Our Voices: Recent Episodes
Voice of America
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.
In Africa, many widows lose their inheritance along with their spouse. It's part of traditional practices that lead to economic insecurity, stigma, and discrimination. Although Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe have passed laws in recent years to give widows what is rightfully theirs, unfortunately many countries are still lagging behind in giving them what they deserve. We'll have this and more on the next "Our Voices."
Countries around the world, including the U.S., are falling short of their vaccinations targets due to low uptake of vaccines. In July 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden said Facebook and other social media platforms are “killing people” by enabling the spread of misinformation about vaccine dangers and blaming twelve people know as the “Disinformation Dozen." On this week’s edition of “Our Voices,” we will look at the COVID-19 “infodemic" and how misinformation, myths and rumors about the vaccine have spread as quickly as the disease itself and break down fact from fiction surrounding the pandemic.
According to Penal Reform International, the number of women prisoners is soaring globally, rising 50% in Asia, 24% in Africa and 19% in Central and South America. Low-level non-violent crimes amid the COVID-19 pandemic that is often linked to poverty, adultery and harsh drug policies is fueling the recent spike of female imprisonment. On this week's edition of "Our Voices," we will look at the devastating impact incarceration has on women and why they find themselves behind bars despite calls for justice and penal reforms that address gender specific concerns.
A new study shows women experienced almost three times more mental illness during the pandemic than men. Financial insecurity, hunger along with mental health were their greatest concern. On this edition of "Our Voices", we’ll take a look at how the pandemic has impacted women's psyche and how it has taken a toll on their well-being. We'll examine what causes them to worry, and what can be done about it.
Although most African nations have been spared the levels of death and infection caused by the coronavirus in other parts of the globe; lockdowns, travel restrictions, and trade slowdown have thrown sub-Saharan Africa into a recession. On this week’s Our Voices, we take a look at the economic impact of the pandemic for African nations and the uphill battle policymakers have in improving the livelihoods of their people during these challenging times. We'll also examine other factors that have influence on their bottom-line and question if the continent is sliding into a recession or heading to recovery.
The 2020 Olympics are finally underway in Tokyo after potentially being sidelined due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a one year delay, the International Olympic Committee pushed forward by implementing safety measure such as mask mandates and social distancing rules to mandatory COVID testing and with no spectators in the seats for the world’s most watched international sporting event. On this week’s Our Voices, we take a look at the long road to the 2020 Olympics for African nations and introduce you to athletes from the continent who are going for the Gold in Japan.
The World Health Organization says nine in ten African nations are set to miss the urgent COVID-19 vaccination goals by September 2021. Also, the United Nations noted that Africa only accounts for less than 1% of the more than 2.1 billion doses that have been administered globally. On the next Our Voices, join host Auriane Itangishaka as she questions if a heavy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine will eventually result in the uptake of doses. We'll also examine what is the position of African and donor nations as well as the general populations on the vaccine itself and why the continent is lagging behind in people getting fully vaccinated.
Women for years have been on the frontline of movements that have affected change around the world. They have been raising their voice to a cause either by pen to paper, marching in the streets, or taking a seat -- from U.S. Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks, to Liberia’s Nobel Peace Laureates Leymah Gbowee and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as well as Aisha Yesufu, co-founder of Nigeria’s #BringBackOurGirls and #ENDSARS supporter, to #BlackLivesMatters’ co-founders Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, and now 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, who recorded the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minnesota, all these women courageously started these movements to stand against injustices and inequality. On this week’s Our Voices, we spotlight some of these women who were a catalyst of change through activism.
On World Refugee Day in 2019, more than 75 teams of VOA visual journalists in more than 30 countries set out to capture the complexities and nuances of forced displacement around the world. Two years later, Voice of America released a 96-minute film to document the impact on displaced individuals and their destination countries, along with those who assisted their endeavors and those who got in the way. This week on Our Voices, we bring you the stories of displaced people from the African continent featured in VOA’s documentary, “A Day in the Life of Refugees.”
“Together we heal, learn and shine” is not only this year’s theme of World Refugee Day, it also carries so much hope for hundreds of thousands of people who fled their own countries for hardly habitable living conditions in foreign lands. The theme also indicates challenges on the shoulders of people who are working relentlessly for basic human rights. On this week's "Our Voices," we commemorate the lives that have been lost in war and conflicts, address existing challenges in the global refugee communities, and bring you inspiring stories from within and outside refugee camps.
When most people think of war and its casualties, many think of men on the battlefield. But, unfortunately, women and girls are often victims caught in the midst of these deadly conflicts on the continent, who are often sexually assaulted and raped as a weapon of war. On this week’s Our Voices, we take a closer look at gender-based violence amid warring factions in DR Congo’s eastern province of North Kivu and Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict and examine possible reparations and humanitarian aid.
Questions persist surrounding COVID-19 from how the pandemic started to how it will end. To help provide crucial information to the audience, Voice of America has held many virtual town halls by various services including Somali, Portuguese, French, and English. In Part Two of this special edition of Our Voices edition, we share more answers and advice from experts to questions posed by the audience.
Although it has been a little over a year since the WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic, questions still remain. To help provide crucial information to the audience, Voice of America has held many virtual town halls by various services including the Somali, Portuguese, French, and English. This week we bring you part one of a special edition of Our Voices, based on those town halls, where women who are leading Africa’s fight against COVID-19 answer viewer questions.
The World Health Organization says that many infertile women in developing countries believe that their lives are without hope without children. On this week’s Our Voices, we hear from brave women who have not allowed this condition to define who they are as individuals and are productive contributors to their communities. We’ll also discuss the challenges these families face and potential solutions with a look at some available resources in certain parts of the continent.
As deliveries begin to slow down or come to a complete halt, Africa urgently needs more COVID-19 vaccines with many countries on the continent already exhausting their initial supplies. On this week’s Our Voices, we examine how these nations can protect their most vulnerable populations when there is limited access or availability to vaccines with many of their citizens hesitant or unwilling to take them at all.
In the first 100 days in office for U.S. President Joe Biden, he spent most of his energy tackling the coronavirus pandemic on home soil. But in this short period of time, he has made a few important gestures that have been welcomed in Africa. On this week’s Our Voices, we take a closer look at U.S.-Africa relations after Donald Trump's tumultuous four-year presidency. We’ll examine the differences under the new U.S. administration and what policies are changing and staying the same.
Covid-19 has exposed the challenges many journalists worldwide face in the line of duty, as government’s attempt to suppress information about the pandemic. A sad reality, 30-years after the Windhoek Declaration that led to World Press Freedom Day, which calls on governments to respect free, independent, and diverse media. There’ve been some gains, Tanzania being one, but media watchdog groups remain concerned about the lack of press freedom. This week, on Our Voices, we examine the media landscape in Africa, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the challenges it has exposed for female journalists. We’ll also speak with veteran journalist, Shaka Ssali as he retires from VOA.
Researchers say climate change is disproportionately impacting women around the world, especially in rural Africa. In commemoration of Earth Day during this month of April, this week’s edition of Our Voices, co-host Auriane Itangishaka highlights efforts being made by women in protecting, preserving, and restoring our ecosystem.
The COVID 19 shutdown of studios, music venues, and major film and art festivals forced the entertainment industry globally to think out of the box creatively - often relying more on digital platforms. On this week's Our Voices, we look at the entertainment industry - from Nollywood to Hollywood - and examine how content is being created and consumed amid the coronavirus pandemic saying the "the show must go on!"
Around the world, we see women on the front lines, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and holding families and communities together. Yet, globally, women have been the hardest hit by COVID-19’s economic fallout. This week, on Our Voices, we look at the state of women in the workforce. We’ll also bring you the stories of those who have found new ways to adapt to the COVID-19 economy, staying afloat and in business during the pandemic.
As we celebrate women’s month this March, we take note of several momentous firsts for women – first female U.S. vice president, first female president of Tanzania, and the first director-general of the World Trade Organization. Although we applaud these strides, we ask is it enough? A recently released UN report says the pace of achieving gender equality is too slow. On Our Voices this week, we’ll bring you inspiring stories of the major achievements by African women and look at the historic implications of those who came before them. We’ll also share some tips on how to prepare women for leadership roles and examine what men can do to help.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital use across the globe in many areas including healthcare, education, and finance. This week, on Our Voices, we delve into the surge of digital mobile money across Africa. From Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe, we look at how Africa has become the largest market for mobile money. We also share how one woman got creative providing a much-needed service for her community.
With over a billion people worldwide living with disabilities, the UN says they are also among the hardest hit by COVID-19 with higher fatalities. Their need for assistance is making it hard for them not to contract the virus and maintain the required safety measures or gain access to proper healthcare. On this edition of Our Voices, Auriane Itangishaka will look at challenges that people living with disabilities have during this pandemic and explore some of the available recourses or solutions to support this often overlooked community.
The world has launched the largest immunization drive in history. And now African Nations have begun rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. This week, on Our Voices, Haydé Adams FitzPatrick looks at how it’s going, and what happens when a vaccine is in high demand and short supply. She also speaks to Sandile Cele, a South African scientist, whose COVID-19 breakthrough could reveal where this pandemic will take us next.
Despite a second wave of the coronavirus looming, primary and secondary schools are reopening across Africa. On this edition of VOA Our Voices, we’ll examine whether the timing is right for students and teachers to return to the classroom. We’ll take a closer look at the challenges surrounding access to distance learning and question if proper safety measures are in place to reopen the schools. Also, we'll shine a light on alternative schools for girls, who are the hardest hit by school closures due to the pandemic.
Research shows that most women learn parenting practices from their own mothers and repeat some of what they’ve seen and discard the rest. These intense complex relationships often described as contradictory range from sometimes being challenging marred with conflict to being very supportive and caring. On the next edition of Our Voices co-host, Auriane Itangishaka will examine the relationship between mothers and daughters in Africa from a cultural perspective. We will also share tips and recommendations from experts to build a better bond between the two.
Imagine being jailed for simply doing your job. Countless journalists around the world face this very threat every day but many journalists choose to report despite the immense danger to themselves and their loved ones. On this edition of Our Voices, we take a look at the state of press freedom around the world. We'll hear from a number of journalists who are taking enormous risks to bring us critical information.
What can we expect as the new U.S. President shifts the tone from "America First" to "America's Back?” President Joe Biden has taken immediate, sweeping action to undo the Trump administration's policies. With a diverse cabinet, tapped to lead at home and abroad, what will this chapter mean for America's image and relationships around the world?In this episode of Our Voices, Haydé Adams FitzPatrick speaks to VOA's White House correspondent, Patsy Widakuswara, about the Biden-Harris agenda; and we'll hear what Africans would like to see from the new administration. We also feature a historic cabinet pick that could help change the relationship between the U.S. government and its indigenous people.
Despite being educated, skilled, and capable, millions of people worldwide are finding themselves without a job or any income due to COVID-19. Now, many are exploring new streams of revenue tapping into the digital economy -- which the World Bank says is a "driver of growth and innovation in Africa." On this edition of Our Voices, co-host Auriane Isis Itangishaka looks at virtual job opportunities that exist, and introduce you to people, especially women who are making money online during the lockdown.
The main source of funding for most wildlife protection activities in Africa has come to a halt due to the pandemic devastating global tourism. According to some conservation organizations across the continent, major cuts in ranger patrols and the loss of safari guides has also led to more poaching. In this week’s edition of Our Voices, we will focus on wildlife conservation. We'll also examine how wildlife trade can be related to infectious disease.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected people worldwide, including migrants and refugees, many of whom have gotten ill, lost jobs, or been stranded in destination countries. And as the COVID-19 vaccine is administered across several countries, the UN says these groups must be included in COVID-19 vaccination programs in countries where they live. On this edition of VOA Our Voices, we’ll examine recent warnings of a delay in COVID vaccinations for Africa will be a "moral catastrophe” for the world.
From a pandemic to politics and protests, 2020 was a year we will probably never forget. Will 2021 be different? This week, on Our Voices, Haydé Adams FitzPatrick looks back at the stories that made headlines across Africa and looks ahead to the year to come. We will also show you how one Ghanaian teacher turned the pandemic into a learning opportunity for children.
According to the United Nations about four-million babies are born each day globally. And so far, the COVID-19 pandemic is not stopping many couples from bringing a new life into the world. This week on Our Voices, we’ll explore maternal health and discuss the challenging decisions associated with family planning for parents during this health crisis.
This month, activists around the world wrapped the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. But while observers point to progress made on this front in the past few years, experts now say cases are on the rise due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this edition of Our Voices, we put a spotlight on the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, we look at the global push for access to the coronavirus vaccine. How much will it cost? Will everyone get it? Will everyone want it? Africa’s leading health experts want the continent to play a vital role in clinical trials and eventual immunization delivery. We'll hear from those who are worried Africans will be used as “human guinea pigs” for coronavirus vaccine testing. We'll also examine the deep mistrust of health systems among some in America’s Black communities, and how a disturbing unethical study of the past haunts the fight against COVID-19 today.
At the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare workers were being applauded for their tireless efforts on the frontline. But now, with COVID-19 cases surpassing 57 million globally, these selfless and dedicated heroes are fatigued, frustrated and feeling underpaid, under-appreciated, and unprotected. On this edition of #VOAOurVoices, we’ll take a look at some of the risks and challenges they face as they try to remain committed to the oath that they took to care for the sick.
The current pandemic has been a major blow to the travel and tourism industries in Africa. However, this crisis has also allowed the battered industries to rethink and plan for new and different ways of doing things. This week on “Our Voices” we’ll look at the measures countries and companies are taking to revive the travel sector while fighting COVID-19.
Art, dance, and music are a trifecta that has long created bridges and helped us communicate when words fail us. On this edition of #VOAOurVoices, we introduce you to artists who went to work when the pandemic hit hard - keeping us entertained during dark moments while "challenging the human consciousness" and igniting discourse about identity. We'll also look at how athletes are breaking records and using their platforms to inspire communities.
Across the continent, African women are daring to make their ideas a thriving business by using technology. On a special edition of Our Voices, we’ll introduce you to female entrepreneurs in an exciting new multi-media series called “StartUp Africa,” as they share their insight on their technological endeavors.
The U.S. presidential election is one of the most fascinating political contests in the world. Every four years, the world watches to see who will win the White House, and what issues will carry the day. On this special edition of Our Voices, host Haydé Adams FitzPatrick and VOA's reporters look at how the American election system works, and why it's often as controversial as the issues that shape the political campaigns.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world, the year 2020 had the potential to be a disastrous one for those living on the brink of starvation. According to the United Nations World Food Program, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, the number of people facing acute food insecurity would likely to double from 135 million to 265 million, because of natural disasters, conflict, and climate change. On this edition of Our Voices, we'll take a look at the factors causing food shortage and malnutrition during the coronavirus pandemic and how urban farming is rising up as a solution.
As the year 2020 comes to a close, countries are continuing to confront COVID-19 bracing for a possible second wave of infections. This week, on Our Voices, we look at the coronavirus pandemic in the world's hardest-hit places: the U.S., India, Brazil and parts of Europe. With the official COVID-19 death toll now at more than 1 million people, we ask: are countries getting a handle on the pandemic, or are we headed for a second wave, that's possibly worse than the first?
The list of admissible Chairmanship candidates for the upcoming African Union Commission elections in February 2021 was released on September 8th, 2020. The seat for the incumbent Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat who seeks re-election is unopposed. This has triggered an uproar from Africans calling this election and nomination process undemocratic, and are asking for an extension of the application deadline for more candidates to compete for the seat. On this special edition of “Our Voices,” we take a look at the process to the top leadership of the continent, and what’s at stake for the continent after 2021.
This week, on Our Voices, we look at the problematic portrayals of Africa. We examine the difference between the way much of the world sees the continent and the way Africans see it. Africa is one of the most multinational, multilingual, and multicultural parts of the world. So, why the disconnect? In this episode, we go to South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and France, to meet those who are challenging the idea of “Africa’s single narrative”.
Across Africa, more than 140 million children are out of school amid coronavirus-related closures. In South Africa, the government shuttered schools in March, reopened them in June – only to have to close them again when the nation’s coronavirus numbers started to spike. The Kenyan government decided early on to close its primary and secondary schools for the remainder of 2020. On this episode of #VOAOurVoices will examine how governments' worldwide have struggled with the decision to reopen or keep schools closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. We'll also introduce you to academic leaders, teachers, parents, and student who are creatively taking on the challenge surrounding education and learning during coronavirus health crisis.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech on these steps 57 years ago during the historic March on Washington. Recently, the US Capitol saw another March on Washington, one that - like the former- took place amid nationwide protests for racial justice and an end to police violence. On this episode of Our Voices, you'll hear from activists, policemen and leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement as we go beyond the protest. We speak to protesters about their goals, who they are and what compels them to speak up amid increasing tensions in the United States?
Around the world, survivors of rape and sexual assault are taking to the streets and social media, to say “no means no”, and to hold perpetrators to account. But why do rape and sexual violence still happen every day, in nearly every country on earth? This week's edition of #VOAOurVoices, we take an in-depth look at rape culture. What does it look like? Who and what enables it? We’ll also speak to survivors who are tackling a culture of rape and sexual assault in their own countries.
Self-care is a practice that has been around for years, with a billion-dollar industry to back it. What is self-care? On this edition of #VOAOurVoices is all about you, as we take a look at self-care, why experts say it’s important and can practicing it really eliminate long term stress and anxiety. We will hear from mental health experts, fitness trainers and share tips on maintaining personal health amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact millions of people across the globe, many questions remain on the way forward. On this edition of #VOAOurVoices, our hosts feature health professionals from across Africa answering more of your most pressing questions. Compiled from our Voice of America COVID-19 virtual town-halls, our health professionals answer your questions in English, French, Somali, Amharic, Portuguese, and Swahili.
Women worldwide are working hard to attain independence in many areas of their lives, however, Covid-19 is not only threatening their health, but also the strides that have been made in gender equality and economic empowerment, which may set them back for decades. On the next edition of #VOAOurVoices, we'll introduce you to women, including our colleagues from KTN News in Kenya, who are stepping up to the financial challenges created by the pandemic by starting businesses to ensure economic security to stay empowered and not revert back to traditional gender roles.
On the next edition of #VOAOurVoices, we take a look at COVID-19 testing, tracing and the race to develop a vaccine. Many doctors are now regularly testing patients to see if they have the coronavirus and if confirmed, health officials might try to trace other people the patient may have come in contact with. And while all of this is going on, scientists worldwide are working on a Covid-19 vaccine. But what is at stake for Africans? And how do long-standing stigmas about diseases and vaccines impact how we see the ongoing work to create a cure for the coronavirus.
Is the COVID-19 pandemic a chance for Africa to use technology that it already has, to leap into a high-tech future? This week on #VOAOurVoices, we bring you an exciting sneak peek at the “next normal” as countries across Africa test “no-touch” payments, remote learning, anti-epidemic robots and telemedicine, turning COVID-19 challenges into eye-opening opportunities. We'll also talk to Africans who are working to help shape the continent’s digital future.
We have witnessed the fight against COVID- 19 on the African continent in the spirit of “Tuko Pamoja,” which is Swahili for “We are together.” This togetherness transcends mere agreements but implies that empathy and understanding amongst a people is stronger than a deadly virus. This week’s #VOAOurVoices, we highlight impressive charitable work that Africans on the ground and abroad are doing to assist their own during these tough times.
The last few months have been tumultuous as countries worldwide work to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Some countries have been successful, while others are struggling. On this edition of #VOAOurVoices, we offer a COVID-19 analysis, as we take an in-depth look at how African countries are handling the pandemic. What can we learn from the battle against the virus as some nations begin to see a surge in new cases? We will bring you these conversations and more coming up on Our Voices.
Following weeks of widespread demonstrations, with protestors calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism, we look at whether this moment in history will lead to the change and reforms people are hoping for. In this episode of #VOAOurVoices, our reporters take you inside the tumultuous demonstrations that shook cities in the U.S. and other parts of the world. We’ll bring you the story of an African mother whose son died in a hail of police bullets. And, a Kenyan rights activist talks to us about addressing police brutality and inequality in African countries.
Around the world, COVID-19 lockdowns have disrupted religious traditions from worship services, pilgrimage traditional celebrations, customary cultural ceremonies, and much more. The week on #VOAOurVoices, we take a look at how lockdowns are impacting religious communities and people’s faith. We'll introduce you to clergy who are adapting to the pandemic by using technology and putting safety measures in place as restrictions ease for religious gatherings.
As African countries begin to reopen from lockdowns imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, questions remain about how to keep ourselves healthy, what to do about wearing masks, and when there might be a vaccine. On this edition of #VOAOurVoices we share the voices of health professionals from across Africa answering our audience's most compelling questions. Compiled from our Voice of America COVID-19 virtual townhalls, our health professionals answer your questions in English, French, Swahili, and Hausa.
Housing justice has been one of the defining matters of our generation, but how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted access to equitable housing for millions across the globe? From financial challenges, mass evictions during pandemic lockdowns, to other circumstances beyond one’s control, this week #VOAOurVoices takes a closer look at how COVID-19 has impacted housing inequality throughout Africa. In our #WomentoWatch segment you meet one of the continent’s youngest deputy ministers, who is leading her country’s COVID-19 response.
As countries race to contain the spread and socio-economic impact of COVID-19, the World Health Organization warns of a “second contagion”: false information. On this episode of #VOAOurVoices, we help equip our audience with the tools to sort through what’s real and what's not. From bogus remedies to fake news on social media, our team shares how journalists, fact-checking organizations, and social media platforms are among those working to ensure the information you receive is fact-based and accurate. We also share expert advice on what children should know about COVID-19.
As nations around the world race to find ways the combat COVID-19, many are struggling to secure the necessary tools and alternative solutions needed to fight the spread of this disease. This week on #VOAOurVoices we highlight inventions, innovations, and, alternative solutions produced by Africans to solve Africa’s unique needs in combating the novel coronavirus. We will also delve into the controversy surrounding the president of Madagascar’s Covid-Organics (CVO), a drink derived from the artemisia plant in which he claims can treat and prevent COVID-19.
With COVID-19 dominating national and international headlines for the recent months, our #VOAOurVoices hosts share the best original coverage on the novel coronavirus from the Voice of America. Our team brings you stories of innovation, of endurance and of African ingenuity. We’ll introduce you to font line heroes from off the ground in Nigeria and Uganda who’ll share their compelling testimonies of how it is to fight this deadly infectious disease up close and personal. And VOA health correspondent Linord Moudou joins the show to give us the latest developments on the COVID-19.
As the confirmed number of coronavirus cases reaches a new milestone – more than 3 million documented cases worldwide – the realities of COVID-19 come with a number of changes that have disrupted our everyday lives. On this next edition of #VOAOurVoices, we’ll take you to South Africa where COVID-19 has forged a new normal, to Liberia where young people are finding ways to protect their communities and to the United Kingdom, where a COVID-19 survivor shares her harrowing experience and her advice on what you can do to protect yourself.
The coronavirus pandemic is now more than a threat across Africa and the world, it is a new, deadly reality. And, it could hit Africa’s women, many of whom are primary caretakers and breadwinners, hardest. This week, we bring you Our Voices from our homes, as we look at the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on women’s safety, health, and livelihoods. VOA correspondent, Anasthasie Tudieshe, takes us inside a lockdown in the DRC. We’ll also bring you women’s stories from across the continent, as African activists and experts speak to us from the front lines.
This week, join Haydé Adams FitzPatrick and Auriane Itangishaka for a special edition of #VOAOurVoices, featuring prominent women in African and international politics. Hear renowned economist, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former AU Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, and former U.S. Ambassador on Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, speak about the power and influence of African women on the global stage.
Kinky, Frizzy, Nappy, Kroes, all words used to describe the hair of people of African descent, usually with a derogatory connotation. On this edition of #VOAOurVoices, our panel discusses identity, culture, discrimination, politics and the business behind natural hair. VOA producer Arzouma Kampaore shares his special report, “Braiding the Dream,” exploring the business of hair with Auriane Istangishaka, Ayen Bior and guest contributor Tatenda Gumbo. Pamela Ferrell, owner of Washington D.C. based Cornrows & Company, joins to share her 40-year journey advocating against hair discrimination in the workplace.
Have you ever traveled with a passport from an African country? Have you been affected by travel restrictions imposed on your country? Why is it so difficult for Africans to travel inside their own continent? This week, the #VOAOurVoices team examines the complexities and challenges faced by African travelers. The hosts are joined by VOA’s Nadia Taha and Paul Ndiho, as well as Maria Byrd, correspondent for Nigeria’s Channels Television, to discuss the impact of travel bans, visa restrictions, and the value of a single African passport. Kenyan author and travel blogger, Ciku Kimeria, also joins the show to talk about her experiences as an African tourist in Africa.
This week on #VOAOurVoices shares a dynamic discussion on plural marriage, commonly known as the practice of polygamy. Aisha Mu'zau and Yusuf Harande of VOA’s Hausa Service join our co-hosts Ayen Bior, Auriane Itangishaka and Hayde Adams FitzPatrick. The panel discusses the evolution, modernization and complexities of polygamy cultures around the globe; and we ask the question, can those who choose plural marriage sustain their modern households? We also feature an American family that invites TV audiences to “rethink marriage.”
This week #VOAOurVoices commemorates the 45th anniversary of International Women’s Day, focusing on the theme of #GenerationEquality. Nina Oduro, co-founder of Dine Diaspora, a company founded and run by black women, joins Ayen Bior, Hayde Adams FitzPatrick and Auriane Itangishaka examine what progress has been made in gender equality since the historic 1995 World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China and how the current generation must close the gender gap. We also feature the “firsts” of this generation, African women who became the first to make history in their respective fields.
“Hello”, “Bonjour”, “Ola” – all greetings in languages used in classrooms across Africa. But how many are actually indigenous to the African continent? This week, #VOAOurVoices examines mother tongue education in African schools. Should children be taught in the language they speak at home? Host, Hayde Adams FitzPatrick is joined by Madina Maishanu of VOA’s Hausa news service, Mwamoyo Hamza, Chief of VOA’s Swahili news service, as well as Jackson Mvunganyi, from VOA’s youth-focused show, Upfront. South African linguist, Somikazi Deyi, from the University of Cape Town also joins the show to talk about how friction over mother tongue education has shaped South Africa’s past and present.
From China backing billion dollar projects of its telecom giant Huawei in South Africa, to the Ugandan garlic farmer competing in a market dominated by Chinese goods and Kenya’s new public school curriculum teaching Mandarin; this week #VOAOurVoices discusses the presence of China on the African continent. Our panel asks if China’s dominance in Africa will be beneficial or harmful to the average person. Guest co-host Salem Solomon joins Ayen Bior and Auriane Itangishaka for a dynamic discussion with analyst and researcher Paul Nantulya and VOA Mandarin’s U.S. State Department correspondent, Liyuan Lu. VOA Producer Abby Sun joins to share insight on Kenya's move to add Mandarin to the country's public school curriculum.
Courtship, love, marital bliss, only delayed. On this episode #VOAOurVoices, our hosts examine the growing trend of women delaying matrimony to cater to life’s demands and responsibilities, including education and financial stability. VOA Hausa’s Madina Maishanu co-hosts and guest Sarah Adeyinka-Skold, a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, join Ayen Bior and Auriane Itangishaka to discuss the evolving marriage patterns of women across the world. We also feature Kenyan musician Eric Wainaina, who shares his lesson on love, marriage and infidelity.
For decades the vibrant styles, colors, and glamour of African fashion have graced catwalks around the world, but some designers say African fashion needs more customers that are African. This week on #VOAOurVoices we focus on the evolution and economics of the fashion industry and ask what are you wearing? Washington D.C. based designer and owner of Estella Couture, Estella Izaafa, joins in studio to discuss the greater representation of Africa’s designers. Nisha Kanabar, CEO of Industrie Africa, shares how her company promotes a global platform for Africa’s contemporary fashion. Robin Givhan, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and fashion critic for the Washington Post shares her perspective on the latest racial and cultural faux pas from major fashion designers.
The world’s largest technology firms including Dell, Apple, Tesla and Alphabet, have come under fire with human rights activists. A recent lawsuit alleges these companies are knowingly benefiting from children mining cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This week on #VOAOurVoices, our panel of guests to discuss the feasibility of fighting unlawful child labor practices by corporate giants and, most often, informal work relationships. Terry Collingsworth, attorney and executive director of International Rights Advocates, join hosts Auriane Itangishaka, Ayen Bior and guest co-host Mary Mugawe of VOA Swahili to examine how to protect 73 million African children who work under the age of 15. Also, Mulowa Kajoba, founder and chairperson Galaxy of Universal Potential, a program providing educational opportunities in Democratic Republic of Congo joins the conversation via Skype.
From decades of political notoriety and financial power, to the fall from prominence, this week #VOAOurVoices’ Auriane Itangishaka, Hayde Adams FitzPatrick, and guest co-host Salem Solomon, explore dynastic families throughout Africa. VOA Portuguese's Joad Jose Santarita joins to discuss the dos Santos family dynasty and the recent anti-corruption probe against billionaire daughter Isabel dos Santos. Ray Choto of VOA Zimbabwe analyzes the fall of political aspirant, former Zimbabwe First Lady, Grace Mugabe. And author Farida Jalalzai shares the challenges of familial ties and power.
A crime that capitalizes on the vulnerabilities of its victims, a form of modern-day slavery, this week #VOAOurVoices examines international efforts to combat human trafficking and help resettle survivors. Aisha M’uazu of VOA Hausa joins to share how survivors in Nigeria are rebuilding their lives, Evelyn Chumbow, a survivor of labor trafficking and a board member at Free the Slaves, shares her personal story. We also joined by Sarah Bessell, Senior Staff Attorney at the Human Trafficking Legal Center based in Washington, D.C., who makes sure survivors have access to legal counsel.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, Ayen Bior and Hayde Adams FitzPatrick are joined by guest co-host Salem Solomon, as they look back at the news headlines and trends that shaped the past decade in Africa. We look at the moments and movements that led to the overthrow of some of the continent’s most notorious autocrats; and how a changing climate affected the most vulnerable. The team also looks ahead, to the stories likely to define the decade ahead. And, as we enter a new year, we talk about three women poised to make an impact in 2020, as part of our #WomentoWatch segment.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, Ayen Bior and Hayde Adams FitzPatrick are joined by guest co-host Salem Solomon, as they look back at the news headlines and trends that shaped the past decade in Africa. We look at the moments and movements that led to the overthrow of some of the continent’s most notorious autocrats; and how a changing climate affected the most vulnerable. The team also looks ahead, to the stories likely to define the decade ahead. And, as we enter a new year, we talk about three women poised to make an impact in 2020, as part of our #WomentoWatch segment.
Customary, traditional, symbolic and modernized, this week #VOAOurVoices examines the evolution of the practice of dowry or bride price. Joined by of VOA Hausa’s Aisha M’uazu and Marvelous Nyahuye of VOA Zimbabwe, Ayen, Auriane and Hayde discuss the significance and negative stereotypes of their respective cultural matrimonial practices. In the #WomentoWatch segment, we feature a woman who argued bride price, known as roora or lobola in Zimbabwe, amounts to discrimination and perpetuates inequality.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, as 2019 draws to a close Ayen Bior, Auriane Itangishaka, Hayde Adams FitzPatrick and guest co-host Tatenda Gumbo reflect on a pivotal year for African women. From South African runner Caster Semenya to Somali-American U.S. Congresswoman Illhan Omar, Nigeria's Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi and Uganda's Jessica Nabongo, the year came with personal, professional and historical changes and challenges for many African women across the world. In this year's final #WomentoWatch segment we feature the trailblazing Nigerian director Tope Oshin, who is changing the norms for women in film.
As Africa’s economies grow and more women enter the work force, #VOAOurVoices’ Ayen, Hayde and Auriane along with a dynamic panel, discuss workplace culture across the continent. Rita Akutwasa, Director of Institute for Social Transformation joins via Skype focusing on challenges faced by market women in Uganda. In-studio guest Kehinde Kenny Ajayi, lead of the World Bank's Gender Innovation Lab Youth Employment Research examines policy surrounding maternity leave, childcare and the financial burden of working women. Hellen Fissihaie, CEO of F3 Global shares how women can affectively challenge gender pay gaps. And #WomantoWatch features VOA’s Kadiatou Traore, who shares an experience that led her to empower women in Mali.
As countries throughout Africa continue to promote gender parity in politics, this week on #VOAOurVoices we explore how prejudice, bias and patriarchal systems shape the inclusion of women in leadership. Former Tanzanian Ambassador to the U.S. Liberata Mulamula joins our co-hosts Auriane, Hayde and Ayen to share how women can overcome barriers and effectively lead. In the #WomentoWatch segment, we feature a women working to “enrich foreign policy with African accents.”
Can sports get too political? South Africa's first black rugby captain Siya Kolisi, leading the national team to World Cup victory; American footballer Colin Kaepernick, taking a kneel during the national anthem; and Ethiopian runner, Feyisa Lilesa’s protest gesture at the 2016 Olympics -- all examples of what happens when sports and politics collide. But, do athletes, who use their influence to address political, social and cultural issues, really make an impact? This week on #VOAOurVoices, we tackle conflict and controversy at the intersection of sports and politics. In our #WomentoWatch segment, we show how women are using the beautiful game to push for an even playing field.
This week Ayen Bior, Auriane Itangishaka and Hayde Adams FitzPatrick discuss the authority, influence and persuasion promoting the culture of #sexforgrades on Africa’s academic campuses. Back in the international spotlight after the release of an undercover BBC investigation, our panel examines how the multifaceted issue can be resolved. Former media personality and student at Uganda’s Makerere University, Tattu Sophie Katasi joins us in-studio. With lecturer at the University of Professional Studies Accra, Fred Awaah and Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, executive director of Stand to End Rape, joining via Skype.
Join Ayen Bior, Auriane Itangishaka and Hayde Adams FitzPatrick for the season two premiere of #VOAOurVoices. The team returns, together with producer Abby Sun and digital producer Tatenda Gumbo, to chronicle their travel to South Sudan,Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. Watch as they discuss their experiences, coverage, and stories shared with countless women in east and west Africa. In our #WomentoWatch segment, we flip the script and highlight the inspiring story of a group of teens from Kakuma refugee camp.
This week join Auriane Itangishaka and Ayen Bior for a special edition of #VOAOurVoices from Kampala, Uganda. In partnership with NBS TV, Sabrina Agasha and Bahati Hilda, NBS media personalities, guest co-host for a candid discussion on social media and social change. We explore the influence of social media on daily life, its use for social and political impact, entrepreneurship, and its unintended consequences. We also flip the script on #WomentoWatch and feature prominent social media accounts ran by women.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, we examine U.S. foreign policy and priorities toward Africa under President Donald Trump. From trade and aid, to immigration and security, we look at the state of America's engagement with the continent, amid an ever-changing political landscape. VOA senior White House correspondent, Patsy Widakuswara, and Washington correspondent for Nigeria's Channels TV, Maria Byrd, join the program for an in-depth discussion. In our #WomentoWatch segment we highlight women who are blazing trails in the world of foreign policy.
As more of Africa's rural population shifts to urban areas, in search of jobs, the continent faces a growing challenge: rapid urbanization. Nearly 70 percent of the continent's urban dwellers live in slums, where many face the constant threat of eviction from landlords. This week, on #VOAOurVoices, our team focuses on the need for affordable housing across Africa. We look at whether innovation is the answer to the housing deficit. We also speak to iBuild's Nancy Welsh, who is an advocate for affordable housing in the U.S., Africa and Asia. Welsh talks about the importance of building green communities to avert a continental-wide housing crisis.
This week, on #VOAOurVoices: from afro beats and South Africa’s hypnotic gqom music, to the Ivorian sounds of Coupé-Decalé, African artists continue to reinvent the rhythms of Africa – and the world is taking note. This week, our hosts are joined by David Vandy, from VOA’s The African Beat. Together, they explore the global influence and reach of African music, and how that expansion benefits artists from the continent. In our #WomentoWatch segment, we highlight the women who are pushing the sounds of Africa to a new level, and feature a live performance from singer-songwriter ToluMiDe.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, our team travels to Hampton, Virginia, for a special broadcast from Fort Monroe, the arrival site of the first African slaves in Britain’s American colonies. Africans were abducted, trafficked, and enslaved in America for more than 200 years. Many call it, “America’s original sin”. Today, there is fiery debate across the United States about reparations for the descendants of African slaves. This week, we ask, “Are slave trade reparations also due to the African countries where millions of people were taken from, in order to build America's economy?”
This week on #VOAOurVoices, there are two sides to the fierce debate on abortion, pro-life and pro-choice. But can these two sides meet in the middle? In Africa, this debate goes to the heart of people's culture, family planning and the modernization of societies. According to the World Health Organization, 25 million unsafe abortions were performed each year from 2010 to 2014. With the highest risk of death from an unsafe abortion in Africa. Our team looks into the Mexico City policy, also known as 'Global Gag Rule,' which places abortion-related restrictions on non-governmental organizations. We are also joined by Ann Kioko, campaigns director for Africa with CitizenGo, a pro-life organization to tackle this debate.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, we discuss the law, cases of discrimination and cultural perceptions of LGBTQI communities throughout Africa. Out of 54 countries on the continent, 35 outlaw gay rights. South Africa is the only country in Africa that recognizes same-sex unions. Nine countries have decriminalized homosexuality. And the latest, Botswana, is facing an appeal after a High Court ruling permitting same-sex unions. Our hosts explore if African societies are becoming more accepting of LGBTQI communities, and if changes in the laws will follow. Edafe Okporo, the Executive Director of RDJ Refugee Shelter based in New York City, joins the program. He shares the experience refugees resettling from Africa to western countries where their rights are better protected.
This week #VOAOurVoices, we focus on the worth of a girl. From Tanzania to Albania, to Nigeria, to America, millions of children and women alive today were married before the age of 18. On this episode co-hosts Ayen Bior and Auriane Itangishaka share the yearlong Voice of America project set to capture the lives of these young women who were child brides. Capturing their lives, VOA reporters put a face and voice to the practice. We also feature women working to end the custom of child marriage.
This week #VOAOurVoices joins the international community in marking the World Day against Trafficking Persons. Yearly millions of vulnerable victims, mainly adult women, fall into human trafficking, through violence, manipulation and false promises. Our team, joined by VOA Zimbabwe Digital Lead Marvelous Nyahuye, takes a closer look at the myths and misconceptions of trafficking, measures to combat the act and how survivors cope.
This week #VOAOurVoices joins the international community in marking the World Day against Trafficking Persons. Yearly millions of vulnerable victims, mainly adult women, fall into human trafficking, through violence, manipulation and false promises. Our team, joined by VOA Zimbabwe Digital Lead Marvelous Nyahuye, takes a closer look at the myths and misconceptions of trafficking, measures to combat the act and how survivors cope.
This week on #VOAOurVoices its destination Africa. With no shortage of attractive destinations from Morocco’s vast desert, to South Africa’s Table Mountain, to Kenya’s Mount Kilimanjaro and Ghana’s Cape Coast, our hosts explore the potential of tourism throughout the continent. Guest Doris Woerfel, CEO of Africa Tourism Board, shares how the organization is marketing Africa to not only the globe but also at home. And Cherae Robinson, the founder and CEO of Tastemakers Africa, shares how her interactive platform is curating tourist experiences in some of Africa’s most exciting cities.
This week on #VOAOurVoices, our hosts examine America's immigration policies from an African perspective. Immigration is highly controversial as foreigners continue to flock to the U.S., in pursuit of the American dream. We discuss how tougher immigration restrictions, proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, will affect African immigrants. We also feature an American lawmaker of African descent, who's pushing to protect ‘Dreamers’ from deportation.
This week on #VOAOurVoices our hosts discuss the intersection between gender, law and judiciary systems throughout Africa. Leading with the appointment of Meaza Ashenefi, Ethiopia’s first woman chief justice, we examine her significant role in Ethiopia’s courts. And focus on the role of women in law across the continent working to deliver and uphold justice for their citizens. The #WomentoWatch segment highlights women working to change laws in their countries and expand justice.
The ingredients, flavors, spices, culture and traditions of African food help shape, unite and leave us asking for a second helping. This week on #VOAOurVoices our team explores the delicious African cuisine that has helped the diaspora maintain a sense of family, community and culture, featuring some of Washington D.C.’s more popular African restaurants. We are also discussing Africa’s traditional foods and the inspiration of some to return healthier traditional diets.
This week on #VOAOurVoices our team goes beyond the headlines and tackles African women on and off the sports field. With women continuously making history in professional sports, their success is shadowed by controversies, challenges and experiences not faced by their male counterparts. We discuss equal pay and resources, the controversy surrounding South African Olympic runner Caster Semenya and highlight some historic strides of sportswomen in the diaspora.
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.
This week on #VOAOurVoices across Africa and the globe, millions of people are on the move searching for a better life and economic stability. But in these foreign lands, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are subject to resentment, xenophobia, racism and “Afrophobia.” Our hosts explore perceived cultural, economic and social impact of foreigners and ask the question, should countries open their borders and welcome people on the move?
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.
Welcome to “Our Voices”. This is where African women bring the continent’s most pressing issues to the table. We’ll ask questions, share ideas, discuss solutions, and most importantly, bring your voices - Our Voices - to the conversation.
We’re bringing women’s voices to the conversation and, more than that, we’re building a community of inclusion and empowerment. We know you want to talk about the important issues of our time. And this is the place to do it. Your voice matters – every voice matters so join us in this conversation. Together, we can start transformational conversations online, in our living rooms, our communities, in our lives.