Focus on Africa

Across the globe, diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are on the rise, including in Africa. An estimated 7% of children and adolescents on the continent are living with the condition, and doctors in Nigeria and Kenya told the BBC that they have seen a notable increase in diagnoses in recent years.
This surge is partly attributed to the rapid spread of information about ADHD on social media, which has helped raise awareness. However, clinicians also caution that misinformation online is contributing to a growing trend of self-diagnosis.
So what does it really mean to live with ADHD in Africa, and what barriers exist when it comes to accessing proper medical care? We hear from 29-year-old Siham Azeroual from Morocco, who is living with both ADHD and autism.
Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Basma El Atti and Fana Negash
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy
Editor: Maryam Abdalla

Kenya is the latest African country to increase fuel prices citing the US-Israel war with Iran. While announcing one of the steepest pump price increments in recent times, the government reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel products from 16% to 8%, as the country's political opposition threatens street demonstrations if measures to lower prices further are not taken. In this episode - we explore if electric vehicles are a viable transport alternative in African countries.
Also, the global fashion industry produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste every year with much of it ending up in landfills or being burned, according to the United Nations. We hear a Nigerian fashion designer's journey to curb rising fashion waste through upcycling.
Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editor: Maryam Abdalla

It's three years today, April 15, since the war in Sudan erupted triggered by a power struggle between the army and paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces - RSF. The fighting has led to a partitioning of the country and created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The number of women and girls needing support in Sudan following gender-based violence has nearly quadrupled since the start of the war, according to a new UN gender alert. We hear from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
And across parts of Africa, laws targeting same-sex relationships are tightening. We hear how the LGBTQ+ community is finding ways to create safe spaces.
Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse, Chiamaka Dike, and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editor: Maryam Abdalla

A BBC Disclosure investigation has uncovered significant questions about what happened at the hotel where Charmain Spiers died. In 2015, Charmain's body was discovered in a hotel room, and her death was determined as “heroin poisoning”. Her husband and self-proclaimed prophet, Eric Adusah was seen at the hotel on the night of her death, and a test of her hair showed no long-term heroin use. The BBC Disclosure team has been to Ghana to hear from witnesses about what happened in the days leading up to and the night of her death. 
And the population of mountain Gorillas in Uganda may increase following conservation initiatives aimed at improving the lives of local communities to discourage poaching activities.
 
Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Chiamaka Dike, and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editor: Maryam Abdalla

Pope Leo XIV has started his 11-day visit of four African countries. The Pontiff arrived in Algeria on Monday, where he called for peace, forgiveness and justice at the Martyrs monument in the capital, Algiers. The Pope is expected to visit Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. Pope Leo XIV wants to "turn the world's attention to Africa" according to a senior Vatican official. More than a fifth of the world's Catholics are in Africa, making it one of the fastest-growing regions for the Church.
Also - we hear from the Head of African Music at YouTube on how creators can earn more on the platform.
Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editor: Maryam Abdalla