Focus on Africa

American country music star, Dolly Parton passed away this week and her fans across the continent have felt the loss greatly. Her songs, such as Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You, crossed generations, borders and musical genres. We hear from the leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the South African group who worked with Parton on Knockin' on Heaven's Door in 1995, and later collaborated on Peace Train, which appeared on her album, Treasures.
And with Nigeria’s elections being months away, can a new Muslim-Christian agreement help ease religious tensions?
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Carolyne Jotham, Chiamaka Dike and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

US President Donald Trump's senior Africa envoy has asked the UN to extend its arms embargo from Darfur to all of Sudan, amid a recent escalation in the conflict. Now in its fourth year, the war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 14 million more to flee their homes. An arms embargo covering the Darfur region has been in place for more than two decades - and will expire next month if not amended or renewed.
And, following immense drought and land degradation in the Sahel region, restoration efforts have begun aimed at helping vulnerable groups who are battling the impact of climate change in the region.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Blessing Aderogba and Helen Oyibo
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Somali piracy is rising again. The buccaneers capitalize on security gaps, targeting cargo ships and demanding multi-million dollar ransoms. On Sunday, nine people were reportedly killed in a drone strike on a small boat off the coast of Somalia, in a series of attacks linked to the hijacking of a Cameroon-flagged vessel.
And in Mozambique, a simple paper appointment book is helping tackle long clinic queues hoping to bring healthcare services closer to pregnant women
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Carolyne Kiambo and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

The Nigerian government plans to decriminalise attempted suicide. It is currently an offence punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine or both. Suicide is a major public health concern, with the country recording around 300,000 attempts every year, and at least 7,000 deaths. We hear from a survivor and a mental health expert.
And, as more countries move to ban social media access for teenagers because of safety concerns, we hear from two young people who are members of TikTok's Global Youth Council.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya and Helen Oyibo
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Daniel Dadzie and Maryam Abdalla

Imagine living with the lifelong physical and psychological scars of an attack fuelled by misogyny or romantic rejection. It’s the brutal reality for many women globally, yet the stigma of acid violence forces most survivors into silence. Focus on Africa podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna sits down with two survivors. They share their raw stories of living with the trauma, finding the strength to heal, and rebuilding their lives.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Keikantse Shumba
Senior Producer: Priyanka Sippy and Bella Twine
Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla