The DECONFINING project aims to create a sustainable and equitable cultural and artistic exchange between Europe and Africa.
In the first part of this podcast series, you will hear interviews related to the themes of the project, as seen from Hungary: how to break down paternalistic and colonial patterns and how to promote a spirit of equal, shared creation. There will be discussions on women in literature, on Gypsy communities in Hungary, on the role of theatre beyond the arts, etc. The project, and therefore this podcast, is supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
The second part is linked to the Zambian partner, where Taonga Liwewe Tembo (in English) interviews the authors. It consists of five conversations showcasing the rich, multicontextual mosaic of stories from a Zambian perspective.
1.
In this episode, Anna Surányi talks to Petra Verebics and Ildiko Csanya, who together with many others have created the Ottilia Solt Foundation, which works in the Mountains – at the time of the broadcast in Kovácsvágás. The guests talk about their work there and the Foundation’s longer-term goals.
Anyone interested in contacting the Foundation is welcome to send an e-mail to soltalapitvany@gmail.com
2.
In this episode, Anna Surányi talks to literary historian Györgyi Földes about the role and place of women in Hungarian literary history, when women writers began to become visible, and what the situation is today.
3.
In this episode, Anna Surányi talks to Kata Horváth and Zsanett Horváth, representatives of the Heart Sound Company, who talk about the company’s development, work and future plans.
You can read more about the company at https://sajatszinhaz-szivhang.org/
4.
In this episode, Anna Surányi talks to Songoro Fatime, one of the participants of the Deconfining project, who spends part of the year in Hungary and the other part in Tanzania. Fatime talks about her experiences of living in two countries: cultural differences, difficulties, different aspects of the term “mzungu” (white man).
5.
This episode is about Mr. Mwila Nkhonde who has lived on the street before and so he was sharing his experience. Taonga Liwewe Tembo and Mwila also had a discussion on street life in general and it’s disadvantages, the causes of children to migrate from one place to another and to leave on the street. He also talked about his experience working the vulnerable children and youths as an artist facilitator and outreach officer.
6.
This episode’s guest, Nadine Niyirema came from Rwanda to live in Zambia because of the cilvil war that happened in her country. She was sharing about how it is to live as a refugee in a foreign country (The challenges faced by refugees and how persons with refugee background are perceived). She narrated how she found herself in Zambia, the challenges she faced and how she pulled through to earn her present way of life. She also gave some suggestions on what can be done differently.
7.
Taonga Liwewe Tembo and this episode’s guest, Chisenga Kasolo, expert in developmental projects and cultural exchanges, talked about exchange programs between Africa and European countries (Advantages and disadvanges). He also shared some successful exchange programs which he has participated in before. He also gave some suggestions.
8.
Mr. Victor Bupe, the Principal Meteorologist for Southern Province shared his works around climate change and the activities they he was involved in. Discussing challenges of climate change and suggestions of what can be done to help with the situation. Mr. Bupe and Taonga Liwewe Tembo also talked about effects of Climate Change on economic wellbeing of the youth.
9.
This episode’s guest, Mary Manzole, Theatre for Development expert and Taonga Liwewe Tembo talked about the importance of art and Theatre in development. In the discussion she talked about how art and theatre have helped in influencing change in Zambia communities and the world at large. She gave examples of projects which she has been involved in before. She also gave suggestions on what can be done to have a successful art and Theatre implementation for tangible results to be realized.
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Our Polish project partner, Art Transparent worked in collaboration with the Women’s History Museum in Lusaka and Nafasi Art Spaces in Dar es Salaam – the result of this is the e-publication “Narratives of Closeness and Distance from Central-Eastern Europe and South-East Africa. A Multicontextual Patchwork,” edited by Dr. Urszula Markowska-Manista and Natasha Omakhodion Kalulu Banda.
In podcasts dedicated to the publication, they invited authors, project creators, translators, and those involved in the project to discuss the actual distance between the two regions described.
Here you can find the materials of Art Transparent:
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With the support of the National Cultural Fund (Nemzeti Kulturális Alap)
Deconfining project is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the EU.
