How many hours a day do you spend on your smartphone? Smartphones have become essential to daily life - but concerns about overuse are growing. Research has linked smartphone addiction to depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to 27-year-old Dion Rapakgadi from Johannesburg about his past struggles with phone addiction, and to Kenyan musician Nviiri the Storyteller, who recently swapped his smartphone for a basic “dumb phone.” We also hear from Dr Ethel Obeng-Treve, a Clinical Psychologist from Ghana, who shares insights on how to have a healthier relationship with your smartphone. Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Weldye
Senior Producer: Priya Sippy
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
NachrichtenKultur & GesellschaftReisen
Focus on Africa Folgen
Two essential stories to round off your working day. Explaining the news from Africa. Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna.
Folgen von Focus on Africa
1052 Folgen
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Folge vom 02.01.2026Are you addicted to your smartphone?
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Folge vom 01.01.2026January 1: birthday for the undocumentedJanuary 1 isn’t just the start of a new year. For a significant number of Africans, it’s also the birthday written on official documents, often by default, not fact. This episode explores how missing birth records, colonial systems and migration shaped identity on paper, through voices from Somalia, France and Morocco.We then turn to Mali, where new US travel restrictions have taken effect, affecting several African countries. We hear reactions from the streets of Bamako and unpack what the bans mean for diplomacy, mobility and power in the Sahel.Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Basma El Atti, Bella Twine, Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Terry Chege Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
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Folge vom 31.12.2025What's in store for Africa 2026 ?As the year draws to a close, this episode looks ahead to some of the stories and events that could likely shape 2026. We ask which warning signs are already flashing, and what might still catch the world off guard. We also examine new research suggesting AI chatbots may carry built-in bias against Africa, raising fresh questions about technology, power and representation.Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producers: Bella Twine, Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Terry Chege Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
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Folge vom 30.12.2025What happens after Israel recognises Somaliland as independent?There were celebrations on the streets of breakaway region Somaliland after Israel became the first country to formally recognise it as an independent state. Leaders in the self-declared republic hailed the move as historic, saying it could open the door to wider international recognition after decades of diplomatic isolation.The announcement has also triggered a demonstration in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, and condemnation from regional bodies including the African Union and the Arab League, who warn it could destabilise the region. Also in the episode: Sudan’s national football team competes in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite a devastating war at home.Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Terry Chege Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla