S8 Episode 7: The Billy Bragg interview
In an exclusive interview, singer and activist Billy Bragg talks about making music with meaning, Marx, refusing to give in to Boris Johnson – and passion on an Italian volcano.
Radio New Frame
S8 Episode 6: What of our mother tongues?
With more than 7 000 languages globally, we look at mother tongues. Can Kiswahili be Africa’s lingua franca? And we explore two people’s complex relationships with their languages: Setswana and Arabic.
S8 Episode 5: Black Afrikaans | Mandela and MK
To mark June 16, we unearth Afrikaans’ Black roots and focus on contemporary Black Afrikaans. Also, a new book on how Nelson Mandela led Umkhonto weSizwe to war against Africa’s strongest army.
S8 Episode 4: SA’s sterilisation shame | Saxonwold Shebeen
Shamed by 2020 exposés of forced sterilisations at public hospitals, the health department vowed to act – but victims still await justice. Also, is the Saxonwold Shebeen open for a drink?
S8 Episode 3: Equalisers: Fair pay is fair play
Banyana are not treated well, despite being one of the favourites to win the Women’s Afcon in July. Could their American counterparts’ equal-pay victory help our national women’s football side?
S8 Episode 2: Shireen Abu Akleh | Can Themba’s legacy
The murder of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh sent shockwaves around the world. But will it change US-Israel relations? And the full story of legendary scribe Can Themba finally gets told.
Mixtape 60: It began in Africa
To celebrate his beloved continent, Charles Leonard has picked 25 of his favourite African songs – stone-cold classics, fresh discoveries and hidden gems.
S8 Episode 1: Abortion – The fight to choose
Abortion has been legal since 1997 in South Africa. Despite this, more and more women are risking their lives by going to unlicensed abortionists. We ask why.
S7 Episode 14: May Day! May Day! A workers’ emergency
Unemployment in South Africa is soaring and many are forced to take any job they can get. Our 100th episode focuses on casual workers, who have the most precarious jobs.
Mixtape 59: This mixtape kills fascists
Inspired by what labour troubadour Woody Guthrie wrote on his guitar, Charles Leonard’s anti-fascist mixtape celebrates May Day with songs about working people.
S7 Episode 13: Amazon workers’ win | Liberation theology
Amazon workers’ right to unionise is a significant victory for them as well as the Left in the United States. Also, liberation theology helped end apartheid but what is its role today?
S7 Episode 12: The Faith Edition | God and politics
In this bumper edition, find out why politicians spoil the religious vote and so many Jews fought apartheid. Also, meet SA’s chief satanist and hear the music that makes Muslims dance.
S7 Episode 11: A sick health system | God and gender
Indian activist-doctor Yogesh Jain believes inequality in public healthcare is a global crisis. And, we look at religion’s role in instilling outdated attitudes towards sexuality.
S7 Episode 10: Covid’s nameless graves | Mojak Lehoko
More than 100 000 South Africans have died officially from Covid-19, some anonymously and buried in paupers’ graves. Hospital and mortuary workers tell the stories of the unclaimed.
Mixtape 58: Give peace a chance
In a time of brutal conflict in places such as Ukraine, Yemen, Palestine and Somalia, all the tracks on Charles Leonard’s latest mixtape are unashamedly for peace and against war.
S7 Episode 9: Sex violence in prison | RIP Ayanda Ngila
Sexual assault in South African jails is widespread but grossly under-reported. We lift the veil on this scourge. And, we pay tribute to murdered land activist Ayanda Ngila.
S7 Episode 8: Fishers’ victory | Yemen’s blacked-out war
The struggle continues for Cape West Coast small-scale fishers after their court victory against seismic blasting. And, why is Yemen’s bloody seven-year-long war largely forgotten?
S7 Episode 7: Nyet to war | What virus? | Pacific Express
Progressive Russians say no to war. Is Covid-19 petering out? And though essential, did the world miss out during the cultural boycott against apartheid South Africa?
S7 Episode 6: Fanon in 2022 | Kenya’s weird sounds
A new book celebrates Frantz Fanon’s seminal work as a shack dwellers’ movement applies his ideas 60 years on. Also, a Kenyan woman’s challenge to experimental music.
S7 Episode 5: Israel apartheid | Eyethu Cinema | Club Pelican
Amnesty International explains why Israel is an apartheid state; an iconic Soweto cinema makes way for a mall; and we revisit the jazz haven, Club Pelican.
Mixtape 57: Sweet sole music
His punning title for a mixtape of songs about shoes may well make you cringe, but Charles Leonard’s super selection of songs will certainly put a spring in your step.