Focus on Africa

Zambia's 8 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots on August 13, when the country will hold presidential and parliamentary elections. Fourteen candidates are gunning for the presidency but many see it as a two-horse race between incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema and opposition leader Brian Mundubile. The vote comes amid concerns of high cost of living and unemployment. We look at how candidates used music on the campaign trail to sway voters.
And we explain the often-strained relationship between rap music and politics as Moroccan rapper El Mehdi Lyoubi better known to his fans as Mehdi Black Wind is on trial for controversial lyrics.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Basma El Atti, Keikantse Shumba and Ayuba Iliya
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Kinyanjui
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

BBC Africa Eye has seen evidence suggesting a South African police detective, Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, was shot dead by the country’s special forces while investigating the disappearance of a suspected Islamic State group militant.  A former South African counter-terrorism police chief has told the BBC that the suspected IS militant, known as Abdella Abadigga, was being protected and used as an intelligence asset before he went missing.  Seven special forces soldiers and one other are due to stand trial in connection with the detective’s murder. Of those, seven are accused, alongside four others, of abducting and murdering Abadigga. They deny the allegations.
And how one of Kenya's tallest men, Bradley Marongo went from being a commercial bus conductor to actor and content creator.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Priya Sippy, Keikantse Shumba and Ayuba Iliya
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Technical Producer: David Kinyanjui
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

What do you think of when you hear South Sudan? Well, these days you might be thinking of the catwalk. The country is producing some of the world’s top international models like Anok Yai, Adut Akech and Alek Wek. Currently nine of the world’s top 50 models ranked by models.com are originally from South Sudan. Despite this, there are still challenges around visas and access to the international stages. Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to two rising stars from the industry, 19-year-old, Khloe Nyanda and 21-year-old Abraham Ajuong about their careers so far.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Fana Negash and Carolyne Jotham
Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Priya Sippy
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

As tensions between the United States and Iran continue, security in the Strait of Hormuz remains under scrutiny. On 3 August, a Liberian-flagged vessel was attacked off the coast of Oman, leaving one crew member missing after a major fire, the latest in a series of attacks on ships flying Liberia's flag. With Liberia operating the world's largest shipping registry by gross tonnage, what do these attacks mean for the country?
And, a newly identified dinosaur species from Zimbabwe, named Musango matusadonaensis, is giving scientists fresh insight into what southern Africa looked like around 210 million years ago during the Late Triassic period.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Blessing Aderogba and Ayuba Iliya
Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

Zambia heads to the polls next week to elect a President, lawmakers and local council leaders. The election has been widely perceived as a two horse race following the emergance of an opposition coallition candidate. In an exclusive interview with President Hakainde Hichilema we ask why he is seeking another five year term in office and what he hopes to do differently if re-elected.
Also, the Ngorongoro Conservation Site in Tanzania is at the centre of a controversy as the host community is asking to be delisted from the UNESCO World Heritage site list following concerns that it is negatively affecting the lives of locals.
Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine and Ayuba Iliya
Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Herbert Masua
Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla