Nancy Kacungira
@kacungira
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BBC News Presenter & Correspondent | Africa focus | Stories, systems & how they shape what we see
Joined October 2011
An unexpected debut on the national news at one today! Thanks to the fantastic crew that got me acquainted with quite a different studio very quickly đźâđš
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Africaâs fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, got his US visa 24 hrs before the race of his life. A flight from Kenya to Oregon is 18+ hrs. He has 3hrs after landing to clear customs, get to the arena, pick accreditation, warm up, then compete with the other (well-rested) athletes.
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For the first time in history, the worldâs top architecture prize (Pritzker) has gone to a black winner - DiĂ©bĂ©do Francis KĂ©rĂ© of Burkina Faso. His buildings are a true testament to the beauty of working for and with local communities, local materials, and homegrown uniqueness.
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Against all odds, he landed on time, made it to his race in the 3 remaining hours, and finished in 3rd place, qualifying for the 100m semi-final with a time of 10.10 seconds!! đđŸđđŸđđŸ.
Africaâs fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, got his US visa 24 hrs before the race of his life. A flight from Kenya to Oregon is 18+ hrs. He has 3hrs after landing to clear customs, get to the arena, pick accreditation, warm up, then compete with the other (well-rested) athletes.
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A recent report by the World Bank says South Africa is the worldâs most unequal country, where 10% of the population owns 80% of the wealth. These photos by Johnny Miller highlight the architecture of separation and inequality.
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Benin is reclaiming its history: this 30m statue, just unveiled in Cotonou celebrates the warrior women of the ancient kingdom of Dahomey, the only documented female army in modern history.
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From Lekki to Kampala, frustrated youth are saying they are tired. They need to be listened to before itâs too late.
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Meta is being sued for $2bn for fueling ethnic violence in Ethiopia. One of the lawsuitâs petitioners is the son of Meareg Amare, a University Professor who was hunted down and killed in 2021, weeks after posts inciting hatred and violence against him spread on Facebook.
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So many people: You canât be a news anchor and wear braids Me:
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I wonder why people keep saying Africa may have been âspared the worstâ of Covid19. Spared by who? Does the quick action and agency of Africans count for nothing?.
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Ghanaâs government has announced it will cover all water bills for 3 months, frontline health workers treating COVID-19 patients will receive 50% additional salary allowance + all health workers will be granted a 3 month tax holiday.
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If you watch BBC News youâll be familiar with this signature tune. I was awed to find out how much work and effort it took to make that sound I hear before I go on air!
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The drama some athletes have faced getting to the World Athletics Championships in the US highlights the visa problems faced by Africans especially. The crazy thing is, Africans donate millions to rich countries every year through high visa fees (which arenât even reciprocal).
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For those whoâve kindly asked, these cute little fingers are why Iâve not been seen on TV for a while. Iâm on maternity leave - having stepped out of my role as BBC presenter/correspondent to take up the amazing position of chief carer and milk ATM to a precious baby boy!
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US tourists visiting South Africa donât need a visa for example, while South Africans pay $160 or more per US visa. Apart from being expensive, the extent of personal and financial information demanded is intrusive, demeaning and often humiliating.
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Spare a thought for DRC. Just two days away from being able to announce their Ebola outbreak is over, a new case appears (2,200 have died). Now theyâre fighting Ebola, Covid19 and measles.
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Been looking at pictures on my phone and Uganda is so beautiful đ
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Naturally, each country is free to choose its policies. But if parity & reciprocity are a basis for international travel rules, one may well wonder why African countries donât give what they get.
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In 2015 nationals of 16 African countries spent almost ÂŁ45 million on UK visa applications that year. ÂŁ13m of that was for unsuccessful applications. Itâs a documented fact that Africans are twice as likely to be refused UK visas as other visitors.
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He was the first journalist I regularly watched on TV when I was young, my dad loved him! To host a show (Straight Talk Africa) for 20 years is no small feat. After 29 years at the Voice of America, Ugandan-born journalist Shaka Ssali is retiring. Thank you for your service!
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How many of us were ever taught that the modern-day âcesarean sectionâ surgical procedure was practiced in Africa as early as the 13th century, long before the arrival of European doctors? #AfricaDay2020
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Update: he landed on time, made it to his race in the 3 remaining hours, and finished in 3rd place, qualifying for the 100m semi-final with a time of 10.10 seconds!! đđŸđđŸđđŸ.
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Zimbabweâs parliament just got a new home and itâs a gift from Beijing; China built the US$160 million complex. Itâs just one of many jewels in Chinaâs âpalace diplomacyâ crown in Africa, there are reported to be more than 180 such projects. Here are some others:đ§”
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Celebrities have big ideas for Uganda. Akon: âAkon City, which will operate using my own cryptocurrency, Akoinâ. Kanye West: âUganda should be like Jurassic Parkâ. Terrence Howard: âBringing a new form of flight to Uganda using the geometry of hydrogenâ.
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In case you missed it. This life-size statue honoring Zimbabwean scholar Tererai Trent will be installed in New York later this year. Tereraiâs family was unable to afford school but she taught herself how to read and write because she dreamt of getting a Ph.D. and impacting
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Will Covid-19 teach East Africaâs tourism industry to pay attention to domestic tourists? Luxury hotels are now rethinking their (US dollar) prices and advertising cheaper staycation packages.
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As a Ugandan, the joy of Joshua Cheptegeiâs GOLD đ„ is doubled when I think of the many kids in our communities heâs made efforts to inspire, who are now celebrating this win too.
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#ChadwickBoseman pushed Marvel to make sure his "Black Panther" character had an African accent in the film. He said âIf we lose this right now, what else are we gonna throw away for the sake of making people feel comfortable?â What a terrible loss.
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When tests are made widely available, I think weâll be shocked at how many of us had #coronavirus all along but were asymptomatic.
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One of the best experts Iâve spoken to on climate change in my career is farmer Margaret Kagole. Sheâs a âcustodian of natureâ in a small community in Uganda (Bagungu). Margaret identifies 5 types of wind in the local language. She predicts rain by watching insects & birds.
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Clean sweep for East Africa at the Commonwealth Games marathon! Gold:đ„Uganda, Silver: Tanzania, Bronze: Kenya.
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Kéré's work focuses on social initiatives for marginalised communities using local vernacular forms recontextualised within contemporary design.
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You want to see hope? Look at how young leaders in Kenya are just as passionate about political justice in neighboring Uganda. The future is Pan-African!.
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Uganda, Ghana and Botswana have the highest percentage of women business owners in the world, according to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs.
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Back in the studio. join me for the latest headlines at the top of the hour on BBC World News
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Some of the braided hairstyles Iâve had done in different African cities. You learn so many non-touristy things about a city from conversations at a hairdresserâs! Happy #AfricaDay
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Congratulations @SolomonSerwanjj on receiving the 5th #KomlaDumoraward trophy at our ceremony last night. Being the first winner I got to host the event so it was a marvelous Ugandan đșđŹ affair!
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A truly horrific ordeal for this Kenyan family whose daughter is missing after emigrating to the US. Where is Irene Gakwa?
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Madagascar's education minister has been fired after announcing her ministry was buying $2.2 million worth of sweets and lollipops for schoolkids to help mask the bitter taste of the herbal brew being promoted by the country's president as a Covid-19 remedy.
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The language in this much-shared piece is Lango, spoken by Ugandaâs Langi people. The song is called Waloyo Yamoni, which means "we overcome the wind". Performed by Jimmer Bolden and composed by Christopher Tin, itâs from the classical album âThe Drop That Contained The Seaâ.
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Those 5 seconds before the director says âOn air and cue. â
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This in my inbox, from a viewer of BBC News in the US who happens to be an editorial cartoonist, made my morning đ
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Wasted so much time asking WHERE I needed to be in order to be happy yet the right question was WHO do I need to be in order to be happy. Itâs so much about right thoughts & attitude; happiness is truly an inside job!.
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The case claims that Facebook only removed the hateful posts eight days after Professor Mearegâs killing, more than three weeks after his family had first alerted the company.
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This Ugandan girl will be making her presenting debut on Focus on Africa @BBCWorld in a few minutes đđŸ.
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The table tennis version of âlower your voice and strengthen your argumentâ
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Never get into a heated argument believing youâll change someoneâs thinking. People argue to prove what they know, not improve what they know.
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How much do I love this photo of Allyson Felix with her daughter, after becoming the most decorated U.S. Olympic track and field athlete of all time! đ·: Thomas Fernandez
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Comparing yourself to others only steals your joy. Remember that weâre all on a highway not a race track, weâre on different life journeys to different destinations. Embrace the freedom this gives you to help and celebrate fellow travellers with a pure and open heart.
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#NaomiOsakaâs decision brings to mind how Marshawn Lynch dealt with a similar situation - repeating one phrase over and over after he was told he had to talk to the press or heâd be fined.
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Envying what you see on social media is like wanting a gift because the wrapping paper looks great; you never know whatâs being concealed.
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They believed they could fly đđŸ.
They made it!. The aircraft assembled by these South African teenagers has successfully landed in Egypt six weeks after it set off from Cape Town âĄïž
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Ugandaâs Health ministry reported 7 new deaths yesterday - from Covid-19. Police in Uganda also reported 7 deaths - following protests against the arrest of presidential candidate Bobi Wine.
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Never shrink yourself to fit into the small spaces created for you, just so you can belong. Expand those spaces to fit you, or better still, carve out a new space so big you must grow in order to fill it.
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If youâve ever felt the sting of being rejected- redirect that emotion and remember âYou were not rejected, you were redirectedâ
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Making my way back to the studio for a couple more bulletins. join me at the top of the hour on @BBCWorld
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đ§”: These are the stunning Pajao Falls in NW Uganda. Most people only recognize them by the name Murchison Falls. In 1863 Europeans Samuel and Florence Baker âdiscoveredâ and named them after the then president of the Royal Geographical Society who was funding their trips.
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You will always have opportunities to feel like you're better than other people, or not as good as other people. Reject both.
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𧔠Chinaâs DeepSeek just launched a game-changing AI breakthrough thatâs turning the tech world on its head. I spent some time trying to understand it from a laymanâs perspective. Hereâs what this development could mean for those in Africa (using the hypothetical example of a.
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Talent is God given: Be humble. Fame is man-given: Be grateful. Conceit is self-given: Be careful. - John Wooden.
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Could the scientists here explain this please? đ€.
VIDEO: I want to develop a New Hydrogen technology in Uganda. The main purpose of the project would be to defend the sovereignty of the country as far as technology is concerned - @terrencehoward . #UBCUpdates
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I met & interviewed Bill Gates. We talked about the role of aid, esp. in Africa. Catch the interview on BBC #FocusOnAfrica & BBC World News
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Could Africa lead the way in dumping fossil fuels for renewable energy? Good news is Morocco just made a new record announcing a project thatâll be the first in the world to produce solar energy at USD 7 cents/kWh. The Noor Midelt Phase 1 is the worldâs first advanced
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Coming up on #BBCNews: Zelensky in Germany, elections in Turkey, elections in Thailand. Join me if you can!
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Life teaches us all hard lessons - some people pass them on as wisdom, others pass them on as pain.
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The drama some athletes have faced getting to the World Athletics Championships in the US highlights the visa problems faced by Africans especially. The crazy thing is, Africans donate millions to rich countries every year through high visa fees (which arenât even reciprocal).
Africaâs fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, got his US visa 24 hrs before the race of his life. A flight from Kenya to Oregon is 18+ hrs. He has 3hrs after landing to clear customs, get to the arena, pick accreditation, warm up, then compete with the other (well-rested) athletes.
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The people with the most compelling arguments read before they write, listen before they speak and empathize before they criticize.
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I spent time with young female domestic workers in Uganda and Kenya making this documentary. (Hope you watch it!) I was so moved by the strength and resilience of some of the girls I met. Their voices are rarely heard. Here are some things I learnt:
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The United Arab Emirates just announced it will move its weekend to Saturday and Sunday, effective 1st Jan, 2022. Currently the weekend is Friday and Saturday in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf.
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Kenya! đ°đȘAn election annulled. Do you still doubt that the winds of change blow in Africa?.
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You say to me: âWomen are the future!â The problem is Iâm here now.
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6 cases of Omicron variant identified in Scotland - some of the people identified have no travel history and have caught the virus variant in the community. But Southern Africa was swiftly banned for bringing the worldâs attention to this.
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Ethiopia successfully launched its first satellite into space today, from China. The satellite will monitor climate and environment change to aid planning for agriculture, mining, urban development, and disaster preparedness.
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We're entering an age of youth scarcity. Every major economy is running out of young workers. Every region except one: Africa. Why does this matter? đ§”
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A twitter tragedy: we casually adopt opinions we havenât personally questioned, as if slipping on borrowed clothes; then defend those opinions to the death, as if they were the very armour of our souls.
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How did you respond to seeing this photo of the President of Portugal shopping at a supermarket?
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Stay calm. If Twitter is making you anxious, get off here, follow only the advice of professionals, and remember that worrying achieves absolutely nothing. #COVID19.
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Hereâs a good piece on the efforts to revive this history, and an interview with the granddaughter of one of the warriors:
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âThere are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.â - Edith Wharton.
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By the mid-1800s, Dahomey had thousands of female troops. They began their.training as young girls: swinging blades and loading muskets. The tradition ended when France invaded and nearly 2,000 of them were killed. Only 50 survived, and the last of them died in the 1970s.
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This I believe: whatever work you do, do as well as you can, as passionately as you can. No task is too small to be done with dedication or too great to be done with humility.
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Wow. She put into words and action what many citizens feel, and not just in Uganda.
Ugandans feared until there is Nothing left to fear. She has stormed this meeting b'se these policy makers sit in these fancy places to spend tax payers money yet the actual tax payers are suffering. #TaxpolicyUG . Ugandans are tireddddd . You all Ugandans should watch this.
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Coming up on @BBCWorld at 0900gmt: Live coverage of President Putinâs first state of the nation address since 2021.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It also sits on immense wealth, holding some of the worldâs most valuable natural resources which generate billions of dollars - but very little of it benefits the local population. Some details:
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This is so uncanny! The date of this post is the exact date 2 yrs later I start presenting on BBC News. An actual note to self.
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