1. Finding Humanismpublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2023

    A different kind of faith: Navigating life as a non-believer in a highly religious society can be deeply lonely. Leo and Balm both found community and belonging in Humanism - a form of atheism which strives for a life of meaning and purpose anchored in the strength of humankind. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Mary Goodhart

  2. Andy and the Blue-Eyed Black Lemurspublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 13 February 2023

    Andy, Jen and Scout head to the island of Madagascar off the coast of southern Africa to find out how blue-eyed black lemurs deal with itchy bugs.

  3. When violence goes viralpublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 10 February 2023

    Ethiopians on social media have been dealing with a wave of violent and graphic content in recent years. Multiple conflicts have seen violent pictures and videos regularly shared online, often alongside threats, hate speech, or disinformation. For Moti, this hit close to home in a devastating way when his father was the target of a political killing, and pictures of his dead body were posted on social media. Rehobot also shares her experience of combating this online hate through fact-checking, but how exposing herself to so much violent content eventually impacted her mental health.

    Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Rob Wilson

  4. The promisepublished at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 13 January 2023

    Righting an historic wrong: How a quest to reclaim the sacred Ngonnso statue, taken from the Nso community 120 years earlier, led Vernyuy on an emotional journey to reconnect with her Cameroonian roots – and resolve a crisis of identity. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Kim Chakanetsa

  5. Green Lions: Cameroon 90published at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time 12 November 2022

    Every World Cup has a team that captures the heart of the world, but maybe none has ever been as popular as the Cameroon side of 1990. When the Green Lions defeated reigning world champions Argentina in the opening game, it was arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history. Barely afforded a hope upon qualification, the Cameroon team provided joy at Italia 90, both on and off the pitch.

    Green Lions tells the story of a team of amateurs who became heroes. Young men, and one veteran, who dared to dream, achieved the impossible and inspired a generation around the globe.

  6. The Real Mo Farahpublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 13 July 2022

    Sir Mo Farah reveals the shocking truth about his childhood, the journey he made from Somaliland to the UK as a young boy, and the subsequent years that led to him winning two gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

  7. Orphaned: Vasco’s storypublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 23 June 2022

    ‘I was scared of the night’: When Vasco's parents died in a car accident, his childhood was transformed into a struggle to survive. He started as a young child sleeping at his father's grave, but ended up in a spiral of gangland crime and violence on the streets. Why are more children in Zambia ending up on the streets? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Mary Goodhart

  8. Guest episode: On the Podiumpublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 9 June 2022

    How a rower's victory became a symbol of hope in post-apartheid South Africa. Sizwe Ndlovu became the first black African to win an Olympic rowing gold. Sizwe says that day changed the rest of his life. This is a guest episode from the World Service show, On The Podium, which brings you the stories behind the medals, originally released on 30 June 2021. The second season of On the Podium begins 18 June 2022. Search for On The Podium wherever you found this podcast.

  9. Losing Gracepublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 2 June 2022

    Misinformation and miracle cures: After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Grace Ajuma Gift was told about many different treatments and cures which ranged from herbal remedies to starch-free diets - Grace tried many of them. The misleading advice she received may have cost Grace her life. A Kenyan oncologist talks about the prevalence and perils of cancer misinformation. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa

  10. Born a slavepublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 26 May 2022

    ‘I ran away’: For many years, Brahim and Maymouna were enslaved. They were born into Mauritania’s slave caste - the Haratin and denied their liberty, even though slavery has been officially banned. It was only when Brahim was a teenager that he gradually began to question and resist his circumstances. From an early age, Maymouna’s life revolved around serving a master who treated her badly. Maymouna eventually escaped and has started to build a new life for herself. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

  11. Unlearning a dictatorshippublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 19 May 2022

    Making the invisible visible: After her father was abducted and killed in the Gambia, Nana-Jo Ndow, and her cousin Sirra started an organisation to raise awareness of the issue and set up a memorialisation centre. Now, survivors are starting to heal by sharing their stories and young people can learn about human rights. It’s usually men who are forcibly disappeared during dictatorships but women who are left behind to try to pick up the pieces - and they often risk their lives searching for answers. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Penny Dale

  12. Decolonising tourismpublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 6 May 2022

    ‘There were no locals at all’: Reckoning with race, history and access in Kenya’s tourism industry. For much of his career as a tour guide in Kenya, Felix Migoya would have clients from the United States and Europe but no Kenyans. Safari was seen as the preserve of white people, a ‘mzungu affair’. Alex Kamau is part of a new generation of young Kenyans who are reimagining what it means to explore and enjoy the country’s natural heritage on their own terms. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com Produced by Kim Chakanetsa

  13. My South African identitypublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 29 October 2021

    ‘I am African first’: Exploring race and identity for South Africans of Indian descent. Karnie Sharp has spent years discussing the complex crisis of identity that many feel in modern South Africa. In the wake of rising tensions between communities, and vitriolic statements from some political leaders, how can people from different backgrounds build bridges with their fellow citizens?

    Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

  14. Goodbye Nigeriapublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 21 October 2021

    ‘The evil you have done is enough’: One year after the EndSARS protests, some young Nigerians say they no longer recognise their country and are choosing to leave. Olivia, Tolu and Benjamin contemplate joining their friends who are now scattered across the world. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

  15. Hippo warspublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 14 October 2021

    Lurking in the lake: What’s driving hippos to attack and kill fishermen on Lake Naivasha? As climate change alters our planet, animals and humans are coming into conflict, competing over the same diminishing natural resources. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Mary Goodhart

  16. Equal before the law?published at 01:00 British Summer Time 8 October 2021

    The vendor who changed Malawi: Mayeso Gwanda took the state to court after his arrest for an outdated and vague petty crime. While he was successful in changing the law, the African Union is calling for more to be done. Enforcing these sorts of minor offences leads to lifelong consequences for the continent’s most poor and vulnerable people. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Rob Wilson

  17. The secretpublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 16 September 2021

    ‘Neither a girl nor a boy’: Baby John Musamba was born with a rare sexual disorder which stopped her from developing either male or female reproductive organs. She was raised as a girl, and hid her truth for 26 years until finally telling her friends and the world, on a very public platform. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Mary Goodhart

  18. ‘Raised like a white person’published at 01:00 British Summer Time 12 August 2021

    A story of race, wealth and family. Sam is a black South African who was brought up by her mother’s white employers. Meanwhile, her biological sister Ziyanda stayed at home to be raised by her mother. In a country where things are often seen through a black and white lens, what can their experiences tell us about South Africa’s often tempestuous relationship with race? And what is more important for shaping our identity - our nature or our nurture? Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #TheComb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Andre Lombard

  19. In slavery’s shadowpublished at 01:00 British Summer Time 29 July 2021

    Enslaved by the past: Hamden Atig Dali went to court to remove a painful reference to slavery from his name. 175 years after abolition, the legacy of slavery still impacts on black Tunisians. But a new generation are demanding better. Thanks for listening. Let us know what you think. #thecomb Get in touch: thecomb@bbc.com

    Produced by Mary Goodhart

  20. Goodbye to the only leader they ever knewpublished at 00:07 British Summer Time 4 April 2019

    After six weeks of protests, Abdelaziz Bouteflika quit the presidency this week.

    Read More