BBC newa A reminder of our African proverb of the day: That which disturbs your sleep is of your own making." A Nuer proverb sent by Moses Ruai in Juba, South Sudan. And we leave you with this image from our selection of some of the best pictures from the continent this week of Maasai men in Kenya attending a ceremony: Reuters 17:22 25 Sep 'I have received death threats' DJ Edu This Is Africa Nex Studios After nearly 20 years in the game, activist and self-proclaimed voice of Sierra Leone, Emmerson Bockarie, is not mellowing with age. “We are slowly getting to that point where Sierra Leoneans are losing their freedom of speech and expression. It feels like everything is political and we are politicising everything,” he told This is Africa. The 39-year-old’s latest album, 9 Lives, picks up many of the threads he has previously woven through his work: politics, tribalism, corruption and a general antipathy for those in power. Since independence, Sierra Leone has been longing for strong leadership. What I do is ask tough questions and speak truth to power. I want a Sierra Leone that is inclusive, where women and youth contribute to matters that affect their lives.” One track in particular stands out on the new album as an attack on those who don’t share Emmerson’s views: a 14-minute finale-come-monologue entitled Kokonat Ed. “I feel like we have made our decision as a people, putting our political parties and our tribes and our region ahead of our country. So I’m calling us again to action by calling us coconut heads.” But Emmerson has paid a price for speaking out so bluntly. I have received death threats in the past. I’ve never been attacked physically but I have had text messages, in my social media, they’ve sent messages to my phone.” With a loyal following in his home country, would it not be more productive for Emmerson to try to instigate change from inside the halls of power? “If you ask me if I have that ambition to be a politician…? No, I do not have it. I do not have a bit of it.” “I just want to contribute towards nation building and play my own part, and I expect the same from every Sierra Leonean.” You can hear more from Emmerson Bockarie on This is Africa this Saturday, on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa. 17:05 25 Sep Winning top prize would 'make the world take me seriously' Award-winning Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga says winning the Booker Prize would "cause the world to take me more seriously than it had done up until I came on to the Booker scene". Her latest book, This Mournable Body, is on the Booker Prize shortlist, which was unveiled earlier this month. "It will make me feel better about myself," she told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. "And I would hope it will come with some financial benefits so that I wouldn't be scraping from hand to mouth all the time as I am most of the time now, which has been exhausting." Here is the full interview: Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga talks about her shortlisted novel 16:38 25 Sep Sierra Leone president: We cannot be this corrupt Will Ross Africa editor, BBC World Service Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has said an investigation into allegations of corruption into the administration of his predecessor, President Ernest Bai Koroma, will lead to a large amount of property being confiscated and stolen money being returned to the state. President Maada Bio said the commission of inquiry, led by foreign judges, was as a major breakthrough that would help make corruption unfashionable and risky. "We have to draw the line... we cannot be this corrupt as a nation and expect to develop," he told the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown. A lawyer for Mr Koroma's opposition APC party has dismissed the allegations and said the party would challenge the findings in court. Listen to the interview with the president: Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio talks about anti-corruption measures 16:15 25 Sep Migrants rescued by fishing boats near Libya BBC World Service The bodies of three migrants have been recovered after a vessel sank off the coast of western Libya. The International Organization for Migration said another 13 people were unaccounted for. Twenty-two survivors were rescued and brought back to Libya by fishing boats. Many migrants set out from Libya, from where they try to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe - often aboard dangerously overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. 15:43 25 Sep 'We pray the tourists come back soon' Ferdinand Omondi BBC News, Nairobi BBC Communities in private wildlife conservancies in Kenya are finding it hard to feed their families as the tourism industry continues to struggle from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In the Maasai Mara National Reserve, communities lease their land to investors in exchange for an annual fee. But many will not receive payment this year because of the absence of tourists, which has seen the income of luxury lodges cut dramatically. The unique economic model has encouraged wildlife conservation and the preservation of Maasai culture. Jewellery maker Kijolo Kasale told the BBC she was missing the money she got from European tourists. “When the Europeans used to come, we would sell necklaces, bracelets, men’s ornaments… we would use the money to educate our children… we pray they come back soon.“ This was a sentiment repeated by a number of people working in the area. BBC But the luxury camps are also suffering, meaning they are not passing money on. “For every guest that stays in this camp, there is a portion of money the tourist pays that goes directly to the land owners,” Rimoine Ole Kararei, who runs the Entumoto Safari Camp, said. “Last year this camp alone contributed $35,000 (£28,000) towards the community. This year it will be zero.” Despite Kenya reopening its airspace for international flights, it will be some time before visitor numbers return to what the area used to see. Until then, communities will have to scrape by to survive. 15:13 25 Sep Tanzania striker Samatta leaves Aston Villa BBC Sport Africa Aston Villa's Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta has joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on an initial loan deal until the end of the season. Fenerbanhce also said they had agreed a four-year deal with the 27-year-old, to be signed at the end of the loan. Samatta joined Villa in January from Belgian side Genk. He said: "I thank Villa for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dream of playing in the Premier League." He scored on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth and also in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in March. But those were his only two goals for the club and he struggled for form when the Premier League restarted in June. View more on Twitter Samatta has a huge fanbase in Tanzania and in response to the announcement about the move on Twitter, some have been joking that they are "unfollowing" Aston Villa. 14:40 25 Sep Ecowas: Mali sanctions will not be lifted Will Ross Africa editor, BBC World Service West African regional group Ecowas says it will not lift the sanctions it imposed on Mali after the military coup there five weeks ago until a civilian prime minister has been nominated. The announcement came shortly after Mali's new president was sworn in. Bah Ndaw, a former defence minister, was picked by the coup leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, to head a transitional government until elections are held. At a ceremony in the capital Bamako Col Goita was sworn in as the vice-president. Correspondents say the new president's main challenges include reversing an economic slump and ending the jihadist and inter communal violence in north and central Mali. 14:20 25 Sep Nigerian musician preserving the art of the talking drum Nigerian artist Ayan De First promotes Yoruba culture by continuing a family legacy of the talking drum which was passed on from generations before him. The instrument is carved from wood and covered on both ends by animal skin. Strings are used to hold together the skin and for tuning. [The] "talking drum is a musical instrument that mimics the language or interprets human voices. This is a magical instrument, very valuable and useful because we use it to speak different languages, to appreciate people, to call names, to do whatever you want to do with it," he told the BBC's Gbolahan Macjob. He said he played the instrument to the British royal family during the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebration in 2002. "Yoruba culture is being much more appreciated and embraced. My message to everyone and our Yoruba people is that our culture - we have to preserve it, protect it and value it more." Here is the full interview: Ayan De First wants to preserve the art of the talking drum in the Western world 14:06 25 Sep Nigeria plans survey to see how many had Covid-19 Will Ross Africa editor, BBC World Service The United States and Nigeria’s Centres for Disease Control are to conduct a household survey to determine the extent of coronavirus infections in Nigeria. People in four states including the biggest city, Lagos, will be asked if they wish to volunteer in the research which will include an antibody blood test to find out who has had the virus. The exercise aims to help health professionals understand the transmission patterns and to find out how many people with the virus have shown no symptoms. 13:25 25 Sep Nandi Tshabalala: Why I took the Jerusalema Challenge A South African song has inspired people from around the world to 'dance it out' A South African song has inspired people from around the world to 'dance it out' 13:06 25 Sep US mulls two-year limit for many African student visas Getty Images Proposed new US immigration measures could leave many African students in the country having to reapply for visas in the middle of their degree courses. A plan issued by the Department for Homeland Security (DHS), that is now up for discussion, outlines changes to student visas that have previously been issued for the duration of a course. But whereas students from many countries will be allowed to get a four-year visa, there are others who will be limited to two years "due to heightened concerns related to fraud, abuse, and national security", the DHS says. People from countries, including Sudan, listed by the US as state sponsors of terror will be affected. But by far the largest group are those from countries who have had more than 10% of their citizens overstay their visas. This includes Nigeria, which in 2019 had an overstay rate of 13% according to government data. Other countries affected include: Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Democratic Republic of Congo Gabon The Gambia Liberia Malawi Uganda 12:36 25 Sep Ten migrants drown trying to reach Mayotte BBC World Service BBC Ten migrants from the Comoros, including a seven-year-old child, have drowned while trying to make their way to the island of Mayotte - a French territory in the Indian Ocean. Police said their bodies were found washed up on the beach, with their boat appearing to have capsized in a strong swell. Rescuers picked up survivors perched on coral reefs. Mayotte has seen an influx of migrants from neighbouring countries. 12:24 25 Sep 'I want to teach Congolese people what art is' 'I want to teach Congolese people what art is' Dina Ekanga is a Congolese 'nail' artist who was inspired by the Nkisi Nkondi sculptures of the Kongo people. 11:55 25 Sep Mali's interim president sworn in ORTM1 Mali's new president has been sworn into office, five weeks after the overthrow of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. Former Defence Minister Bah Ndaw, 70, was picked by the coup leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, to head a transitional government until elections, which are expected in 18 months. Col Goita will be his vice-president. The appointment of a civilian president was a condition for the West African regional group, Ecowas, to lift the sanctions it imposed after the coup. Read more on this story. 11:49 25 Sep Rusesabagina: We formed rebel group but ‘not for terror’ Samba Cyuzuzo BBC Great Lakes BBC At a court hearing in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, Paul Rusesabagina, the man portrayed as a hero in Hollywood movie Hotel Rwanda about the genocide, said that though he was part of a group that formed the National Liberation Front (FLN) rebel movement it was “not for terrorism activities”. The FLN is the military wing of the foreign-based opposition Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD) and Mr Rusesabagina is its vice-president. It launched deadly attacks in south-west Rwanda between 2018 and 2019. Mr Rusesabagina is facing 13 charges relating to terrorism and has been detained since he was brought to the country under mysterious circumstances at the end of August. He has made no comment on the charges. This was the first time he had appeared in court in a prison uniform. He said he helped create the rebel group to “attract attention of the Rwandan government on issues of Rwandan refugees”. But he added that he "wouldn’t downplay the crimes done by the FLN". The prosecutor said that Mr Rusesabagina could in no way distance himself from the rebel atrocities as he was a top leader. Mr Rusesabagina responded by saying he was in charge of political activities and the military group was independent. The court hearing was related to his application for bail. 11:01 25 Sep Nigerian hotel workers stripped over alleged theft Chris Ewokor BBC News, Abuja A group of human rights lawyers in Warri, southern Nigeria, is seeking compensation for four hotel workers who were allegedly stripped naked by their employer. They had been accused of stealing some money, but local media are reporting that they had been tipped by some guests. The four, three women and a man, were allegedly ordered to undress and were left wearing only their knickers or underpants as others, including the police, looked on. Photos and videos of the victims standing nearly naked were taken and shared widely on social media. The lawyers have written to the hotel owner - a former Nigerian minister - threatening legal action over the violation of the privacy and dehumanisation of their clients. They are asking for compensation and a public apology. The victims said that the photos and videos were shared on the internet to humiliate them. 10:11 25 Sep 'Vast areas under water' in South Sudan IOM 2020/Liatile Putsoa "Vast areas of [South Sudan] along the River Nile are now under water" according to the UN's humanitarian coordinator for the country Alain Noudéhou. The UN estimates that 600,000 people in the country have been forced to leave their homes. Returning from a visit to some of the flooded areas, Mr Noudéhou said that the number of people needing help "will continue to grow in the coming weeks, and many women and children who had earlier been displaced by sub-national violence are now displaced again". IOM 2020/Liatile Putsoa One of the worst hit areas is Jonglei state where the "situation is dire", Mutya Masku, from the International Organization for Migration said. Aid agencies are appealing for more help in dealing with the situation. Further upstream, in Sudan, flooding has has also affected hundreds of thousands of people. Experts said the Nile had reached levels not seen for a century. BBC 9:47 25 Sep Experts explain Africa's coronavirus infection drop Rhoda Odhiambo BBC Africa Health, Nairobi AFP Initial responses to the pandemic by African governments have been praised A panel of experts gathered by the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed a number of factors that may be pushing the spread of coronavirus in Africa down. Expertise in epidemic control, a young population and a possible effect of pre-existing immunity were cited as possible factors. The panel of experts, that included the WHO’s regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, offered several explanations to the different behaviour of the pandemic in the continent, when compared to the rest of the world. The swift application of lockdowns that came at a high cost for many economies was mentioned. The structure of the African society of caring for the elderly at home was also cited. But new explanations also emerged in the conference, such as the possible impact of smaller urban areas in many African countries, which means that the virus could travel less fast in more remote populations in rural areas. The continent's transport system was also mentioned, as cities and regions are not as interconnected as in other parts of the world. Dr Moeti said that previous experiences in handling pandemics, such as Ebola, have also proven crucial when dealing with this pandemic. But she warned that more research needs to be done to establish the true extent of Covid-19 on the continent. More than 1.4 million confirmed cases have been reported in Africa with over 34,000 deaths. About one million people have already recovered. 9:14 25 Sep Arsenal players name baby gorillas in Rwanda Samba Cyuzuzo BBC Great Lakes Visit Rwanda Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has named a baby gorilla Igitego, meaning Goal in Kinyarwanda, in Rwanda's first virtual naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas. The name is a rallying call for "collective goals" in wildlife conservation, Aubameyang said. His teammate, Hector Bellerin, named another as Iriza - meaning first born, while goalkeeper Bernd Leno named another Myugariro - meaning defender. The club signed a three-year £30m ($38m) sleeve sponsorship deal in May 2018 with Rwanda's tourism agency. Twenty-four baby gorillas (nine female and 15 male) were on Thursday given names by park rangers, veterinarians, tour guides and the three Arsenal players. One of them was named Amabwiriza - meaning guidelines - as a call on park visitors to abide to coronavirus guidelines. Other names given to the baby gorillas were Amarembo - gateway, Nkomezamihigo - keep it up, Kazeneza - welcome, Umuyobozi - leader and Umuganga - vet. Some 300 gorillas have been given names since 2005 in efforts to monitor their life and protect them from poachers