Pulse

As we wrap up 2017 Pulse takes a look back at some of our favorite stories this year. First to Uganda where we meet a group of young talented dancers who are physically challenged. A young Ghanaian cook brings African cuisine to London. And put your best foot forward for Go-Go music in Washington. It's about to go on tour to Nigeria too.

Breakdance is a style of acrobatic dance originating in the mid-1970s, often performed to rap music usually by youth in the streets, and characterized by intricate footwork, spinning, headstands, tumbling, and elaborate movements. In Uganda, the 'Breakfast Jam' has revived break dance styles to educate and empower young people by bringing them together through hip-hop to promote positive change.

This week on Pulse, a novel campaign drive in Ghana is helping fight extremism. We hit the training track with some of Kenya's top athletes of the future. And, we can finally let you in on a little secret. All that and more on this edition of Pulse with host Jessie Wingard.

In Tanzania and some other African countries, people with albinism are still being hunted down and killed for their body parts. But just across the border in neighbouring Kenya, the situation for people living with the same condition is completely different. Eva de Vries visits two brave young business men with albinism in Nairobi.

This week on Pulse, breakdancing is more than just dance for a group of young people in Uganda. We meet African-German rapper, BTNG. And, two men in Nairobi are breaking down stereotypes for people with albinism. All that and more on this jam-packed edition of Pulse with host Jessie Wingard.

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most significant public health challenges. Africa accounts for almost two-thirds of all new infections. Stigma and discrimination remain barriers to having a HIV-free generation. To commemorate World AIDS day, Frank Yiga went to meet some young people living with HIV in Uganda.

Fighting HIV means fighting stigma — we meet some young people in Uganda living with the virus doing just that. And, forget "Bend it like Beckham" — a group of girls and young women in Kenya are using football to become empowered. All that and more on this jam-packed edition of Pulse with host Jessie Wingard.

Disadvantaged women and girls from rural areas on the Kenyan Coast are being empowered through soccer as a tool to change their lives. The community-based organization 'Moving the Goalposts' is behind the initiative. MTG is all about bringing girls together in a safe space where they can play football, organize activities, become leaders and discuss issues that matter for girls.

It’s a new dawn in Zimbabwe, many especially the young people are now hopeful for a better future after Emmerson Mnangagwa took over the presidency, bringing to an end Robert Mugabe’s rule. But even before the dust settles, the new government has declared Mugabe’s birthday to be a public holiday.From Harare DW's Privilege Musvanhiri starts by telling me what he makes of that announcement

On Pulse, this week: What young Zimbabwean think of Emmerson Mnangagwa presidency. Are many of Africa’s problems associated with bad leadership? And in Senegal, a group of women bring electricity to remote villages.

Many of Africa’s problems are associated with bad governance. But one organisation, Clean Africa is trying to bring a change. For the past few years, its been organizing debates on Good Governance in various universities here in Germany so that the participants can get a clear picture of the continent. Jane Ayeko, who volunteers for the organisation, with the details from Stuttgart.

On Pulse this week, we meet Sarah Letio from Uganda also known as the queen of shea butter, young men and women in northern Ghana venture into modelling despite it being regarded as taboo and some of the reactions on social media after Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe steps down.

Due to high unemployment among young people in Uganda, 27 year old Sandra Letio has lived by the old English adage of when the going gets tough the tough get going. After continuous frustrations and stress because she failed to get a job, Sandra decided to set up her own business, manufacturing Shea butter products, and thus create her own employment opportunity.

In Ghana the fashion industry is growing, and more and more models from the north of the country are trying to break into the business. The community there is predominantly Muslim and so choosing to be a model is regarded as taboo. But because of the promise of money and stardom, it's not holding the young people back.

In Pulse this week, Uganda urges its youth to go back to the earth and embrace agriculture. African youth at the climate conference COP23 in Bonn fight for climate action. And Germany's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy hosts a kind of speed dating for African start-ups. All that right here on Pulse with host Eunice Wanjiru.

Many young Africans have lots of creativity, zeal and great business ideas. Germany on the other hand has lots of money. So Germany's Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy decided to bring both sides together. The ministry hosted the first Start-up-Night! Africa. A kind of speed dating for businesses.

We take a look at the taboo topic of sex. Get on the phone to a sex education hotline. Try to debunk some of the myths surrounding menstruation. And…'too posh to push’ - we find out why women in Uganda are opting for caesarean deliveries when their babies are born. All that and more with host Jessie Wingard.

In Senegal, sex remains a largely taboo subject – but it’s now possible to get accurate medical advice, anonymously and without judgment over the phone. Callers can get informed answers to questions about contraception, sexuality, pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases from experienced midwives at a newly opened specialized call centre.

On this week's pulse, we take a look at the aftermath of Kenya’s election re-run after opposition leader Raila Odinga called it a sham, disability is not inability as we meet a British woman based in Uganda who is helping inspire disabled persons through music and dance and Go-go funk music lives on. Do stay tuned.

DW's Chrispin Mwakideu takes a look at the aftermath of Kenya’s election re-run after opposition leader Raila Odinga refuses to recognise President Uhuru Kenyatta as winner.