Radio Atlantis on the West Coast of South Africa has produced this series of podcasts that takes a look at land defense from the perspective of land defenders. Interviewees include Bradley van Sitters (Nama) and Oswald Daniels (Cochoqua).
Music:
"Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, is used with permission.
Radio Atlantis on the West Coast of South Africa has produced this series of podcasts that takes a look at land defense from the perspective of land defenders. Interviewees include Bradley van Sitters (Nama) and Oswald Daniels (Cochoqua).
Music:
"Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Language diversity, multilingual education, and the development of a deeper appreciation of linguistic and cultural traditions worldwide are all encouraged by the dissemination of mother tongues. The purpose of this program is to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue, and to remind us of the vital role that languages play in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage.
Radio has been over for over a century and it is still relevant today, probably more than it has ever been. Let us look at some of the reasons why: Radios are portable, unlike television. Radios are cheaper as compared to television sets. Indigenous peoples use radio as a means of communication, especially in remote areas.
During every COP gathering, individuals and organisations who defend the land and environment, as well as Indigenous communities, voice their need for increased safeguards for their territories against industries that harm the environment, including mining, logging, and industrial agriculture. Climate organizations like Global Witness frequently send delegates to advocate for quick and ambitious measures to address the climate emergency.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
During every COP gathering, individuals and organisations who defend the land and environment, as well as Indigenous communities, voice their need for increased safeguards for their territories against industries that harm the environment, including mining, logging, and industrial agriculture. Climate organizations like Global Witness frequently send delegates to advocate for quick and ambitious measures to address the climate emergency.
Cultural Survival attended COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023, and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
In this Afrikaans language radio program, Catherine Wiese from Valley FM in Worcester, South Africa interviews Piet Berends (San) on a walk undertaken to get in touch with nature, and to celebrate the life of plants and animals.
Produced by Valley FM.
Can language be used as a skill? - The South African Nama Development Association is an organization who is recognizing the value in teaching youth the Nama language, an ancient language spoken by Indigenous Southern African people in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lelani Jacobs (Nama)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission
Sound and Soil is a live, collaborative, and experimental performance that took place in Nababeep, South Africa. Situated in the far Northern Cape Province, 50 kms north of Springbok and 65 kms from the Namibian border post Vioolsdrift, the performance included a collaboration with the Nama Stap Dansers from Steinkopf. Craig Beckett from Indigenous Youth Exchange Africa attended the event.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Craig Beckett (Naro, Nama)
"Lights in the forest" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
Indigenous Women all around the world are subjected to marginalization and inequality.
As we commemorate International Women's Day, we celebrate the work of Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama), an Indigenous change maker who is the curator of The Koena Art Institute. Booysen tells us about the Institute's collaboration with the Iziko Art Museum.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama)
"Anania by the Baba Project, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission
Eden FM is the Southern Cape community radio station. The station was started in 2003 as an Initiative by Community leaders and business people in George, Oudtshoorn and Mosselbay. It soon grew to become the largest community radio station in the Western Cape Province.
Eden FM's presenters and staff about the impact that radio has had on the community where they broadcast.
All music is supplied by Eden FM.
Poverty, low levels of education and illiteracy, limited access to health care, basic sanitation, credit, and employment, limited participation in political life, and domestic and sexual violence are all prevalent problems among indigenous women. Besides, their right to self-determination, self-governance and control of resources and ancestral lands have been violated over centuries.
Still, Indigenous women are ensuring that traditional knowledge is carried over from generation to generation.
Language Activist Letitia Petersen tells us more.
As the backbone of Indigenous communities, Indigenous women have over the years been instrumental in the preservation and transmission of traditional ancestral knowledge. As protectors of natural resources and keepers of scientific knowledge, Indigenous women are integral to the survival of their traditions.
In this podcast, we speak to Craige Beckett from Indigenous Youth Xchange who tells us about a new project that aims to teach the youth alternative skills to grow their own food.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Voices: Craige Beckett (San)
Music: "LIBRES Y VIVAS" by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this interview, John Cloete from Radio West Coast interviews Naomi Cloete, a small-scale fisher from Paternoster, and they talk about the reality of the poverty that fishermen live in, they talk also about how generation after generation of fisher-boys become fishermen because there simply is no other life for them on these shores. Naomi also tells us how fisher folk has to suffer, partly because of policy but more worryingly by the national silence that shrouds the Indigenous Peoples of the Western cape coastlines.
In December 2021 Oil giant Shell's plans to conduct seismic surveys off South Africa's Wild Coast to prospect for oil and gas reserves below the seabed have been temporarily halted by an online petition by environmentalists, indigenous groups, and fisheries organizations.
In 2019, a landmark agreement between traditional knowledge holders who are also small-scale farmers of Khoi and San descent, and the rooibos tea industry was reached.
This benefit-sharing agreement would see a small percentage of the profits made from rooibos and honeybush tea find its way to the hands of small-scale farmers.
On the commemoration of the international day of tea, we hear from National Khoi and San Council Chairman Cecil LeFleur, who will give us an update on how COVID-19 has affected the rolling out of the agreement.
In this radio program, Ricardo Herdien talks about how Indigenous South Africans still struggle for land and basic services.
This interview was produced by Bush Radio 89.5 FM.
In South Africa, land conferences are held often, but Khoi and San people are seldom involved in the talks. Martinus Fredericks, a direct descendent of Cornelius Fredericks, who was a Nama leader who fought along Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi.
Produced by Radio Atlantis.
Image: Martinus Fredericks (LinkedIn)
Music: "Anania2", by The Baba Project, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this radio program, Bush Radio 89.5 FM in Cape Town talks to Chris Nissen, The Human Rights Commissioner of South Africa on the importance of revitalizing Indigenous Languages.
Indigenous Peoples have in the past lived in harmony with the earth, and the key to good health lies in our past, our traditions, our customs.
Bush FM and the Institute For The Restoration of Aborigines, South Africa discuss healing, ancestry, genetics, and identity.
Bush Radio is a popular and pioneering community radio station in South Africa. The station broadcasts programs in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa from Salt River, Cape Town on 89.5 MHz FM, with a music and talk format aimed at the 18 to 39 age group.
In this podcast, Bush FM discusses the resurgence of Khoi and San languages in Southern Africa.
Produced by Bush FM.
Riverside FM and Cultural Survivals Indigenous Rights Radio are embarking on a project that will see the last fluent speaker of the N/uuki language of the San people, record an audio dictionary.
Produced by Riverside FM
Music "Anania2" by the Baba Project, used with permission.
Image: Riverside FM Logo
Tevin August is an inspiring young man from Coronationville in Johannesburg West. He was born with a form of Cerebal Palsy which is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move, maintain balance and posture.
He has never allowed his disability to hinder his forward progression both mentally, physical or emotionally; in actual fact it has given him a strong mental capacity and a unique outlook when it comes to taking on life and all its hardships and challenges.
Courtesy of Indigenous Youth Xchange Radio, South Africa.
South Africa has been branded as “the Rainbow Nation” because of the diversity of its citizens. The country boasts a very liberal constitution and eleven official languages, which however do not include Indigenous languages. What is becoming more and more apparent lately is the exclusion of the Khoi and San languages especially from school curricula, radio, and television. IYX Radio is a new internet radio station that hopes to change the narrative.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sharri Cannel (San)
In South Africa on November 1, 2019, a benefit sharing agreement was reached after many years of intense negotiations. This industry wide agreement was the first of its kind, and was launched between the Khoikhoi and San people, and the rooibos industry.
In this podcast we interview Craig Beckett who together with eleven other walkers are journeying close to 500 kilometers by foot in order to bring awareness to about oil and gas exploration in Namibia and Botswana.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Craig Beckett
Image: Save the Okavango
Music: "Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission
Music: "Burn your village to the ground", by A Tribe Called Red - used with permission.
We interview Wilhelmina Van Dyk who coordinated the Khoikhoi language gathering in South Africa. This event put the Khoekhoegowab language in the spotlight and left attendees with basic vocabulary of the language after a few days.
Produced by : Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Wilhemina Van Wyk
Music: "Burn your village to the ground", by A Tribe Called Red - used with permission.
"Avantgarde" by Tyso, used with permission
The Koena Art Institute celebrates creativity, openness, tolerance, and generosity. We aim to be inclusive where diverse cultural, artistic, social, and political positions are welcome. Committed to sharing the most thought-provoking modern, fine and contemporary art, and hope you will join us in exploring the art, ideas, and issues of our time.
In October 2020, a group of people representing different Khoi and San Tribes gathered at the foot of Table Mountain in South Africa. There they have created a cultural space where they will stay for an indefinite period of time in an effort to reclaim the mountain. With the temporary huts providing a little shelter, and fire providing a little warmth, they are making it known that the mountain and the area surrounding it had once belonged to their ancestors. Bradley van Sitters is among the folks camped out at the foot of the mountain.
In this Afrikaans Language radio program, Indigenous Rights Radio's Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan, Johannesburg) receives a telephone call from Piet Berends and Willem Swarts (Khoisan, Northern Cape). They speak about survival in the Kalahari Desert and the hoodia plant.
This program is in Afrikaans.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewees: Piet Berends (Pictured) and Willem Swarts
Music: "Kora Kalabash and Hum" by Johannes Davids, used with permission
October is pride month in South Africa. We spoke to Denver Toroga Breda, an Indigenous language activist from Cape Town, on being Indigenous and belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Denver Toroga Breda
Music: 'Kora and Hum' Johannes Davids, used with permission
'Burn your village to the ground' by A Tribe Called Red, used with permission
Jayd Smith from Eldos FM introduces this program, where presenter Diana Morat interviews operations manager for epidemic preparedness Dawn Kgaje.
This program is produced by Eldos FM, a community radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Saxaphone by Tyso
Production and editing: Jayd Smith
Voices: Jade Smith, Diana Morat
Image: Mixer at community radio station
Interviewee: Dawn Kgaje
This interview is part of a multi radio project with three radio stations in South Africa. Jayd Smith interviews the Namibian organizers of the Nama Festival, and annual celebration that takes place in Keetmanshoop, South Africa.
The organizers of the festival were recently in South Africa, where a video of them singing in Khoekhoegowab has surfaced and was quite popular among the locals.
Jayd Smith from Eldos FM in Johannesburg interviewed Macci Eigus, Dawid Eigub en Dirk Eigub.
What is the state of education among Indigenous Peoples? Khoe language activist Denver Breda gives us an in-depth understanding of the situation in South Africa in particular with regard to Indigenous peoples as well as people with slave ancestry.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Denver Breda
Image: Denver Breda
Music: Anania2 by The Baba Project, used with permission
Indigenous Rights Radio Intro track features "Burn your Village to the Ground" by @a-tribe-called-red. Used with permission.
In South Africa, in November 2019, a small but significant victory has been achieved when a benefit sharing agreement was reached with the Indigenous People of South Africa. The Khoi and San people will now benefit from the multi-million rand Rooibos tea and Honeybush industries.
Only 2% of the farmers who grow the tea are from Indigenous communities.
National KhoiSan Council chairman Cecil LeFleur talks to Indigenous Rights Radio.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Image: Tea
Music: Yarina, Lights in the Forrest, used with permission.
World Toilet Day is a day that is commemorated annually on November 19th, to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
The aim of this particular commemoration is to deliver on Sustainable Goal 6, which promises clean water adequate sanitation for all, by the year 2030.
Indigenous peoples are among the most marginalized people in the world. In this program we will speak to indigenous folks, to find out about their water and sanitation situation.
It is world radio on February 13th, a day and according to the website diamundialradio.org, this is a day to celebrate radio as a medium, to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves. We Interview the Programs Manager of X-K FM, a radio station set up specifically to broadcast in the !Xun and Khwe indigenous languages of Namibia/Angola/South Africa.
The world will indeed be a poorer place without the languages and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.
So it is necessary to celebrate and promote Indigenous Languages, thereby improving the lives of the peoples who speak the languages.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan, South Africa)
Interview: Kaimana Barcase, Hawaii and Denver Breda, South Africa.
Music : Whispers by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
Picture: A man plays a Khwe finger piano, West Caprivi Strip. Photo by Julie Taylor 2007, Courtesy of Cultural Survival
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa was the scene of protest action put together by Khoi and San groups from South Africa. Echoes of the struggle song, “What have we done”, which is reminiscent of apartheid South Africa, could be heard in Maude Street Sandton, where the Stock Exchange is situated, the richest square mile in Africa.
Bartolina Sisa was killed in Bolivia in 1782. International Indigenous Women's Day is held each year on 5th September. Although women fight for their rights and the rights of their people, not enough recognition is given to the efforts of women.
Indigenous South Africans go on a yearly 400 mile pilgrimage to bring awareness to ongoing violations of basic human rights of South Africans, the withholding of remains and sacred items belonging to Indigenous communities by museums, as well as to reconnect to the earth and environment through the rigorous journey from coast to coast. We spoke to two South African Indigenous rights activists to hear their takes on how this tradition has shaped their activism.