed how their educational dreams were shattered. #BBCAfrica Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

🇿🇲 Divorce is on the rise in Zambia. https://youtu.be/rMi0YWrlUFo Despite the stigma that still surrounds divorce, attitudes are changing. On the African continent, some high-profile figures have even celebrated separations with 'divorce parties,' while the idea of a 'divorce glow-up' is gaining traction online. Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to Zambian gospel artist, Mag44, who has shared his post-divorce journey publicly. 🎞️ Nkechi Ogbonna & Basma El Atti Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

“It was like an earthquake… we were thrown into panic mode.” When the US-Israel war with Iran erupted in February, several Africans were forced to leave behind the lives they had built in Tehran in search of safety. Kenyan journalist Hassan Hussein recounts his long journey from Tehran to Nairobi, and reflects on a decade of memories made in Iran. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Across the globe, passionate collectors treasure ants as exotic pets, often willing to spend over 200 dollars for just one. More than 2,000 queen ants of Kenya’s red harvester species were found in a wildlife smuggler’s luggage at Nairobi airport. Scientists warn the craze could wipe out wild colonies and destabilise fragile ecosystems 🎤 Reporter: Anita Nkonge 🎬 Produced by Marco Oriunto Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Same-sex relations were already illegal in Senegal, but a new law increases penalties and broadens the scope of the offence. The BBC's Chiamaka Enendu explains what’s changed. 🎤Presenter : Chiamaka Enendu 🎥 🎞️ Filmed and edited by James Emmanuel Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Ahmed Tudun Wada is determined to fight poverty and street begging by empowering people with disabilities through his workshop that builds and repairs tricycles. In the city of Kano, north-west Nigeria, it is quite common to see people with disabilities and some able-bodied persons begging on the roadside. Ahmed provides vocational training, employment, and affordable mobility options, including handcycles. Video journalist: Mobolaji Olatunde Producer: Ahmed Ambali Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Globally, more than 60 million people live on the autism spectrum according to the World Health Organization, with millions more impacted as families and caregivers. #BBCAfricaEye reveals the extreme realities for those living with autism in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica In Malawi, parents raising autistic children confront fear, stigma, and impossible choices. From desperation to determination, three Malawian families reveal to Africa Eye the painful realities of living with autism. Natasha seeks traditional healing for her young son, paying $15 in an attempt for his soul to be returned, Martha shares how she reached breaking point and considered taking her own daughter's life, and Onil and Angela explain the fear, devastation and acceptance in learning that two of their children are on the spectrum. This film investigates the reality for families living with autism in Malawi. Despite a population of over 22 million, there is only one government-run psychiatric referral hospital in the whole country. The experiences of families in Malawi are extreme, yet the challenges they face and their fight for understanding resonates across borders. Through powerful clips from across the continent, this investigation examines how stigma, ignorance and scarce resources leave millions excluded from vital care. 00:00 A world that fears difference 03:20 Caged for seven years 04:10 No word for 'autism' 06:31 Heartbroken that my child has no future 09:27 A bewitched child? 11:27 Seeking healing 13:00 Price of a soul 16:07 Religious intervention: a communion of leaders 18:40 Destigmatisation 20:06 Martha: Mocked that the hospital was our home 22:00 A mother pushed to breaking point 25:11 Systemic support? 26:41 Out of hiding: From isolation to community 30:17 Onil and Angela: Raising two autistic sons 36:26 Will the world accept my child? 39:01 A special bond 41:25 Disturbing methods of healing 🎥 Watch this film in SWAHILI here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjF8qzbkzxM and in FRENCH here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDpV3wA_Ri0 🎞️ Watch more investigative journalism from our award-winning #BBCEye investigations team at this documentary playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4fa8LK1lptsvoA_spfJhzda You may also be interested in watching these BBC Africa Eye documentaries: https://youtu.be/klDKf2tUMX8 https://youtu.be/YumUR_ZHu1Q https://youtu.be/NoKSMzwKpSM https://youtu.be/tI3AKMFgVKQ https://youtu.be/HM7pVuQ1YKU Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/ #Malawi #Documentary #AutismAwareness #WorldAutismAwarenessDay #Autism #Parenting #MentalHealth #WorldAutismAcceptanceMonth #WAAM26 #BBCAfrica

How did a Kenyan man end up fighting in Ukraine? ⁠ Watch the full episode on - https://bbc.in/4c43j4u ⁠ 'Mike', from Kenya, says he thought he was travelling to Russia to join a basketball team.⁠ ⁠ Instead he was coerced into military service.⁠ ⁠ Young men across Africa are receiving promises of jobs abroad, only to find themselves at the forefront of the Russia-Ukraine war.⁠ ⁠ Ukraine says more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces.⁠ ⁠ In Kenya, a new intelligence report suggests that more than 1,000 citizens may have been recruited. The Russian embassy in Nairobi has denied allegations of illegal recruitment.⁠ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Divorce rates are steadily rising in many African countries. In South Africa, government data shows that the divorce rate increased by 8.9% between 2023 and 2024. In Zambia, there was a 16% rise in divorce between 2022 and 2023, according to media reports. But despite the stigma that still surrounds divorce, attitudes are changing. In Kenya, some high-profile figures have even celebrated separations with 'divorce parties,' while the idea of a 'divorce glow-up' is gaining traction online. Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to content creator, Millicent Bundi, from Kenya, and Zambian gospel artist, Mag44, who have both shared their post-divorce journey publicly. #divorce #focusonafrica #bbcafrica #divorceparty 00:00-00:45 Coming up 00:45-02:26 Meeting Millie and Mag44 02:26-05:05 The divorce glow-up 05:05 -09:16 The decision to get a divorce 09:16- 11:49 What married life was like 11:49-13:20 How do you know you're ready for marriage? 13:20-16:30 Getting married for the right reasons 16:30-18:11 Why are more people getting divorced? 18:11-21:00 Experiencing stigma 21:00-22:30 Dating post-divorce 22:30- 23:22 How to reach out to Focus on Africa:The Conversation Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

For Artemis II’s ten-day mission around the Moon, Nasa scientists have come up with what they call the 'Universal Waste Management System', which is essentially a space loo. It accommodates both stool and urine and is designed for women and men.  Artemis II, which is the first crewed lunar fly-around mission in more than 50 years, launched on 1 April. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

When Ify Adenuga became a parent, she made one clear decision - she wasn’t going to raise her children the way she was raised.⁣ Growing up during the Biafran War in Nigeria meant discipline and survival came first. But in her own home in London, she wanted something different.⁣ So she chose conversation over control. No hitting. No fear. Just talking, questioning, and listening.⁣ That environment helped shape two future artists: Skepta and JME. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

💸💸💸 Gen Z are learning money moves straight from their social media feeds. Finfluencers - content creators who are sharing tips on earning, saving and investing - are drawing in more followers by the day. The Conversation's Nkechi Ogbonna speaks to 23-year-old finfluencer Achiever Omoobajesu about how she is approaching investing as a Gen-Z, and why social media has become their go-to financial guide. 🎥 Watch the full episode of #TheConversation with Nigerian finfluencer Achiever Omoobajesu here https://bit.ly/4uYd1Nc Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

🇲🇼 LIFE ON THE SPECTRUM A new #BBCAfricaEye investigation from Malawi, coming Monday. 📽️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for first access: https://bbc.in/4c34M9Y Nothing stays hidden forever. #AutismAwareness #WorldAutismAwarenessDay #Autism #Parenting #MentalHealth #WorldAutismAcceptanceMonth #WAAM26 #BBCAfrica Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Epic view of Nasa's Artemis II mission taking off and heading into orbit. Nasa's mission has successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It's carrying four astronauts on the first crewed flight to the Moon in more than 50 years. #artemis #science

🚀 Ready for take off For the first time in more than 50 years, humanity is returning to the Moon- travelling further from Earth than anyone has ever been before. Nasa’s Artemis II mission - which is scheduled to launch as soon as 1 April - will bring us stunning views of the Moon and lots of science. The last time humans were on the Moon was during the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 70s. Back then it was the US competing with Soviet Union but now the US and China are locked in a race to get back to the moon. "We find ourselves with a real geopolitical rival, challenging American leadership in the high ground of space," Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman said. So why has it taken more than 50 years to go back and why now? Laura Garcia explains. #Space #Artemis #Moon #NASA Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

Fans celebrate as the Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for their first World Cup in 52 years.⁣ Axel Tuanzebe's extra-time goal gave the Leopards a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their intercontinental play-off final at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico.⁣ They will join Group K which consists of Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia. 🎥 Filmed by: Byobe Malenga Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/

🚢 It’s one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and eventually the Mediterranean. Iran has threatened to disrupt it - and the Houthis, an Iran-backed proxy in Yemen, have attacked ships there before, and have said they’re willing to do it again. The Strait of Hormuz, already practically closed by the war, accounts for 20% of the world's oil transport. If Bab al‑Mandab closed too, another 12% of global oil flows would be affected. Kaine Pieri explains. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica Website: https://www.bbc.com/africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/