Focus on Africa

There’s been a growing debate on social media about women’s clothing, personal freedom and cultural values, following incidents in Rwanda and Tanzania where women faced consequences over what they wore. In Rwanda, women were reportedly stopped by police and denied entry to a music concert for wearing miniskirts and tight-fitting clothes. President Paul Kagame later defended dress codes in public spaces, saying freedom of expression should respect cultural values. Meanwhile, Tanzanian singer Nandy was recently fined for wearing a diamond catsuit. BBC Focus on Africa spoke to two young women, Kea Sefako from Cape Town, South Africa, and Lez Muriithi from Nairobi, Kenya, to hear their perspectives on dress codes for women.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producers: Priya Sippy and Bella Twine
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Democrats have won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, securing a congressional majority for the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. Six candidates of African origin won seats in Congress, including 29-year-old Ethiopian-born Melat Kiros, who becomes the first Gen Z woman elected to the US Congress. The daughter of Tigrayan immigrants, Kiros defeated a 15-term incumbent in the Democratic primary before going on to win the seat. But how does their win shape US foreign policy within the African continent?
And Victoria Ama, a Nigerian dancer and contortionist is fusing African traditional dance with ballet. The result is a style that is both visually striking and rooted in African culture.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Albert Kirui, Chiamaka Dike, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Over 50,000 Ethiopians have crossed over into Kenya, fleeing renewed fighting in Somali and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. Thousands of these are under temporary international protection status from the UNHCR as they undergo registration. We hear from a BBC reporter following the story in Moyale, a town at the border of Kenya and Ethiopia.
And, for almost every young girl in school in Sub-Saharan Africa, a low hair cut is mandatory. Critics question the practice while others endorse it.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are underway in Senegal with nearly 3,000 young athletes from more than 200 countries gathered to compete across a wide range of sports including archery, artistic gymnastics, athletics, basketball and so much more. However, these Games are taking place at a challenging time for Senegal, which is facing growing economic pressures.
And, reparations for slavery are gaining renewed attention as Commonwealth leaders meet in Antigua with King Charles' speech recognising transatlantic slave trade as a ‘shameful chapter’ that ‘fills my heart with horror’ but falls short of an official apology. Listen to African presidents debate reparations at the annual Elevate Africa event in Accra, Ghana.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Albert Kirui and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

The 2026 Ibrahim Index of African governance has found broad progress on economic opportunity and human development over the past decade, but also excessive decline in security, human rights and public participation at a time when Africa has suffered global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, decrease in development aid and the impact of conflict from across the world.
And, what does it look like to run a cat cafe in Nigeria where people hold several perceptions about the animal? We speak to 'Jason the cat guy' to find out.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla