BBC asks What’s New? in Africa

The BBC has launched a weekly TV programme for young people in Africa via the BBC World Service.

Debula Kemoli and Ben Hunte

What’s New? is aimed at 11- to 16-year-olds and seeks to keep young people up-to-date with what’s happening in the world they live in.

The show will feature regular segments that explore a current news story, an interview with a famous figure in the news that week and a piece with a young person discussing their own life.

It will also aim to help the audience distinguish between trustworthy news stories and sources, and fake content that is being shared online.

Co-presented by BBC News reporters Debula Kemoli and Ben Hunte, it will be presented from an immersive virtual studio with stories illustrated using virtual reality technology.

Nisha Kapur, BBC commissioning editor, said: “What’s New? is for and about young people across Africa. It gives them the chance to find out more about the world in a fresh and energetic way.”