Focus on Africa

The Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has kicked off in Morocco, with an expanded 16-team tournament bringing together the continent's best sides in the battle for the African title. The host country, Morocco has defeated Kenya , 4-0 (nil) in the opening match. Running till the 16th of August, the four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for next year's Women's World Cup, while the losing quarter-finalists will have another opportunity to reach the global stage through the inter-continental play-offs. This year, the stakes are higher than ever.
Meanwhile, authorities in Liberia and Nigeria are investigating major cocaine and methamphetamine operations in one of West Africa's largest drug crackdowns in recent years.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine
Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Grammy-nominated Yemi Alade is one of Africa's biggest music stars and a trailblazer who has helped take Afrobeats to audiences around the world. She's collaborated with artists including Beyoncé and became the first female African Afrobeats artist to surpass 100 million views on a single music video. Now, she's touring the continent to promote her latest album. While in Kenya, she sat down with Focus on Africa host Nkechi Ogbonna to reflect on her longevity, the challenges women face in Africa's music industry, and what governments can do to better support artists.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo
Senior Producers: Priyanka Sippy and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

At least 50 soldiers have been killed in the latest attack in Mali as insecurity mounts in the country. The ambush took place near the northern town of Anefis and is one of the deadliest to occur in years. The attack has been claimed by Tuareg separatists and Al-Qaeda linked jihadists. The ambush has raised several questions about Mali's military strategy and playbook after the country ended cooperation with western allies and deepened ties with Russia.
And do you know about the historic Gnaoua genre of music from Morocco? This music is one of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage traditions. It developed in Morocco from the 16th and 17th centuries and is rooted in the history and spiritual practices of sub-Saharan African populations brought to the region via the trans-Saharan slave trade.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

The Algerian government has said that six people have died in wildfires in several provinces in recent days, as a deadly heatwave ravages the country. Officials have also instructed provincial governors to carry out comprehensive assessments of the damage to help guide future compensation for affected communities. The fires come as several Mediterranean countries, including France and Italy, are struggling with severe wildfires driven by extreme summer temperatures. Since the beginning of July, civil defence teams have responded to nearly 1,500 wildfires nationwide, more than double the number reported during the previous year.

Also, a new Google Trends report shows more Nigerian youth are using AI to learn foreign languages such as French and German, as well as sign language.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Kenyan authorities have denied reports that seven aid workers are quarantined in an Ebola facility in Central Kenya. Members of the public and civil society groups have raised concerns following reports that the aid workers who worked at Ebola health facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are quarantined at a US military base in the country.
And, we shed the spotlight on foundational learning in Africa. According to UNICEF, four out of five children across Africa are unable to read or understand a simple sentence by the age of 10.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Keikantse Shumba, and Blessing Aderogba
Senior Producers: Caroline Mwangi and Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla