In this series of podcasts, independent producer Morisca Christians talks about the state of Indigenous Khoi and San languages in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
Produced by Morisca Christians
Image: Entrance of Knofloks Kraal, South Africa
Music: 'Indios Tilcara' by Chancha Via Circuito, used with permission.
'Burn your village to the ground', by Haluci Nation, used with permission.
Simon Kooper, a prominent Nama leader and freedom fighter, played a pivotal role in the resistance against colonial oppression in Namibia during the early 20th century. As a staunch advocate for the rights and dignity of the Nama people, Kooper's leadership was instrumental in mobilizing resistance against German colonial rule, which sought to exploit and subjugate his community. His commitment to justice and sovereignty was evident in his efforts to unify disparate groups under a common cause, aiming to restore autonomy and protect traditional lands.
The UNPFII raises awareness and promotes the integration and coordination of activities related to Indigenous issues within the UN system.
Cultural Survival attended the UNPFII and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan) and Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee Sonner Geriya (Khwe)
Music
Libres y Vivas by Mare Advertencia, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this podcast, we hear from residents of Bwabwata in Namibia who discuss the land defense of the !Xun and Khwe people of the region in Namibia in the Okavango Delta that was known as the Caprivi Strip.
The interview was produced by Sonner Geria(Khwe), and conducted by Fanny Mafuta(Khwe).
Interviewee: Muyatwa Smith (Khwe)
Music:
"Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this podcast, we hear from Reynold van Wyk who tells us about a history of struggle to protect the land where the Baster people had originated from, and also the land where they have settled.
Produced by Pieter Olivier(Baster).
Interviewee: Reynold Van Wyk (Baster).
Music:
"Whispers" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In this podcast, we hear from residents of Rehoboth in Namibia, who tell us about how the Baster community has had to defend their land, territories, and resources.
This program was produced by Pieter Olivier.
Interviewee: Douglas Kock(Baster).
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.
For this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women commemoration, we remember the suffering of Indigenous Herero and Nama Peoples who suffered greatly at the hands of German colonists.
We spoke to Sima Luipert, from Namibia, about how violence from the past can lead to intergenerational Trauma.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sima Luipert (Nama)
Music: 'Anania2' by The Baba Project, used with permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
The Bonn Climate Change Conference is hosting a large number of mandated events, and continues discussions on issues of critical importance, such as global stocktake, global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage, and the mitigation work program. Cultural Survival's Edson Krenak interviewed Simson Kapembe.
Produced by Edson Krenak (Krenak)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Simson Kapembe (San)
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In 2019 Cultural Survival started helping the San people in a remote part of Namibia to start their own radio station. The idea was to build a web radio station first and then apply for a license from the broadcasting authority in Namibia.
In this podcast we hear from Disco Koki (!Xun), one of the trainees, who came to South Africa to receive training at XK FM, the South African government-funded radio station, that was set up to give the San people a voice.
"Lights in the forest by Ziibiwan, Used with Permission
Muchos sucesos y situaciones que involucran a los Pueblos Indígenas están pasando alrededor del mundo. ¿Sabe cuáles son?
Como parte del derecho a la información, Cultural Survival le presenta este noticiero con notas relevantes de Norte, Centro y Sur América, África y Asia, el cual puede escuchar, descargar y compartir de forma gratuita.
Música de introducción:
- “Burn Your Village to the Ground” de The Halluci Nation. Derechos de autor, propiedad de The Halluci Nation. Usada bajo su permiso.
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.
Technology has the potential to address some of the greatest challenges in education today. It can accelerate efforts towards ensuring equitable and inclusive lifelong learning opportunities for all if it is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity. Multilingual education based on mother tongue is a key component of inclusion in education.
What are the challenges on the ground when it comes to teaching Indigenous languages?
Cultural Survival spoke to Erna Esme Honnes – a Khoekhoegowab teacher from the Damara people of Namibia who told us more.
Khwedam Radio in Namibia was started in 2019 with support from Cultural Survival as an internet radio station.
In this radio program, we hear about the progress of the station, as well as some of the challenges experienced by the management of the station.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interview by Khwedam Radio
"Anania2" by The Baba Project, used with permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
On September 29, 2021, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste reduction will be commemorated to ensure that we all do our best to preserve food, and to respect the effort that goes into ensuring that it ends up on our tables, and to make sure that we do not take it for granted.
With only 9 years to go until 2030, we check in with the San community of Namibia, who explains to us how important a plate of food is to them, and how difficult it is to survive everyday life.
The state of Germany has agreed to compensate the state of Namibia, by means of a development fund of 1.4 billion Euros, over 30 years. How will this agreement benefit the descendents of the victims of the thousands of people who were tortured and murdered by the colonial rulers of the South Western African country of Namibia, in the early 1900's.
Diana Morat from Eldos FM, a community radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa interviews Martinus Fredericks, a direct descendent of Cornelius Fredericks, who was a Nama leader who fought along Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi.
Covid-19 is still a grave reality, now with a new strain of the virus spreading across the world. When the pandemic first began, we did not expect it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact. As we move into 2021, it continues to be crucial to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitize our hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Voices : Disco Koki
After months of clinical trials by many companies in different countries, several vaccines, which are 94-95% effective, have finally been approved and are now making their way to hospitals, clinics and doctors rooms. Successful trials of the vaccines have taken place with medical professionals and the elderly. Vaccines against COVID-19 will be available to us soon.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Voice and Translation: Disco Koki
Limited access to basic health services remains a big problem for Indigenous communities across all continents. Indigenous populations in many countries have experienced poorer health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous populations. Mainstream health services have not adequately met the health needs of Indigenous Peoples in both rural and urban settings.
Covid-19 is still a grave reality, now with a new strain of the virus spreading across the world. When the pandemic first began, we did not expect it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact. As we move into 2021, it continues to be crucial to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitize our hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus.
Voices: Carmen Klassen
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate World Radio Day's 10th anniversary and the more than 110 years of radio. Cultural Survival's Indigenous Rights Radio supported the Khwe people from the Okavango region in starting Khwedam Radio – a radio station that will assist the Khwe and !Xun speaking San Peoples to be able to communicate better with each other in remote regions of Namibia.
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.
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
While we adhere to the precautionary measures that prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is important to strengthen the defenses in our body through responsible and healthy nourishment. Having a healthy immune system means that our bodies can fight the virus.
Within the community there are a great variety of foods that grow and are produced that can cover the needs of our families and of those elders who live alone.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Voices: Dina Christiaan
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
The Covid-19 Pandemic is upon us, and we all need to adhere to all the hygiene protocols.
While it is important to ensure the well-being of our elders in the time of this global pandemic, let us take care of our children too. If this is new for us, imagine the psychological impact it has on our young ones. Take the time to explain it to them, first hand, as opposed to what they see and hear on social media, television and radio.
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
While countries all over the world are on lockdown, and panic is the order of the day, this is a time when Indigenous Peoples around the world are encouraged to stay calm, and be strong, in the face of severe adversity.
What is most important to note, is that our elderly are the most vulnerable. We need to take extra precaution to save the lives of the ones who are dear to us, and the ones who have shown us the way to go, who have guided our feet on the path that we all walk.
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
According to the World Health Organisation, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses. Covid -19 is a type of coronavirus that is now affecting over 162 countries out of 195.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Voices: Disco Diaz Kokie
Image: Washing Hands
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Links:
Coronavirus, World Health Organization
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
While we adhere to the precautionary measures that prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is important to strengthen the defenses in our body through responsible and healthy nourishment. Having a healthy immune system means that our bodies can fight the virus.
Within the community there are a great variety of foods that grow and are produced that can cover the needs of our families and of those elders who live alone.
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases. Covid -19 is a type of coronavirus that now affects more than 162 countries out of 195.
This outbreak is serious! And in this program you can find more information and ways to prevent the spread. Listen, download and share for free.
Voices: Dina Christiaan
Image: Washing Hands
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Links:
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.
Hunger and obesity often co-exists in countries where a home cooked meal is far more difficult to attain than fast food, processed food and foods that are high in sugar. In line with the 2030 sustainable development Agenda, the theme for 2019's World Food Day is Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger world.In this program, we will talk to Indigenous people, to see how they contribute to Sustainable Development goal number two, which talks about ending hunger and achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Tharu is the mother tongue of the Tharu people, and it is divided into 2 categories, namely Rana Tharu and Dangaura Tharu, both belonging to the Indo-aryan language family. The Tharu peoples areamongst the largest indigenous communities in Nepal, they number 1.8 million people according to 2011 census. The Tharu are one of Nepal’s 59 Indigenous communities, comprised of 50 different clans with cultural differences. Each clan has slightly different dialects and tones when speaking their mother tongues. Among the 1.8 million, some 1.5 million speak their mother tongue.
Khwedam is spoken by the Bwabwata San People in Namibia. There are also some speakers in Botswana and South Africa.
This program provides a sound clip of Khwedam, and gives some information about the Indigenous People who speak the language.
PRODUCTION
Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan)
Indigenous Rights Radio Intro track features "Burn your Village to the Ground" by @a-tribe-called-red. Used with permission.
Music: Lights in the Forest by Yarina. Used with permission.
Every year on June 26th, The International Day in Support of Victims against Torture is held, in an effort to speak out against the act of torture.
In this program we interview Martinus Fredericks and ask him about the long term consequences of torture. Mr Fredericks is from Namibia, his family members in the early 1900's were victims of torture.
A short update on current events from around the world on the topic of Indigenous Rights.
PRODUCTION
Shaldon Ferris (KhoiSan)
Indigenous Rights Radio Intro track features "Burn your Village to the Ground" by @a-tribe-called-red. Used with permission.
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.
Between 1904 and 2004, the German state officially denied that genocide against the Indigenous Herero and Nama people in land that is now known as Namibia had ever occurred under German colonial rule, despite conclusive historical sources and internationally recognized investigations. Hear how communities are sorting through the painful legacy of this violence and indifference in the present in the following interview with Martinus Fredericks, Nama leader and activist.