PODCAST · society
The Comb
by BBC World Service
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
Episodes
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Striking gold
“This is a diamond!”: In 2017, two young miners, Komba and Saffea, struck gold. They uncovered a huge 709 carat diamond - the ‘Peace Diamond’ - worth millions of dollars, in Sierra Leone. It was a dream come true for them both. They were rich beyond their wildest dreams. And then, their dream…
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Am I in a cult?
“I was losing myself”: When Mbali was introduced to a new church through a bible study group she was excited at the prospect of finding a new religious community. But as she became more involved with the church, she began questioning some of their unusual teachings and approaches. It left her...
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Not guilty
Accusations, imprisonment, and vindication: The lie that changed Ishmail's life, taking away his freedom, and breaking up his family in Malawi. Nearly 20 years later, Ishmail reflects on the painful reality of being falsely accused. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get…
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Parenting and punishment
“My dad beat me.” How the physical punishment of a child changed the lives of a Nigerian family forever. Behaviour which was the norm for a mother who grew up in Nigeria was treated as assault in the UK. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected]
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Lives in limbo
‘Dadaab is a prison’: Making a life in Africa’s largest refugee camp. When Anab and Mark came to Dadaab as refugees fleeing conflict, they thought the camp would be a temporary shelter. Three decades on, they are now both raising their families in the camp with no hope of relocation and no home…
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Finding Humanism
A different kind of faith: Navigating life as a non-believer in a highly religious society can be deeply lonely. Leo and Balm both found community and belonging in Humanism - a form of atheism which strives for a life of meaning and purpose anchored in the strength of humankind. Thanks for...
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When violence goes viral
Ethiopians on social media have been dealing with a wave of violent and graphic content in recent years. Multiple conflicts have seen violent pictures and videos regularly shared online, often alongside threats, hate speech, or disinformation. For Moti, this hit close to home in a devastating way...
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Motherhood, mania and me
‘She’s not my baby’: How giving birth triggered a woman’s mental health crisis, leaving her desperate, delusional and detached from reality. Chebet found herself on a journey of illness and recovery, after her ‘baby blues’ morphed into something much darker. How do women embrace motherhood after...
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Mogadishu’s daughter
Ready to run: Aisha’s story of a childhood shaped by conflict in Somalia, and her complicated journey to finding herself and finding peace. How do you navigate a normal life after a childhood of “chaos and conflict”? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch:...
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Who is Shebeleza?
Unmasking online hate: How the courage of a domestic abuse survivor won her an unlikely alliance in the fight against misogyny and gender-based violence in Namibia. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] Produced by Mary Goodhart
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The promise
Righting an historic wrong: How a quest to reclaim the sacred Ngonnso statue, taken from the Nso community 120 years earlier, led Vernyuy on an emotional journey to reconnect with her Cameroonian roots – and resolve a crisis of identity. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb...
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The Comb: Back soon!
Unpicking stories that matter to you. The Comb returns on 13 January 2023 Here's a peak at some of our upcoming stories #TheComb
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Confronting colourism
“I was trapped in my own skin”: The illegal trade which preys on prejudice. How skin colour discrimination is still exploited with harmful black market products. Ellen’s skin bleaching nightmare had a devastating impact on her - both physically and mentally. And the prejudice which drives many to...
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Orphaned: Vasco’s story
‘I was scared of the night’: When Vasco's parents died in a car accident, his childhood was transformed into a struggle to survive. He started as a young child sleeping at his father's grave, but ended up in a spiral of gangland crime and violence on the streets. Why are more children in Zambia...
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Orphaned: Mutuna’s story
‘I would have been lost’: When Mutuna was orphaned at a young age, his extended family stepped in to help. Now as an adult, he sees more and more children begging on the streets, and wonders how their lives ended up differently Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in...
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Guest episode: On the Podium
How a rower's victory became a symbol of hope in post-apartheid South Africa. Sizwe Ndlovu became the first black African to win an Olympic rowing gold. Sizwe says that day changed the rest of his life. This is a guest episode from the World Service show, On The Podium, which brings you the…
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Losing Grace
Misinformation and miracle cures: After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Grace Ajuma Gift was told about many different treatments and cures which ranged from herbal remedies to starch-free diets - Grace tried many of them. The misleading advice she received may have cost Grace her life. A...
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Born a slave
‘I ran away’: For many years, Brahim and Maymouna were enslaved. They were born into Mauritania’s slave caste - the Haratin and denied their liberty, even though slavery has been officially banned. It was only when Brahim was a teenager that he gradually began to question and resist his...
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Unlearning a dictatorship
Making the invisible visible: After her father was abducted and killed in the Gambia, Nana-Jo Ndow, and her cousin Sirra started an organisation to raise awareness of the issue and set up a memorialisation centre. Now, survivors are starting to heal by sharing their stories and young people can...
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Permanent darkness
‘I can’t just go down like this’: As a young entrepreneur, Eve Kibare had big dreams of growing her business and travelling the world but that all changed when she lost her sight. Now she is on a journey of adjustment and relearning, determined to live life on her own terms. And Eve shares her...
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Decolonising tourism
‘There were no locals at all’: Reckoning with race, history and access in Kenya’s tourism industry. For much of his career as a tour guide in Kenya, Felix Migoya would have clients from the United States and Europe but no Kenyans. Safari was seen as the preserve of white people, a ‘mzungu…
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Escaping the city
‘Slow down and struggle less’: Never-ending hustle, changing city spaces and the lure of the countryside. More people seem to be talking about moving out of Nairobi, to a simpler way of life. Mugambi is at a crossroads, deciding if it’s time to move, while Leslie and her family are already…
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Guest episode: Dear Daughter
‘Fly bird, fly’: An episode from BBC World Service podcast ‘Dear Daughter’, with Namulanta Kombo, winner of the BBC’s International Podcast Competition 2021. Your letters to your daughters. Search for Dear Daughter wherever you find your podcasts. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think.
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My autistic child
‘African fathers don’t talk about it’: When Duncan’s son Luka was diagnosed with autism, Duncan knew very little about the condition. His journey to better understand the condition would lead him to reimagine what it means to be a father and to create a space for fathers with children who have...
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My sexual education
Discovery and recovery: The journeys of two Kenyan women navigating trauma and social expectations to reach sexual empowerment. Kaz Lucas broke new ground in Kenya with candid conversations defying age-old taboos around sex on her podcast ‘The Spread’, while Lucy fought to reclaim ownership of…
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Mourning my father
“We all have to learn how to cry”: Takunda considered his father to be invincible like Superman but after contracting Covid, Takunda’s father died suddenly. Two years on, Takunda is still reeling from the loss and the inability to mourn properly. Ami Dokli is a professional mourner from Ghana.…
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Naked power
Our weapon is our nakedness: Exploring the meaning and history of women drawing on the power of the feminine form. Stella Nyanzi has become well known for her radical nude protests in Uganda, and Naminata Diabate has written about the phenomenon after witnessing the power of naked threats in Côte...
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Back soon!
We're back on 26 March unpicking more stories that matter, including some special episodes from in and around Nairobi. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s to come!
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When cultures collide
Spicy food and stereotypes: When Tuvie, who is Nigerian met Colombe, who is Rwandan - sparks flew. It marked the start of an ongoing conversation about everything from surnames to seasoning. Busayo had never travelled outside of Nigeria when she first arrived in China. Seven years later Busayo…
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Climate of danger: My mother’s murder
‘She was not going to keep quiet’’: Fikile Ntshangase was one of 227 environmental defenders killed in 2020, after she opposed the expansion of a coal mine in her home area. As the battle against climate change grows more intense, defending the environment is an increasingly dangerous role.…
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Climate of danger: Exile
Death threats and exile: Local environmental defenders are the front line of the climate crisis - protecting the land they live on when it’s threatened by powerful business interests. But as the battle against climate change grows more intense, it’s becoming an increasingly dangerous role. Global...
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Bringing back God
‘The fire has gone out’: African evangelists are working to revitalise Christianity in Europe, a continent that is increasingly turning away from religion. Harvey Kwiyani grew up in Malawi, where church was central to daily life. It was only after he left for Switzerland that he realised how...
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Without a trace
Grief without closure: Tens of thousands of families in Africa live with the agony of a missing loved one. Kenny Chikonka disappeared without trace nearly 30 years ago. His family have been searching for answers ever since. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch:...
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Stay away!
“He just starts touching me”: The grim and lonely reality of sexual harassment in the workplace, through the eyes of two women in Kenya. As an intern, Lupita* was excited to start a new role but she quickly had to come to terms with unwelcome sexual advances. Sofia Rajab wanted to find a way to...
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Caught in a crypto scam
Scams, hustles, and cyber fraud: What happens when you think you’ve struck gold, only to lose it all? Cryptocurrencies are on the rise in Africa, but as more people get on board, cyber criminals smell an opportunity. Vivienne and Daniel both thought they were making sensible investments for their...
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My South African identity
‘I am African first’: Exploring race and identity for South Africans of Indian descent. Karnie Sharp has spent years discussing the complex crisis of identity that many feel in modern South Africa. In the wake of rising tensions between communities, and vitriolic statements from some political...
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Goodbye Nigeria
‘The evil you have done is enough’: One year after the EndSARS protests, some young Nigerians say they no longer recognise their country and are choosing to leave. Olivia, Tolu and Benjamin contemplate joining their friends who are now scattered across the world. Thanks for listening. Let us know...
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Hippo wars
Lurking in the lake: What’s driving hippos to attack and kill fishermen on Lake Naivasha? As climate change alters our planet, animals and humans are coming into conflict, competing over the same diminishing natural resources. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in…
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Equal before the law?
The vendor who changed Malawi: Mayeso Gwanda took the state to court after his arrest for an outdated and vague petty crime. While he was successful in changing the law, the African Union is calling for more to be done. Enforcing these sorts of minor offences leads to lifelong consequences for…
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Class of 2020 revisited
What happened to the class of 2020? We’re catching up with The Comb’s first ever guests - students whose studies were disrupted by Covid-19. Have their dreams and ambitions weathered the challenges of the global pandemic? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch:...
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Generation jobless
Young, educated and broke: almost a year since Kananelo left university in South Africa, she has been struggling to find work. Kananelo is part of a generation of graduates who find themselves unemployed and living with their parents. After struggling to find a suitable job in Nigeria, Agu…
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The secret
‘Neither a girl nor a boy’: Baby John Musamba was born with a rare sexual disorder which stopped her from developing either male or female reproductive organs. She was raised as a girl, and hid her truth for 26 years until finally telling her friends and the world, on a very public platform.…
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Confronting infertility: His story
‘H’ in Cameroon always dreamt of having kids but after he got married he quickly realised that his journey to parenthood would not be straightforward. In Uganda, Phiona and Derick Ngoga were hoping to have a family of five but found themselves struggling to conceive. Now they are challenging the...
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Confronting infertility: Her story
Blame and heartache: Exploring the emotional and physical burden of being unable to conceive. Why do women still bear the brunt of infertility? And why is the issue still shrouded in silence and shame? #TheComb Get in touch: [email protected] Produced by Kim Chakanetsa
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Forgetting your family
Lost memories and strange behaviour: As Africa’s elderly population grows, more families are dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. But there is still misunderstanding and stigma attached to the conditions. After losing her father, Elizabeth started a mission to raise awareness about the illness...
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The secret life of your phone
How criminals and corporations use hidden software to control smartphones without the owners’ knowledge. Malware and bloatware are two of the tools that are used, but there are steps you can take to keep your phone safe. This week we’re in Nigeria and Kenya to meet mobile malware victims, those...
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‘Raised like a white person’
A story of race, wealth and family. Sam is a black South African who was brought up by her mother’s white employers. Meanwhile, her biological sister Ziyanda stayed at home to be raised by her mother. In a country where things are often seen through a black and white lens, what can their...
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Reclaiming my name
‘This is me’: Embracing my African identity. At birth Ciku Kimeria was given the name Carrie, but it was a name that never quite fitted. She later would reject it for her Kikuyu name, Wanjiku or Ciku. When Ehi Ekhator was younger, he thought swapping his Nigerian name for an English one would…
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In slavery’s shadow
Enslaved by the past: Hamden Atig Dali went to court to remove a painful reference to slavery from his name. 175 years after abolition, the legacy of slavery still impacts on black Tunisians. But a new generation are demanding better. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get...
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The job scam
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...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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
HOSTED BY
BBC World Service
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Comb have?
The Comb currently has 93 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Comb about?
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
How often does The Comb release new episodes?
The Comb has 93 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Comb?
You can listen to The Comb on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Comb?
The Comb is created and hosted by BBC World Service.
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