Karen from Behind the Music speaks to Director Francois Verster about his documentary film The Dream of Shahrazad, a beautiful film that explores the role of music, storytelling and creativity during the Arab Spring. The film will be screened on Tuesday 24th March at the Curzon Soho cinema and Thursday 26th March at the Barbican cinema, as part of the Human Rights Watch London film festival. For more information: http://ff.hrw.org/film/dream-shahrazad?city=4 For more information about the film: ...
Mar 26, 2015•28 min
Hajooj Kuka, the Director of Beats of the Antonov, came to speak with Will Roper about his documentary. In a follow up to the interview with Alsarah, Hajooj tells us more about how he filmed in the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains, the importance of music in the conflict and the identity crisis at the conflict's heart. Beats of the Antonov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beatsofantonov Human Rights Watch Film Festival http://ff.hrw.org/
Mar 24, 2015•35 min
Will talks to musician and ethnomusicologist, Alsarah, about her involvement in 'Beats of the Antonov': Hajooj Kuka's remarkable documentary that looks at the lives, musics and recent conflicts of the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains of Sudan. This film is being screened this weekend as part of the Human Rights Watch Festival. Beats of the Antonov Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi3ronTd3xg Soundtrack Sampler https://soundcloud.com/alsarah/sets/beats-of-the-antonov Alsarah's website http://w...
Mar 21, 2015•52 min
Karen speaks to Mohammad Najafi from Light of the Music Ensemble and Samin, an Iranian singer, giving us a glimpse into the wonderful female singers of Iran's cultural past. In parallel, we follow the story of Sara Najafi, a female singer and Composer, from the film No Lands Song demonstrating the immense difficulties women now face today in Iran. This film is being screened this weekend as part of the Human Rights Watch Festival. http://ff.hrw.org/film/no-lands-song?city=4 Light of the Music En...
Mar 19, 2015•46 min
In Chinese, 东西 can be translated in "things, stuff", an assortment of anything and everything. So yeah, let's talk about stuff. Victoria takes you on a stream-of-conscious journey through the musings and questions about China she has picked up as a Chinese-American living and studying there for ten years before returning to the US for college. Through her experiences, you'll get to hear never before shared internal monologues and thoughts on what is China and what it means to be Chinese today. S...
Mar 18, 2015•13 min
In Behind The Music this week, we meet Jyotsna Srikanth, a British-Indian violinist and composer who uses her Carnatic musical routes to create musical fusions inspired by traditions from all around the globe. Jyotsna will be performing on Monday 16th January in the Brunei Gallery at SOAS. For more information about the concert, follow this link: https://www.soas.ac.uk/music/events/concerts/16mar2015-carnatic-nomad-with-a-violin.html Track listing (all tracks performed and composed by Jyotsna Sr...
Mar 15, 2015•1 hr 1 min
Just what exactly is the point of ethical investment? What even is it?! Does it make financial sense for institutions like SOAS? In this episode we put these questions (and a few more!) to Giles Chitty, an ethical investor with over 25 years of experience promoting conscious investment within the world of British finance. The 'Divestment Digest' is a series based at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and focuses on the university campaign to divest from fossil fuels.
Mar 04, 2015•9 min
Palm oil is almost ubiquitous in our food. But what is it doing to our health and the economies & environment where it is produced? An international collaboration, part of the Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research in Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH), has recently been awarded funding from the grant from the Wellcome Trust to co-lead a pilot research project on health and sustainability aspects of palm oil. The research project ‘POSHE: Palm Oil: Sustainability, Health and Economics’ start...
Feb 24, 2015•19 min
With music to celebrate Chinese New Year, Cheng Yu and Yao from the UK Chinese Music Ensemble play live in the studio and tell us more about the sound of their Silk and Bamboo repertoire. 1. Song of the Horse (Live) 2. Song of Happiness 3. Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon 4. White Snow in Sunny Spring (Live) 5. Waterscape Silhouette 6. Full of Joy (Live) http://www.ukchinesemusic.com/
Feb 23, 2015•45 min
Panel discussion held on World Radio Day, 13th February 2015, at SOAS, University of London, with presentations by: -Sharath Srinivasan, Center for Governance and Human Rights, University of Cambridge. Public consultation and political participation in Africa using mobile phones and interactive radio. -Kevin Perkins, Farm Radio International. The work of Farm Radio International, a Canadian NGO with over 30 years of experience providing farming education to rural farmers around the world. -Will ...
Feb 19, 2015•1 hr 50 min
Noura Abughris , Ali Mitib and Fatima Said from the MENAFM team debate the changing use of radio and social media in the MENA region. MENA FM is a new radio show at SOAS radio which discusses political issues related to the MENA region while giving people insight into the culture.
Feb 12, 2015•9 min
The unique power of radio to bring people together, allows us to follow Innovate Salone, a program established by Global Minimum in Sierra Leone with their ventures. Innovate Salone helps to create a culture of creativity, independence and growth for its country by supporting young innovators who aim to find solutions to the problems of their communities. The show highlights the importance of radio in communities where youths with restricted opportunities have limitless ideas and where with thei...
Feb 12, 2015•19 min
This podcast has been translated into Swahili by Andrew Harvey. Alice McCool interviews Amanuel Ghirmai, an Eritrean refugee and journalist for Radio Erena (www.erena.org). With the support of Reporters Without Borders, this Paris based station offers freely-reported, independent news and information to Eritreans in Eritrea. Alice and Amanuel discuss the issue of press freedom in his country, and how his radio broadcasts reach to one of the most closed countries in the world. Listen to Radio Ere...
Feb 11, 2015•10 min
This podcast has been translated into Spanish by Iris Tome Valencia. Alice McCool interviews Amanuel Ghirmai, an Eritrean refugee and journalist for Radio Erena (www.erena.org). With the support of Reporters Without Borders, this Paris based broadcaster offers freely-reported, independent news and information to Eritreans in Eritrea. Alice and Amanuel discuss the issue of press freedom in his country, and how the radio reaches one of the most closed countries in the world. Listen to Radio Erena ...
Feb 11, 2015•8 min
Alice McCool interviews Amanuel Ghirmai, an Eritrean refugee and journalist for Radio Erena (www.erena.org). With the support of Reporters Without Borders, this Paris based broadcaster offers freely-reported, independent news and information to Eritreans in Eritrea. Alice and Amanuel discuss the issue of press freedom in his country, and how the radio reaches one of the most closed countries in the world. Listen to Radio Erena and support their work at www.erena.org
Feb 11, 2015•10 min
In Behind The Music this week, we hear from Gaio de Lima to tell us all about his latest project 'A Oca'. A Oca brings together a group of musicians to explore the rhythms, melodies and dances from the Amazonia and Northern Brazil. We hope this show will inspire you to come along to see A Oca play live in the Brunei Gallery at SOAS on Friday 6th February. Track listing: 1 'Tupyzinho' by Carlos Malta e Pife Muderno 2 'Queima' by Zabé da Loca 3 'Chiclete Com Banana' by Jackson do Pandeiro 4 'Vapor...
Feb 02, 2015•43 min
In Behind The Music this week, we hear from Michael and Joe from London Sacred Harp. We learn all about this unique style of community singing that spans way back in history to the 1800s. We also give you a taste of what you can expect to hear in their concert, Early Music from the New World, on Friday 16th January at the Brunei Gallery at SOAS University. Track listing: 1. 77 on the top 'Child of Grace' from Sacred Harp, performed by London Sacred Harp 2. 573 from Sacred Harp, performed by Lond...
Jan 16, 2015•53 min
Join Sheila Divine and Tallulah Magoo for Whirldfuzzz #2. They’ll be traversing the globe to find some fuzzy musical gems, including a ridiculous contender for the slab of filth. Tunes from Japan, Angola, Europe and moreee.
Dec 22, 2014•2 hr 6 min
How can activists use the arts to engage youth in the fight against corruption? Alice McCool interviews Lucky Ronald Menoe (Corruption Watch, South Africa) and Robtel Pailey (SOAS PhD Researcher and children's book author, Liberia) to find out. Songs by Fiesta Black and Takun J. Photo courtesy of Transparency International Zimbabwe. Alice is Speech Editor at SOAS Radio and Campaign Officer at Transparency International UK.
Dec 08, 2014•26 min
SU Current Affairs Lecture Series Developments in India since the mid 1980’s signify the breakdown of consensual politics and the ideal of composite Indian nationhood. Communal animosity has corroded the social conscience, contributed to a disregard of human life, and led to the decay of a reliable criminal justice system. Radical rhetoric these days covers all shades of the political spectrum - the reality today is that extremism is a mainstream phenomenon. We need to rediscover the virtues of ...
Dec 05, 2014•1 hr 11 min
Beyond the Neoliberal University: How Do We Free Education? A talk and rally in the run up to the National Demonstration for Free Education, to discuss the impact of neoliberalism on education and how we can transcend the current education system, abolishing financial and social barriers and creating an education system that is not just free in terms of not having fees (for international students as well as home students), but that is also democratic, representative, inclusive and supportive of ...
Dec 05, 2014•55 min
SOAS SU Current Affairs Lecture Series The chaos in Iraq has its roots in the fractured state building project brought about by the occupation of the country. Between 2003 and 2011, Iraq was transformed by a foreign occupation that saw state institutions and power divided between a select few political actors. In this exclusive political arrangement, the Iraqi state ceased to function properly as its governing institutions came under the control of Shia, Sunni and Kurdish political elites who di...
Dec 05, 2014•1 hr 15 min
Do you know the difference between HIV and AIDS? For World AIDS Day 2014, Jake Leyland dispels some misguided myhts and gives us some cold hard facts about HIV/AIDS. This podcast also discusses the fact that HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for women at a reproductive age and gives us an insight into what young students in London know and think about HIV/AIDS and women.
Dec 01, 2014•6 min
For World Aids Day 2014, Noura Abughris talks to Helen Kelly from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine -LSHTM, who is conducting research on cervical cancer prevention among HIV-infected women in Africa.
Nov 29, 2014•6 min
For the third episode of the Fossil Free SOAS ‘Divestment Digest’ we were joined by Bill McKibben, a co-founder of the organisation 350.org, and key advocate for fossil fuel divestment. Since 2012, 350.org has been taking on the oil, gas and coal industries with great success by highlighting their questionable links to educational, religious and government institutions. Fossil Free SOAS’s Julia Christian met with Bill to discuss how to bring about climate and social justice. Produced at SOAS Rad...
Nov 27, 2014•8 min
On Tuesday 25th November 2014, SOAS Radio's Daniel Avis caught up with the long-standing MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Diane Abbott to discuss immigration, Theresa May's proposed anti-terrorism legislation and her own ambitions to become the next Mayor of London in 2016.
Nov 27, 2014•3 min
Be transported to the streets of Montevideo with this live recording of Guillermo Rozenthuler's Candombé band. Recorded live at the concert, part of the SOAS Concert Series, on Monday 10th November 2014.
Nov 23, 2014•1 hr 23 min
Oxford Maqam members, Ethnomusicologist and Qanoun player Martin Stokes and vocalist Yara Salahiddeen give us a taste of the music they will perform in the SOAS Concert series, and talk to Karen Boswall about the passions and inspirations behind the music of Oxford Maqam. 1. Ew'a Tekallimny Baba Gayy Waraaya performed by Aziza Helmi El Masreyyah 2. Ali, Abd Al-Bari Dawr 3. Mawwal Maskeen W Hali Addam performed by Maqam 4. Muwwashah Qad Harakaat performed by Maqam 5. El Tohfageyyah performed by M...
Nov 19, 2014•1 hr 1 min
Join Sheila Divine and Tallulah Magoo in a new show called Whirldfuzzz. For the next two hours, they bring you an adventure of fuzz, psych, punk, noise and rock'n'roll from all around the world. Join us while we jam out to some our favourite tracks found on the road less travelled...
Nov 16, 2014•1 hr 49 min
Behind The Music Special featuring music from the new album by Kasse Mady Diabate to be launched at SOAS on Monday 24th November. Caspar Melville talks to Karen Boswall about issue of music copyright and ownership of traditional music and some of the other themes to be addressed at the event by publisher and writer Joe Boyd, Malian music expert Lucy Duran, Kasse Mady himself and chaired by Caspar Melville.
Nov 14, 2014•59 min
