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“If you’re poor in Kinshasa, you are going to stay single, even to the day you die.”
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, it’s traditional for a man to pay a dowry to the family of the woman he wants to marry. But in recent years the cost has spiralled – with some parents asking for thousands of pounds, or even items like flat-screen TVs.
And there are also fees to be paid by those wanting to get legally married after their first traditional marriage.
The rising expense has meant many couples are choosing not to get married at all – leading churches and the government to launch a campaign last year called ‘projet marriage’ in an effort to encourage people to tie the knot.
It’s involved some mass-weddings to help those who otherwise couldn’t afford to marry, and the government is trying to push a bill through parliament to place a limit on fees and dowries.
For Africa Daily, Sara Menai speaks to one of the couples who got married in a mass wedding this summer, and Léonnie Kandolo, Minister of Gender, Family and Children, who says marriage is vital for protecting the interests of women.
Producer: Njoroge Muigai
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The COP 29 climate summit has been christened the finance COP - and negotiators will seek to agree on a new goal for how much money richer countries should be paying to poorer countries to help them adapt to climate change.
A new fund to be known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is replacing the $100 billion a year fund which was meant to have been paid out from 2009 to 2022 but which hardly took off. As the latest summit got underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, negotiators for the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) have demanded a “scaled up, new, additional, and easily accessible climate finance.” They say more than US$ 1trillion is needed by 2030 to help them adapt to climate change, money they want as grants instead of loans. In this episode of Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the negotiator leading the LDCs at COP29, Evans Njewa from Malawi. He also hears from some Malawians about how money paid in as part of the Loss and Damage Fund has helped them recover from the effects of Cyclone Freddie which hit the country last year. For more on this, you can listen to The Climate Question podcast from next weekend.
Producer: Peter Musembi.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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“Women are getting more empowered to know their rights… the law is there, violence is a crime, but following through and reporting is also a problem because of the way we are brought up to think that women are supposed to be subservient and bear it all.”
Martha Koome describes herself as a defender and advocate for women’s and children’s rights, and in 2020, she was runner-up for the ‘United Nations Person of the Year’, in recognition for her work in this field. But Chief Justice Koome has also come under a lot of scrutiny from critics of Kenyan’s judiciary – who say she has failed to properly investigate and tackle allegations of bribery and corruption.
Today on the podcast, Alan Kasujja discusses these criticisms, her plans for courts across Kenya specialising in gender-based violence, and asks how a girl who grew up in a family of eighteen in rural Kenya ended up as one of the country’s most powerful women.
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“Tug at my jacket – tell me what needs to be done.”
Later today, Botswana’s newly-elected president, Duma Boko, will be inaugurated in Gaborone – but he still found time this week for a discussion of his agenda with Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje.
In a wide ranging discussion he talks about signing a new deal with global diamond giant De Beers, how he wants to help people to become entrepreneurs, and why he wants to grant permits to undocumented Zimbabweans to make the system more ‘orderly’ and to allow Batswana to acquire more skills.
He also argues that politicians need to be more accessible if they are to do their jobs.
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In today's podcast, we explore the tradition of bridal counselling in Zambia.
Before marriage, elderly women share tips on how to run a home, how to look after the husband, how to look after the children, how to resolve conflict and there are lessons about sex too.
For many, this training is a way to strengthen a marriage, but for some women it’s meant lasting harm. ‘Bride of Zambia’ is a short film which tells the story of a young Zambian-American woman who reluctantly has this counselling ahead of her wedding after arguing with her mother about the merits of this practice.
It’s a story that’s resonated with some women in Zambia, sparking conversation on social media about a tradition that’s rarely discussed in public. In today’s Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to the film's director, Tisa Chigaga, and to Samfrosa Chibwe, a woman who says watching the film brought up memories of the counselling she received before her wedding.
Alan also speaks to Tisa’s mother, Mwila Chigaga, to share an elder’s perspective on why she still considers this a vital tradition.
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This week Botswana’s president-elect Duma Boko will be inaugurated in an event that’s expected to be attended by dignitaries from across the continent.
The 54-year-old lawyer and his Umbrella for Democratic Change beat Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party, which had been in power for 58 years.
When he officially takes over as the country’s president, Mr Boko will be hoping to create jobs particularly for young people who’ve been agitating for change. But some are still wondering how he managed to beat Mokgweetsi Masisi by such a big margin.
In this episode, Alan Kasujja attempts to understand what exactly went wrong for Mr Masisi and his Botswana Democratic Party.
Guests: Mmapula Molapong and Tendai Mbanje
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Last month, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Nigeria victory in a forfeited 2025 Nations Cup qualifier against Libya, and fined Libya $50,000.
It came after an investigation found that a plane carrying the Nigerian squad had been deliberately redirected to the wrong airport – where the Super Eagles were left for nearly 20 hours without food, water or internet access.
The incident has yet again exposed the unorthodox – and unsporting - tactics which are often used against visiting teams in African football.
So why has psychological and physical intimidation been allowed to continue?
Presenter: Mpho Lakaje
Guests: Sports journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, and Isha Johansen, former president of Sierra Leone Football Association, and a member of FIFA’s council, and the CAF executive committee.
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The 2024 US election, set for Tuesday November 5, could have major implications for African economies and African communities in the United States.
As Africa’s global significance grows, the election may reshape US engagement in areas like investment, health, security, and climate policy. On one side, former President Donald Trump has pledged to prioritise domestic issues, which could mean a reduction in US aid and military presence abroad. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris has focused on climate action, strengthening international partnerships, and expanding social programs.
South African broadcaster, Redi Tlhabi, joins Alan Kasujja to explore what’s at stake for Africa and why this election matters for African nations, leaders, and communities in the US.
Presenter: Alan KasujjaGuest: Redi Tlhabi
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After two years of conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) finally put a stop to the fighting between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Both sides agreed to work together to find lasting solutions, including the restoration of constitutional order in Tigray.
Two years on, some say the Ethiopian government is downplaying the seriousness of the current situation in the country - while aid agencies warn of significant food shortages and humanitarian needs.
BBC Africa Daily’s Alan Kasujja speaks to BBC correspondent Kalkidan Yibeltal who was recently in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, for 6 days.
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Today Alan Kasujja sits down with Ghanaian artist, Israel Derrick Epeti, to discuss the environmental disaster that’s caused by illegal mining. Mercury is being used to extract gold by miners digging on a massive scale in forests and farms across the west African country. The 26-year-old artist recently visited the town of Twifo Praso to see for himself how the Pra River is polluted by chemicals. “I was able to paint with the water on my canvas. That’s how bad it was”, he tells Alan. He further says “if this is not curbed, it will affect each and everyone in the country. We might need to import water from outside”. According to the Institute for Security Studies, galamsey, a term used in Ghana to describe illegal mining, involves large firms operating against the law. It is carried out by Ghanaians and foreigners, including Chinese and West African nationals from Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. The government has introduced a variety of interventions to stop the problem, including the deployment of the army.
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“The stigmatisation extends to the fact that in some cultures, there’s a presumption that if an elderly person is talking bizarrely or behaving unusually, they’re suspected of being witches or wizards or something like that.”
Three and a half million people are currently estimated to live with dementia in Africa.
Dementia is an umbrella term use to describe neurological conditions which lead to the loss of memory, language, and the ability to think clearly. People can start to struggle to get dressed. They can forget things they’ve known all their lives: how to get home, or even who their loved ones are. And it can affect their behaviour.
But there’s been very little research done on African patients. And studies - especially using genetics - have been heavily reliant on Caucasian populations. This is why a group of scientists in Africa have set up the Africa Dementia Consortium to improve the research and knowledge of Dementia in Africa.
Mpho Lakaje speaks to one of the scientists involved, Professor Njideka Okubadejo, a Professor of Neurology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, as well as Sseku Safic from the Mount Meru Hospital in northern Tanzania, who has set up the only memory clinic in the country.
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“We sit on some of the best grains in the world… things that can grow in really tough environments and give you harvests several times a year.”
Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia but was adopted by a Swedish couple and taken to Sweden as a small child after his mother died of tuberculosis.
After travelling across Europe and to Japan for his training, he rose to prominence as a chef in the US - cooking for the rich and famous including Barack and Michelle Obama, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey. He's recently opened a restaurant in Addis Ababa – to add to those he already runs in New York City and elsewhere.
And now he's on a mission to get people to eat more African grains like millet, teff, and sorghum - arguing they’re more sustainable, climate resistant and nutritious.
For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje talks to him about his passion for African grains as well as what influenced him in his journey to becoming a successful businessman and chef.
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"I started out life not being acutely aware of being blind. I was more aware of what I could do as opposed to the reality of being blind and the accompanying limitations."
Nigerian musician Cobhams Asuquo has produced for some of Africa’s biggest stars and become a celebrated musician himself. In today’s Africa Daily, Cobhams talks to Alan Kasujja about turning obstacles into opportunities.
He's been using his platform for an even greater cause—advocating for childhood immunisation. With the release of No More Zero Dose, an anthem featuring stars like Timi Dakolo and Omawumi, Cobhams is trying raise awareness about the millions of children in Africa who still lack access to vaccines.
Presenter: Alan KasujjaGuest: Cobhams Asuquo
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The killing of two high-ranking members of the Podemos political party in Mozambique has sent shock waves through the country.
Elvino Dias and Paul Guambe were murdered in a hail of bullets in the capital Maputo in the early hours of the 19th of October.
The leader of the Podemos party, Venancio Mondlane has accused the ruling Frelimo party of being behind the killings, a charge the government denies.
The murders happened ten days after the country voted in national elections, a process that the government says was free and fair, and which opposition parties say was marred by election rigging. Frelimo won the election with 70% of the vote, and Podemos came second with 20%.
So at a time of political tension, Africa Daily's Mpho Lakaje examine how this double murder could affect the political landscape of Mozambique.
Guests: Dr Jussuf Adam, an academic in Mozambique who studies the contemporary history of his country, and Dr Edson Cortez, Director of the Public Integrity Centre, a civil society organisation in Mozambique.
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President Mokgweetsi Masisi will be looking to secure another term in office when his nation votes in a national election next Wednesday. His predecessor and former boss, Ian Khama, is also in the picture. He won’t be running for office, but he’s throwing his weight behind the Botswana Patriotic Front, an opposition party he helped to establish. The southern African nation, which has a population of over two million people, relies heavily on diamond mining to drive its economy. While it’s known for being one of the least corrupt nations in Africa, it currently faces all sorts of economic problems. Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Mmapula Molapong and Professor Zibani Maundeni
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Professor Thuli Madonsela was South Africa’s Public Protector from 2009 to 2016. She’s famous for taking on former president Jacob Zuma over his misuse of public money. She received death threats for doing her job.
Abideen Olasupo, is Nigerian and belongs to the next generation of anti-corruption activists who believe Artificial Intelligence will empower young people to hold those in public office accountable. He’s developed ‘My AI Factchecker’, a tool which allows people to verify the factual accuracy of information.
They were brought together at the recent One Young World summit in Montreal, Canada.
So what can the new generation of corruption activists learn from someone like Thuli Madonsela? And is AI going to be a help or hindrance for the next generation? They answered these questions and more in a discussion with Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje.
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"We tried so many shelters, and we were like rejected. It’s like, it’s not for migrants, it’s not for migrants!” Lebanon is caught in a devastating conflict between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, a powerful Shia Muslim political party and armed group. Critical infrastructure, including hospitals, residential buildings, and shelters, has been destroyed, displacing over a million people across the country. Among those most affected are Lebanon’s roughly 250,000 migrant domestic workers, primarily from African and Asian countries including Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Sierra Leone. Many of these workers, who were already living in precarious conditions under the Kafala system which leaves them heavily reliant on their employers, have now been made homeless and are desperately seeking shelter, food, and safety. For Africa Daily, Muthoni Muchiri speaks with Mariam Bai Sesay, a former domestic worker and Enu, the deputy director of Egna Legna Besidet, an organisation that provides legal aid, housing assistance, and food relief to the workers.
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"From time to time my parents will ask me: 'Hey why do you look like this'?... But they'll never ask me directly because I try my best to conceal it."
In Somalia, alcohol is completely banned because of Sharia law. It’s also frowned on by many people on religious grounds. Those caught using it are arrested and fined or imprisoned – and dealers caught with large amounts are named and shamed on TV.
But its sale is also highly lucrative in a country with high unemployment – meaning there are plenty of people willing to risk smuggling and selling it. Smugglers have to drive hundreds of kilometres from Ethiopia trying to evade Al Shabaab militants and clan militiamen in order to get the alcohol to Mogadishu. But on the way they pass through border towns where there’s increasing concern about the impact of drinking.
For today’s Africa Daily podcast, Peter Musembi speaks with a young drinker and Yusuf Warsame, a community leader from Galdogob – a town on the border with Ethiopia.
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Today Africa Daily's Mpho Lakaje sits down with multi-award winning South African musician Nhlanhla Mafu of the popular Afro-pop group, Mafikizolo.
Our guest shares her journey with hearing loss, which has been devastating to her, considering the nature of the industry she's in.
This comes as Africa is facing a growing hearing loss crisis, affecting 49 million people and costing the continent $27 billion each year.
The World Health Organisation predicts this number could rise to 54 million by 2030.
Key causes include a shortage of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists, limited access to hearing aids, and untreated diseases due to unequal healthcare.
So, what's the solution? How best can African countries respond to this crisis?
Presenter: Mpho Lakaje. Guests: Dr. Mukara Batamuliza Kaitesi and Nhlanhla Mafu.
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“He is the reason my father sacrificed everything we had - just for him to throw it all away and come back!” Gambian migrants frequently risk their lives to reach Europe in hopes of a better life, only to be sent back home. These returnees don’t just face the disappointment of a failed journey - they often return to a cold reception from families and communities. Families often sell their personal belongings, land and even livestock, sacrificing everything to fund these dangerous journeys. BBC Africa Daily’s Muthoni Muchiri speaks to Gambian filmmaker Cherno Jagne, whose short film ‘The Backway’ dives into this emotional and often overlooked side of migration.
- Visa fler
