Korina Sibanda has been reflecting on the political climate as her employer celebrates cultures.

In 1977, Nigeria hosted the largest festival of African arts and culture there had ever been. About half a million visitors attended, as well as 16,000 delegates including Stevie Wonder and Miriam Makeba.

Dozens of African nationalities, and people from the African diaspora were represented.

Headed by a military dictatorship, Nigeria spent hundreds of millions of dollars hosting nationwide events and building a new national theatre and festival village in Lagos.

Among those attending was Viola Burley Leak, an African American artist and designer exhibiting her artwork. She shares her experience of the spectacular opening ceremony and late-night revelry with Louis Harnet O’Meara.

An Ember production.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina’s Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall’ speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler’s List; and Jacques Derrida, France’s ‘rock star’ philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world’s oldest languages.

(Photo: Festival welcoming sign. Credit: AP)

Ethiopia is set to inaugurate a mega dam that has stoked tensions with Egypt.

Africa gets a world beating amount of sunshine — but has just 1% of the world’s solar panels.

Over half the continent still lives without electricity, stalling progress and holding back people’s lives. But change may be coming — thanks to a surge in solar imports from China.

New data from energy think tank EMBER shows a 60% jump in solar panel shipments to Africa in the past year. If installed, they could generate 15 GW — nearly doubling Africa’s current solar capacity.

It’s not just the biggest energy users like South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria. Countries like Liberia, DRC, Benin, Angola, and Ethiopia have tripled their imports.

So, is this the start of a solar-powered revolution on the continent?

Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar speak to Dr Rose Mutiso, Science Advisor at the Energy for Growth Hub and Founder of the African Tech Futures Lab.

Got a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Production Team: Jordan Dunbar, Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock, Chris Gouzaris and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

The biblical site of Mount Sinai in Egypt is at the heart of an unholy row over plans to build a huge new tourism project.

Many of those killed had recently returned to the village in Borno State, following years of displacement.

People have no access to tools or machinery to conduct their rescue efforts, Save the Children says.

Dale Young, 66, was part way through the desert ultramarathon in 2019 but was forced to pull out.

The group has allegedly carried out murder, rape and other crimes, a UN report says.

It remains unclear how many people died - figures range from two to 1,000.

Playing for your country is the best feeling in the world, says Sak. But he never expected to get called up.

A selection of best photos from across the continent and beyond from 29 August till 4 September 2025.

A refugee from South Sudan living in Shrewsbury believes nations should fly their flags with pride.

Health officials urge people to take preventive measures following a new outbreak of the deadly virus.

Joseph Malanji was convicted of acquiring properties and helicopters that were suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

The overloaded boat was carrying passengers including children when it hit a submerged tree stump.

One man whose family were affected tells the BBC that he can only account for two relatives, who both died.

A new dataset with African languages should improve access to AI for millions on the continent.

The final report into the fire that killed 77 people in Johannesburg calls for more housing for poor people.

Sunday's landslide followed heavy rain and "levelled" a remote village, a local armed group says.