In a global order that seems more volatile and uncertain than ever, multilateralism is often considered as mere fancy. That multilateralism matters, however, is not an argument that needs to be made, but too often its existence and even the need for it tends to get subsumed in more mainstream discourses of Realpolitik. Our workshop follows the panel discussion on Saturday, 24th October, and is based on the extensive new research of our participants. Despite concerns of ‘Southern’ hostility towar...
Nov 20, 2015•2 hr 44 min
In a global order that seems more volatile and uncertain than ever, multilateralism is often considered as mere fancy. That multilateralism matters, however, is not an argument that needs to be made, but too often its existence and even the need for it tends to get subsumed in more mainstream discourses of Realpolitik. Our workshop follows the panel discussion on Saturday, 24th October, and is based on the extensive new research of our participants. Despite concerns of ‘Southern’ hostility towar...
Nov 20, 2015•2 hr 18 min
Reem Kelani joins Alexa from Behind the Music at SOAS Radio, in advance of her upcoming performance at the London Jazz Festival this weekend. She brings a wonderful array of music, and takes us on a journey, from Beirut through to the US, even bringing us a special track of her own that will be released on her new album next year. Come join us!
Nov 19, 2015•59 min
Sheila Divine and Tallulah Magoo are back with their favourite fuzzzy tracks. Music from Peru, Burkina Faso, Nepal, Japan and much moreeeee. The Slab of Filth returns alongside new features: Felix Montpelier's ten minute power hour and our slice of heaven. ENJOY FUZZZLINGS x
Nov 12, 2015•2 hr 12 min
The history of British slavery, although superficially acknowledged from time to time, has been largely concealed. Indeed, few acts of political and historical forgetting could be described as thorough or as effective as the erasure of slavery from the "British story". The compensation of Britain’s 46,000 slave-owners was the largest bailout in British history until the bailout of the banks in 2009. Not only did the enslaved receive nothing, but they effectively paid part of the bill for their o...
Nov 04, 2015•1 hr
The Student Union Lecture Series 4: Is There Room for Black in the Union Jack? Britain has seen a complicated relationship with race. The Industrial Revolution saw Britain’s industries and economy grow exponentially, almost totally a direct result from its colonial and imperial (mis)dealings. It had taken part in both World Wars, recruiting thousands from the colonies to fight in the armed forces. Britain has therefore been a truly 'global' nation with cities like London built almost entirely ou...
Nov 04, 2015•1 hr 50 min
Mpumelelo Mcata and Anna Teeman, director and producer of Black President, a documentary feature on exiled Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai's work and philosophy, join Helen Reid in the studio to discuss the film, politics and art in South Africa and the #FeesMustFall movement. Featuring music from Mpumi's experimental rock band BLK JKS. Watch Black President, part of Film Africa festival, this Wednesday 04/11/15 at Hackney Picturehouse. Mpumi will do a Q&A after the screening.
Nov 02, 2015•34 min
In this Behind the Music special, Lizzie talks to Brazilian-French singer-songwriter Dom La Nena, about her newly released album 'SOYO' and her musical influences.
Oct 28, 2015•24 min
Stephen Rapp, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. Department of State 2009-2015 talks with Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri, Co-Director, Centre for the International Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice at SOAS about international justice in Sierra Leone, peace vs. justice in Syria, the US relationship with the International Criminal Court, and the Future of International Criminal Justice.
Oct 26, 2015•16 min
During Black History Month 2015, SOAS Women’s network and SOAS BME network hosted a talk on twerking. Apart from discussing twerking as an act of resistance, other themes were discussed critically such as cultural appropriation, occupation of black bodies, black femininity in relation to white femininity, autonomy, white supremacy, spaces, body positivity, self-love, twerking as a space to stop resisting, twerking as an act of defiance against the sexualisation of aspects of African culture, twe...
Oct 22, 2015•2 hr 11 min
“British Values” according to Prime Minister David Cameron, describe the “democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different beliefs and faiths." Its introduction is a response by the state to what it perceives to be Black, Minority and Ethnic (BAME) communities growing and representing a threat to the norms inherited by hundreds of years of colonial rule. What is portrayed as a way of “uniting” communities can be a way of policing culture and in pa...
Oct 20, 2015•1 hr 43 min
The Centre for the International Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice at SOAS, in association with the London Transitional Justice Network, hosted Ambassador Stephen Rapp, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes in the US Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of State from 2009-2015, and before this, Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone where he was responsible for the prosecution of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Ambassador Rapp spoke about 'The Future ...
Oct 13, 2015•1 hr 41 min
Daniel Raven-Ellison is a SOAS alumnus with a radical plan to make London the world's first National Park City. Here in the studio with Helen Reid, he talks about his inspiration and aims for the National Park City campaign, his admiration for foxes, and how SOAS taught him the activism he puts into practice today. Read more about the campaign: www.nationalparkcity.london
Oct 12, 2015•27 min
We had a chance to briefly chat to Bristol based poet, MC, guitarist and all round top bloke Dizraeli. He discussed inspirational teachers, gave great advice on writing and the creative process, and described a very healthy meal for us! His last gigs ever with Dizraeli and the Small Gods are happening on Friday 25th September at the Islington Assembly Hall in London and then Saturday 26th September at the Marble Factory in Bristol. More info on www.dizraeli.com Track Listing: Track Album Year Ma...
Sep 22, 2015•9 min
SOAS Radio got to meet amazing Jambinai - the South Korean group currently shaking up the world's perception of Korean Traditional Music. Listen to bandmembers Ilwoo, Bomi and Eun Youg talk about their innovative sound, how they got into Korean Traditional Music and their dreams for the future.
Sep 14, 2015•14 min
The results of the Labour Party leadership race will be revealed tomorrow. If Jeremy Corbyn is successful, the anti-austerity movement will move away from the fringes and into mainstream British politics. On the eve of the results, SOAS Radio takes a retrospective look at the aims of the anti-austerity protest movement and its members. Photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewishamdreamer/19621569840/in/photolist-vTTL5m-waRP2f-vTTEgN-5R7y8f-9bBdFG-3Ls1En-vTTF7h-5PGSrK-5PM9LU-5PMc3y Photo by https:...
Sep 11, 2015•14 min
SOAS Radio speaks to Channthy and Julien from Cambodian Space Project before they played a great set on the Saturday night. They talk about the band's inception, their influences and their latest release Electric Blue Boogaloo.
Sep 06, 2015•29 min
SOAS Radio were delighted to spent a short while in conversation with Egyptian master percussionist after his performance in the Siam tent at WOMAD UK 2015 www.soasradio.org www.womad.co.uk www.hossamramzy.com Track list: 1) Hossam Ramzy Live at WOMAD 2015 2) Hossam Ramzy, Rafa El Tachuela - Juntos (from Flamenco Arabe)
Aug 25, 2015•15 min
SOAS Radio got to chat to ESKA at WOMAD Festival 2015 before her performance which blew us all away. She gave us an amazing interview, talking passionately about her debut album, current tour and her inspirations and challenges on her musical journey so far.
Aug 14, 2015•21 min
Professor Christopher Cramer interviews Mozambican Economist Carlos Nuno Castel-Branco, a SOAS alumnus and visiting researcher, and founder of the Institute of Social and Economic studies (IESE) in Mozambique. Carlos Nuno Castel-Branco and two journalists have been put on trial for a post on Facebook that criticised the Government, and in this podcast he explains the context of the trial and other challenges for Freedom of Expression in Mozambique.
Aug 08, 2015•16 min
Full Title: Oil and Rural Infrastructure Development : Discourses, Methodologies, and Outcomes of Intervention in Oil Communities of Nigeria Leventis Fellow and anthropologist Dr Babajide Ololajulo presents from his research on the experience of state organised oil-led development intervention among the Ilaje, a coastal Yoruba speaking group in Ondo state, Nigeria. The study examines the different meanings that intervention agencies’ development spending generated among the people, and the way i...
Jul 15, 2015•45 min
Historians have paid some attention to horses, but essentially as machines of war and prestige, whereas donkeys, wild asses, mules and zebras have been altogether neglected. It is suggested here that equids were significant economic resources in the Sahel-Sudan Belt, the Ethiopian highlands, and the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Christopher Cramer chairs a discussion with William Gervase Clarence-Smith(SOAS)
Jul 15, 2015•1 hr 37 min
Within twelve years of its emergence as a musical style at the University of Abidjan residence in Yopougon in 1991, the fame of zouglou music soared across borders and continents. The conditions that made the emergence and spread of zouglou music possible are part of a larger context that has influenced other recent genres of African popular music. Due to copyright piracy, Ivoirian artists have also experienced difficulty in surviving financially from their music. However, recently there has bee...
Jul 15, 2015•1 hr 35 min
Miners Shot Down looks at the Marikana miners perspective on what happened in August 2012. Six days after the mineworkers in one of South Africa’s biggest platinum mines began a wildcat strike for better wages,the police used live ammunition to brutally suppress the strike, killing 34 and injuring many more. After the screening of this compelling documentary, Ben Fine (SOAS) chaired and interesting discussion with the audience and James Nichol - the lawyer representing the mine workers' families...
Jul 15, 2015•46 min
First of its kind, the documentary 'The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo' celebrates the acclaimed Pan-African feminist, poet, playwright and novelist and provides a fascinating insight into her life. The film explores the artistic contribution of one of Africa’s foremost woman writers, a trailblazer for an entire generation of exciting new talent. This audio captures the engaging discussion involving the director Yaba Badoe, Nana Ayebia Clarke (Ayebia Clarke Publishing Limited), Louisa Egbunike (SOAS), Kwa...
Jul 15, 2015•59 min
Welcome to London! Hafsa, Mulue and Sam have teamed up with SOAS Radio for Refugee Week to share their experiences of moving to London, learning English and meeting bus drivers! Have a listen to their good (and bad) experiences getting around London and how they came to meet each other as well as sharing some of their favourite songs in their Refugee Week podcast. Tracklist Abraham Afewerki Samai Emeli Sande Read All About It Presenters Hafsa, Mulue and Sam Producer Seonaid Weightman Murray
Jun 19, 2015•15 min
In this Behind the Music special, Will talks to El Far3i from 47Soul ahead of their debut EP launch, 'SHAMSTEP'. He tells us about the border breaking musics of dabke and choubie, the importance of the Mijwiz reeds onto the electro sounds, and we listen to some of the sounds that make up 47Soul's Shamstep style. Find out more at: Official Website: http://www.47soul.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/47soul More shows from Behind the Music - https://www.facebook.com/soasradioconcertseires?re...
Jun 17, 2015•59 min
Daniel Laemouahuma Jatta is a Jola scholar and musician from Mandinary, Gambia, who pioneered the research and documentation of the akonting, a Jola folk lute, as well as the related Manjago folk lute, the buchundu, in the mid-1980s. Jatta has done three decades of research on the relationship between the akontingand the banjo of the American south, and has presented his findings at major congresses in Africa, Europe and the USA. Together with Dr Lucy Duran (Lecturer in African Music) and Dr Tob...
Jun 17, 2015•1 hr 45 min
Owusu-Ankomah discusses his work and contemporary African art with Chris Spring (curator, Sainsbury African Galleries, British Museum). Owusu-Ankomah was born in Sekondi, Ghana, in 1956, a year before independence from British colonial rule. He studied at Ghanatta College of Art, in Accra, before moving in 1986 to Bremen, Germany, where he now lives and works. His paintings depict a spiritual world of forms, without light or shadow, occupied by figures and symbols. The way in which these figures...
Jun 17, 2015•1 hr 19 min
In Behind The Music this week, we meet Abdoulaye Samb, a Senegalese guitarist, singer and composer whose love of mixing musical genres and styles creates wonderful fusions of cultures and musics. In the interview Abdoulaye tells us about his latest album Wouty, and the musicians from Senegal who have inspired him along the way. Abdoulaye will be performing with his band Minnijiaraby on Thursday 30th April in the Brunei Gallery at SOAS. For more information about the concert, follow this link: ht...
Apr 26, 2015•44 min
