Project Highlight

Covid-19: the Africa Story

What links vampires, al-Shabab and onions?

Thursday, 9 December, 2021

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Project Highlight

Covid-19: the Africa Story

What links vampires, al-Shabab and onions?

A healthcare professional is vaccinated against Covid-19 on March 10, 2021 in Kampala, Uganda.

A healthcare professional is vaccinated against Covid-19 on March 10, 2021 in Kampala, Uganda. © Luke Dray/Getty Images

A six-part podcast series produced by IWPR tells the story of the Covid-19 pandemic from an African perspective, taking in fake news, conspiracy theories and bogus cures.

Presented by Nigerian journalist Nelly Kalu, the series focuses on how disinformation, religious influences and foreign money have all affected the impact of coronavirus in Kenya and Nigeria.

Highlighting the work of those on the frontline of the battle to convince people that the pandemic is not a hoax, Covid-19: the Africa Story also debunks misinformation fake stories such as that the vaccine will turn you into a vampire or that raw onions will cure the virus.

The half-hour episodes include interviews with Kenyan factcheckers and Nigerian health reporters, as well as revealing how Somali al-Shabab militants forced people to watch fake Covid-19 videos made by pro-Trump Pentecostal Americans. Covid-19: the Africa Story, was produced as part of IWPR’s Africa Resilience Network (ARN) programme, administered in partnership with the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and Africa Uncensored.

Written and produced by Nick Raistrick and Nelly Kalu. Series editor Nick Raistrick. Music and sound design by Lee Sparey.

This publication was produced as part of IWPR's Africa Resilience Network (ARN) programme.

Project Focus Africa Resilience Network, Coronavirus Pandemic, The Infodemic

Locations Africa

Topics Coronavirus, Disinformation, Radio

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