One testing centre in Nigeria told the Focus on Africa Podcast that the number of paternity tests it conducted rose by 28.8% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Focus on Africa Podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to Peter Ngumba, a lab technologist in Kenya who, through his work conducting DNA tests, decided to test the paternity of his own two children. Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Carolyne Kiambo Jotham, Chiamaka Dike, Keikantse Shumba and Basma El Atti Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Editors: Maryam Abdalla and Priya Sippy

In Madagascar, the arrest of Gen Z protesters is fuelling growing doubts about the military leadership that emerged after the 2025 uprising, as young activists question whether anything has truly changed. Elsewhere on the continent, a new report reveals a deepening economic squeeze: African countries are now paying nearly twice as much to borrow as they did in 2020, as shrinking aid forces governments to rely more heavily on costly debt.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Chiamaka Dike and Ayuba Iliya Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Keikantse Shumba Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

A major gas pipeline is being planned from Nigeria to Morocco, running along the Atlantic coast through countries including Ghana and Senegal, before potentially linking up to Europe. The $25 billion project is aimed at boosting energy access across West Africa, but it is still awaiting a final green light, expected later this year.

Also, Masai giraffe numbers have fallen by more than half in the past 30 years. Now, scientists in Tanzania are using artificial intelligence to track the species more quickly, offering new hope for their recovery.

Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producer: Chiamaka Dike Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Keikantse Shumba Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

More than a dozen deportees from the US, reportedly from South America, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the beginning of April, the DRC government announced a deal with the US under which Kinshasa would accept individuals known as “third-country” deportees. The arrival of these deportees has raised concerns and questions among Congolese people and opposition figures.

We also explore a different kind of journey - discipline in the African diaspora, where some parents have gone as far as sending their children back home for schooling. What is it like to be sent back to Africa?

Presenter : Charles Gitonga Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producers: Blessing Aderogba and Keikantse Shumba Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

BBC Africa Eye follows Kenyans at the centre of a groundbreaking legal battle to track down their British soldier fathers using novel DNA methods. Nanyuki, Kenya, is home to one of Britain’s largest overseas military training areas, where thousands of British troops train each year. Over the years, nearly 100 children have been fathered by British soldiers here. Many of their dads disappeared, without a trace. Now, in a landmark case, UK-based scientists and lawyers are helping them find answers.

To hear more, search World of Secrets wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

And how the work of one conservationist to protect endangered bat species in Nigeria has been awarded the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Ayuba Iliya and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Davis Mwasaru Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga Editors: Priya Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

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

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. We hear from one of Sudan’s most influential bands, Aswat Almadina, on how music is helping them survive. 

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash, Basma El Atti and Bashar Osman Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editor: Maryam Abdalla