How BBC’s Focus deepens understanding of Africa
Bilkisu Labaran
Bilkisu Labaran is the Editor, BBC Africa News and Current Affairs. A highly accomplished multimedia journalist, she has edited, produced and presented high profile programmes across tv, radio and online. Bilkisu played a vital role in the creation of BBC Pidgin. She spoke with GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR on BBC Focus on Africa’s 60th anniversary, challenges and future of media in Africa.
After 60 years of breaking the news and broadcasting landmark stories about Africa… What will you say the story of BBC’s Focus on Africa is, on the continent? Success? Disappointing? What actually is the story?
I think Focus on Africa has been a big success. We use the word flagship programme, because it is really a flagship programme that has paved the way for so many things across the continent and for the BBC. It continues to lead from the front. It has set trends and covered major events across the continent. It has been really good to work on the video, where we captured the main events of the past decades, the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, the 2000s, the 2010s, and now, the 2020. Just going back over all that material has been really good, as a reminder to all of us about the journey the programme has been on, and how much we’ve achieved over the past 60 years.
So what led to the programme’s conception and birth?
It started, initially, in 1960, as you know, when about 17 African countries became independent, including Nigeria, as well, and as these countries were becoming independent, because as many of them were former British colonies, there was a need for a programme that spoke to Africa, and was specific to Africa, because the media industries in many of these countries were only just beginning. If we go back, and not just Focus, initially, the service for African languages started during the Second World War, languages like the Hausa Service, it was felt that there was a need for accurate information at that time and around the war, humanitarian effort and things like that. So, that was how languages like the Hausa Service came to be, and as I said, as countries were becoming independent from the 1960s, it was when the view was taken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
ken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
No. Africans are very capable, as you and I know very well that we are. It was just something that started from the beginning with the idea; you have one or two producers working on it with the aim and strategic plan to grow it, and to develop capacity within different countries across the continent. One thing that we are really proud of is, it’s network of correspondents, both staff correspondents, as well as freelancers, all across the continent. Initially, the programme didn’t start specifically as Focus on Africa; it started as a programme for Africa, and then, in 1960, it became Focus on Africa that was broadcast three times a week. You could see that from the beginning, we were already beginning to grow and recruit. We were beginning to expand and train more people.
We’ve continued to do that through the years, supporting colleagues throughout Africa, training journalists. One of the other things that we do, in the Africa-English department, which is the mother department of Focus on Africa, you might know that we run the Komla Dumor award. It’s a specific award, where, through a competitive process, we identify young African journalists with great potential and we take them under our wings and train them for three months. We bring them to London, where they work in our newsroom, alongside very experienced colleagues from all over the continent, learning and sharing their own experiences from the continent and exchanging ideas. So, we are very big on developing journalism in Africa and we have always been, not just from the beginning, but carrying on right through the decades.
ken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
What could have led to that decision to start with staff in London? Was it that the capacity was not there on the part of Africans?
No. Africans are very capable, as you and I know very well that we are. It was just something that started from the beginning with the idea; you have one or two producers working on it with the aim and strategic plan to grow it, and to develop capacity within different countries across the continent. One thing that we are really proud of is, it’s network of correspondents, both staff correspondents, as well as freelancers, all across the continent. Initially, the programme didn’t start specifically as Focus on Africa; it started as a programme for Africa, and then, in 1960, it became Focus on Africa that was broadcast three times a week. You could see that from the beginning, we were already beginning to grow and recruit. We were beginning to expand and train more people.
We’ve continued to do that through the years, supporting colleagues throughout Africa, training journalists. One of the other things that we do, in the Africa-English department, which is the mother department of Focus on Africa, you might know that we run the Komla Dumor award. It’s a specific award, where, through a competitive process, we identify young African journalists with great potential and we take them under our wings and train them for three months. We bring them to London, where they work in our newsroom, alongside very experienced colleagues from all over the continent, learning and sharing their own experiences from the continent and exchanging ideas. So, we are very big on developing journalism in Africa and we have always been, not just from the beginning, but carrying on right through the decades.
ken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
What could have led to that decision to start with staff in London? Was it that the capacity was not there on the part of Africans?
No. Africans are very capable, as you and I know very well that we are. It was just something that started from the beginning with the idea; you have one or two producers working on it with the aim and strategic plan to grow it, and to develop capacity within different countries across the continent. One thing that we are really proud of is, it’s network of correspondents, both staff correspondents, as well as freelancers, all across the continent. Initially, the programme didn’t start specifically as Focus on Africa; it started as a programme for Africa, and then, in 1960, it became Focus on Africa that was broadcast three times a week. You could see that from the beginning, we were already beginning to grow and recruit. We were beginning to expand and train more people.
We’ve continued to do that through the years, supporting colleagues throughout Africa, training journalists. One of the other things that we do, in the Africa-English department, which is the mother department of Focus on Africa, you might know that we run the Komla Dumor award. It's a specific award, where, through a competitive process, we identify young African journalists with great potential and we take them under our wings and train them for three months. We bring them to London, where they work in our newsroom, alongside very experienced colleagues from all over the continent, learning and sharing their own experiences from the continent and exchanging ideas. So, we are very big on developing jof freeurnalism in Africa and we have always been, not just from the beginning, but carrying on right through the decades.
Bilkisu Labaran
Bilkisu Labaran is the Editor, BBC Africa News and Current Affairs. A highly accomplished multimedia journalist, she has edited, produced and presented high profile programmes across tv, radio and online. Bilkisu played a vital role in the creation of BBC Pidgin. She spoke with GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR on BBC Focus on Africa’s 60th anniversary, challenges and future of media in Africa.
After 60 years of breaking the news and broadcasting landmark stories about Africa… What will you say the story of BBC’s Focus on Africa is, on the continent? Success? Disappointing? What actually is the story?
I think Focus on Africa has been a big success. We use the word flagship programme, because it is really a flagship programme that has paved the way for so many things across the continent and for the BBC. It continues to lead from the front. It has set trends and covered major events across the continent. It has been really good to work on the video, where we captured the main events of the past decades, the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, the 2000s, the 2010s, and now, the 2020. Just going back over all that material has been really good, as a reminder to all of us about the journey the programme has been on, and how much we’ve achieved over the past 60 years.
So what led to the programme’s conception and birth?
It started, initially, in 1960, as you know, when about 17 African countries became independent, including Nigeria, as well, and as these countries were becoming independent, because as many of them were former British colonies, there was a need for a programme that spoke to Africa, and was specific to Africa, because the media industries in many of these countries were only just beginning. If we go back, and not just Focus, initially, the service for African languages started during the Second World War, languages like the Hausa Service, it was felt that there was a need for accurate information at that time and around the war, humanitarian effort and things like that. So, that was how languages like the Hausa Service came to be, and as I said, as countries were becoming independent from the 1960s, it was when the view was taken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
ken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
No. Africans are very capable, as you and I know very well that we are. It was just something that started from the beginning with the idea; you have one or two producers working on it with the aim and strategic plan to grow it, and to develop capacity within different countries across the continent. One thing that we are really proud of is, it’s network of correspondents, both staff correspondents, as well as freelancers, all across the continent. Initially, the programme didn’t start specifically as Focus on Africa; it started as a programme for Africa, and then, in 1960, it became Focus on Africa that was broadcast three times a week. You could see that from the beginning, we were already beginning to grow and recruit. We were beginning to expand and train more people.
We’ve continued to do that through the years, supporting colleagues throughout Africa, training journalists. One of the other things that we do, in the Africa-English department, which is the mother department of Focus on Africa, you might know that we run the Komla Dumor award. It’s a specific award, where, through a competitive process, we identify young African journalists with great potential and we take them under our wings and train them for three months. We bring them to London, where they work in our newsroom, alongside very experienced colleagues from all over the continent, learning and sharing their own experiences from the continent and exchanging ideas. So, we are very big on developing journalism in Africa and we have always been, not just from the beginning, but carrying on right through the decades.
ken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
What could have led to that decision to start with staff in London? Was it that the capacity was not there on the part of Africans?
No. Africans are very capable, as you and I know very well that we are. It was just something that started from the beginning with the idea; you have one or two producers working on it with the aim and strategic plan to grow it, and to develop capacity within different countries across the continent. One thing that we are really proud of is, it’s network of correspondents, both staff correspondents, as well as freelancers, all across the continent. Initially, the programme didn’t start specifically as Focus on Africa; it started as a programme for Africa, and then, in 1960, it became Focus on Africa that was broadcast three times a week. You could see that from the beginning, we were already beginning to grow and recruit. We were beginning to expand and train more people.
We’ve continued to do that through the years, supporting colleagues throughout Africa, training journalists. One of the other things that we do, in the Africa-English department, which is the mother department of Focus on Africa, you might know that we run the Komla Dumor award. It’s a specific award, where, through a competitive process, we identify young African journalists with great potential and we take them under our wings and train them for three months. We bring them to London, where they work in our newsroom, alongside very experienced colleagues from all over the continent, learning and sharing their own experiences from the continent and exchanging ideas. So, we are very big on developing journalism in Africa and we have always been, not just from the beginning, but carrying on right through the decades.
ken on the need for English programmes to continue to serve many of those countries.
What could have led to that decision to start with staff in London? Was it that the capacity was not there on the part of Africans?
No. Africans are very capable, as you and I know very well that we are. It was just something that started from the beginning with the idea; you have one or two producers working on it with the aim and strategic plan to grow it, and to develop capacity within different countries across the continent. One thing that we are really proud of is, it’s network of correspondents, both staff correspondents, as well as freelancers, all across the continent. Initially, the programme didn’t start specifically as Focus on Africa; it started as a programme for Africa, and then, in 1960, it became Focus on Africa that was broadcast three times a week. You could see that from the beginning, we were already beginning to grow and recruit. We were beginning to expand and train more people.
We’ve continued to do that through the years, supporting colleagues throughout Africa, training journalists. One of the other things that we do, in the Africa-English department, which is the mother department of Focus on Africa, you might know that we run the Komla Dumor award. It's a specific award, where, through a competitive process, we identify young African journalists with great potential and we take them under our wings and train them for three months. We bring them to London, where they work in our newsroom, alongside very experienced colleagues from all over the continent, learning and sharing their own experiences from the continent and exchanging ideas. So, we are very big on developing jof freeurnalism in Africa and we have always been, not just from the beginning, but carrying on right through the decades.
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