The Comb

Tempted and trapped: How promising job offers abroad turned into a horror story for two young men. Athi from South Africa and Douglas from Kenya both thought they’d found great opportunities for work overseas, but the experience turned into a nightmare. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

‘Everyone deserves to be happy’: As lives and lifestyles change, so have views on relationships and the role and rights of women in them. A new generation are more accepting than ever of divorce, but many still suffer in silence when their marriages fall apart. Two women, from Nigeria and Egypt, share their stories. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Humiliated and harassed: What happens when your private images are shared online without your consent? How ‘revenge porn’ changed the lives of two women in Uganda and Kenya. And why there is often little sympathy for victims. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

Combing Africa for stories about the unseen forces that bind us together and tear us apart. A single story, every week. Hosted by Kim Chakanetsa. #thecomb

‘A linguistic famine’: More than 2000 languages are spoken across Africa, but young Africans are often told that they need to speak English or French in order to succeed. In the process, native languages are being marginalised. Three people who have been pressured to adopt a different language reveal the impact on their lives and relationships. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

‘Because you’re a girl’: For women in Morocco, a lot of things are ‘Hashouma’ - shameful. But some women are using art to tackle these taboos. A rapper and an illustrator explain how sexism at home and at work inspired them to express themselves freely through their art. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

‘I can remember every detail’. Victoria Uwonkunda’s childhood was shaped by death, genocide and displacement. Years later, she is still dealing with the impact of these traumatic events. She regularly experiences panic attacks - a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In Sierra Leone, Dr Rebecca Esliker is helping to build a mental health service in a country recovering from war, Ebola, mudslides and floods. She says mass exposure to trauma has had a long lasting effect on Sierra Leoneans. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

Combing Africa for stories about the unseen forces that bind us together and tear us apart. A single story, every week. Hosted by Kim Chakanetsa. #thecomb

“Our children are in danger”: After Solome’s child was publicly outed as being transgender she first felt shame and anger. It also set her on a journey of learning and acceptance that transformed their relationship. Her priority now is protecting her daughter, and teaching other parents in Uganda to accept their LGBTI children. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

From anger to acceptance: For parents in Uganda, having a child come out or be exposed as gay, lesbian, or trans can be traumatic and shameful. Many are caught between widespread homophobia, and the love they have for their child. But a new support group is trying to make things easier. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Senegal’s missing men: The other side of the migrant crisis. Ndeye lost contact with her husband once he reached Europe. Yayi’s son died at sea when he embarked on the same journey. For those left behind it can be a life filled with loss and longing. It also means fighting the stigma associated with women whose husbands and sons are ‘missing’. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

Living with albinism: Navigating issues of identity, race and beauty. An intimate journey through the eyes of Perpetua and Anneline, two women living with albinism. The prejudice they face and the pride they feel when it comes to their identity. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

From hope to disappointment. It's been a decade since 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest against the Tunisian police. This sparked an uprising that transformed the country. But how much has actually changed for the better? Dhouha and Sahar are now the same age Mohamed was when he took that desperate action. They reflect on their lives before and after the revolution. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Nour Abida

Myths, misconceptions and superstitions. Why is epilepsy still so misunderstood? After Lawrence had his first epileptic seizure at the age of eight, his family began to search for a cure. They tried clinics, prophets, witchdoctors and prayers. When, as an adult, he finally got a medical diagnosis, it changed his life. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

More African governments are building digital ID systems. In Kenya, the government is assigning a unique identification number to each citizen. The Huduma Namba will soon be the single key needed to unlock access to a range of government services. The process requires getting the finger prints and faces of every Kenyan scanned. But many people born in Kenya don’t have the documents they need to prove citizenship and critics of the Huduma Namba system are worried that, as the IDs become essential to accessing services such as health and education, minority communities risk being further marginalised. We explore the risks and benefits of this new digital ID system, looking at the experiences of the Nubian community in Kenya, and ask what can be done to make this move towards digitisation more inclusive. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Marco Oriunto

‘A second chance at life’. South Africa’s organ donation waiting list is long but donors are in short supply. Sandrisha has been waiting for a donor for seven years, whereas Nomsa’s life was saved by her twin sister donating her kidney. Through their stories, we explore why organ donation is still a difficult subject for many in Africa. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

The agony of not knowing. As Tigray stood on the brink of war, contact was severed between families and their loved ones in the diaspora around the world. What’s it like to be cut off from your family when they’re at their most vulnerable? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Pressure, prayers and persistent questions: Damilola Oduolowu is turning thirty. His aunt Muti thinks he should be married by now. Through a conversation with his aunt and his friends in Tanzania and Sierra Leone, Damilola explores the social pressures and stigma that come with turning 30 before you've tied the knot. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

The family she didn’t know. When Marcia was four she left Angola with her mother, losing touch with her father. 16 years later, she received a Facebook message from someone claiming to be her uncle. In the quest to reconnect with her long lost family, Marcia discovers why understanding her past is crucial for her future. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

‘It’s a survival issue for us’. The creeping threat of climate change is catching up with all of us, and more lives than ever are being transformed by the reality of climate change in Africa. Nirere in Uganda and Adenike in Nigeria can’t ignore what they’ve witnessed. They are fighting for their future. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Tricked by their parents into going back to Africa. Growing up in the UK, Hannah was told by her parents that if she didn’t behave they would send her back home. When she was 11, Hannah found herself at a rural boarding school in Nigeria. Arif thought he was going on holiday but ended up back in Uganda. The experience had a long-lasting impact on them both. We ask Arif’s father why he chose to trick and ship his son. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

An unfair burden or a necessary responsibility? Many young professionals feel obliged to financially support extended family members who may be less fortunate, but it can be a stressful burden and leave people trapped in debt. The impact of black tax on three young professionals in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

A ‘dark secret’ shared by many. Every year, dozens of Kenyan women die from unsafe abortions. Why is it still so difficult to talk about? In Kenya, one woman is trying to challenge the taboo by talking about her abortion. This episode includes frank discussions about abortion, including women candidly discussing their experiences. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

Combing Africa for stories about the unseen forces that bind us together and tear us apart. A single story, every week. Hosted by Kim Chakanetsa. #thecomb

The American dream? Three Africans from Botswana, Kenya and The Democratic Republic of the Congo, who are now living in the US, explain how the racial justice movement of 2020 has reshaped their identity and sense of self. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb

Love, security, and a crisis of identity - the promises and the cost of international adoption. What’s it like growing up a world away from where you were born? And why are African countries turning their backs on the practice? Two women share their experiences of being adopted by foreign families. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Guns, drugs and brutal violence - What happens when women are sucked into the macho world of gangs? What draws them in, in the first place? And what happens when they leave? The world of Cape Town’s gangs through the eyes of two women. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

Does Sudan's new dawn finally mean a chance for justice? The country’s former president, Omar al-Bashir, is charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. Having lost power, he’s finally facing trial. But after so long, what does it mean to the victims? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Money, time and stigma - the cost of travelling on an African passport. Your passport should be a window to the world – but if you’re from a country in Africa, visa queues, fees and expensive airline tickets mean crossing the continent can be tough. What happened to Africa’s borderless dream? And when travelling internationally, are visa denials more common for Africans? #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

Evicted from paradise. Fifty years ago, the UK forced the Chagossian people to leave their island homes, to make way for a US military base. Will they ever be allowed to return for good? This is the story of eviction, exile, and the long-running battle over the Chagos islands. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Murder in the mountains. A feud, a former first lady dead and another on the run. How the mysterious killing of Lipolelo Thabane, Lesotho’s former first lady, transformed the country’s political landscape. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

‘You probably have to lie that you are married and your husband had to be out of town’. Being a young, single woman can be a heavy burden when trying to find somewhere to live in Nigeria. Why do landlords keep saying ’no’? #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Kim Chakanetsa

Confronting the realities of care for patients with the most severe illnesses. Palliative care focuses on relieving patients’ pain, and helping families to cope. Why is this aspect of healthcare so misunderstood? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

Can computers be racist? The unseen forces shaping our reality. Artificial intelligence is embedded in our lives in ways we may not even notice. With numerous examples of AI appearing ‘racist’, how can we stop building computer systems with prejudices that deepen social inequality? #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Taking the leap away from faith: Stories of losing and embracing new spiritual beliefs. What happens when you lose faith in the religion you were brought up to believe in? And, how can embracing new spiritual beliefs change your life? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

Lies spread online can reach millions in an instant: ruining lives, stoking hatreds and inciting violence. Do you know what you’re sharing? Facebook’s new Oversight Board is trying to stop the lies, but will it make a difference? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

Raised apart in Ghana and Germany, sisters Nana and Adjoa had very different childhoods. Now, Adjoa has sacrificed opportunities in Europe to come home to Ghana, but Nana can't understand why. Whilst many still dream of a life in the west, more and more of Africa’s diaspora are returning home to the continent. Is the grass always greener? #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

Killing for sand: a village shaken by one of the biggest and least-reported resource battles of our time. From buildings and roads, to glass and paper, sand is a crucial ingredient in modern civilisation. But we’re running out and a black market is thriving. In The Gambia, the demand for sand has already proven deadly. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] by Mary Goodhart

Easy lending, easy debt? It takes less than five minutes to get a small digital loan, and advocates say that lending apps are providing financial inclusion for the ‘unbanked’. But some young Kenyans are getting caught out by the high interest rates and small print.

Is home a place or a feeling? Leaving home to pursue your dream job is often seen as the best route to success. What happens when a pandemic closes borders, shuts down travel and you are stuck far away from everything you know? Thanks for listening. Where you can, please leave ratings and reviews. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

African DNA is missing from most genetic studies. Sally lives with pain because of an illness that' is still poorly understood. She has sickle cell - a disease that mainly affects Africans. Scientists in Nigeria are trying to fix the problem. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: [email protected]

A global pandemic disrupts your university life - what happens next? Coronavirus has closed campuses and put courses on hold. Graduation celebrations have been cancelled. #thecomb Thanks for listening to our first episode. Get in touch: [email protected]

Stories that matter to you. A new podcast for Africa, unpicking one story every week. Kim Chakanetsa is here to tell you all about it. Join us from 3 July 2020. #thecomb