Radio Workshop

South African spelling bee champion, Nonhlanhla Mashabana, faces her greatest challenge to date: her final year of high school and the precarious and uncertain transition to higher education. There's a lot standing in her way: growing up poor in post-Apartheid South Africa, the weight of carrying the family's hopes of a better life, and the fear of being the first to leave home. As she walks down a road that has caused so many to stumble, how will Nonhlanhla navigate a broken education system?

09-10

34:23

On June 18th, thousands of young Kenyans swiftly mobilized against a proposed tax increase that would significantly raise daily living costs, particularly affecting the most vulnerable. Thousands of peaceful protestors in the streets of Nairobi were soon met with a violent response from police. Reports indicate 39 people were killed, with countless others wounded and unlawfully arrested. The dust is now settling. Friends lost in the fray are being found. Grieving for the dead is just beginning. We wanted to find out: what have young people in Kenya actually won?    Sources: News Kenya's young protesters plot next moves after dramatic tax win, Reuters ‘I concede’: Kenya’s president pulls controversial bill after deadly protest, CNN After deadly protests, Kenyans tell of brutal abductions, New York Times Kenya on the Brink | A roundtable interview with President William Ruto, Citizen TV Kenya Kenya protests were 'treasonous' says William Ruto, BBC Africa Organisations  Kenyan Human Rights Commission  Acknowledgements: This episode was made possible through the support of Luminate.  

07-17

22:27

Many young South Africans weren't sure who to vote for ahead of South Africa's elections in late May. But, many of them told us they wanted new leadership. The results of the election reveal that uncertainty as no one party won a clear majority. In fact, the African National Congress will have to create a coalition government for the first time in their 30 years holding office. A development leading to more anxiety and uncertainty since no one knows what to expect. In case you missed it, we're revisiting our election episode to hear once again the voices of young people wrestling with where South Africa should go next.

06-14

24:43

Rihanna was just 19 years old when she was arrested for being trans in Uganda. It was 2014. She spent 9 months in prison - an ordeal that tore a rift between her and her God-fearing mother. In this episode, we hear how her arrest radically changed the course of their lives - and how Rihanna’s mom unexpectedly became a staunch ally. This is the second in our two-part series on LGBTQ rights in Uganda, as the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023 turns a year old.

05-16

34:45

Young South Africans are confused about who to vote for. This year, there are dozens of parties to choose from on the ballot paper. But for many young voters, having lots of options doesn’t make it any easier. With a presidential election just around the corner, Radio Workshop reporter Naomi Grewan asks young people "Why?” and "How are you going to figure it out?"  

05-10

22:02

It was May of 2023 and Musana was on a romantic getaway in Kenya with her girlfriend. It quickly turned somber when Uganda's President, Yoweri Museveni, signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law. Now what? Should Musana make a new life in Kenya or risk returning home? On the one-year anniversary of the Act, Musana reflects on her decision. This is the first in a two-part series on LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda.

04-23

22:19

Our last episode was a World Radio Day special. We asked our listeners to send us their love letters for the medium. This month, we’ve got a little bonus love letter for you: When a national emergency strikes in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ruth Omar and her family turn on the radio to help them navigate the confusion.

03-26

06:56

This episode is a celebration of 100 years of radio on the African continent. Radio is our beloved grandmother. Our lifeline. And to honour her, we asked friends in Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda to share their best radio memories with us. Little love letters in sound…

02-12

30:12

Tricia Mpisi is a Congolese-South African writer, actress and content creator with a passion for stories. Superhero stories to be exact. And like most superhero stories, Tricia's life is also marked by tragedy. With TikTok as her unlikely sidekick, Tricia is finding her voice, facing her grief and defeating the ultimate villain: shame.

01-23

16:14

Sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and a pesky clock - that’s what Nigerian teacher John Obot has to deal with during his Guinness World Record attempt. But with nearly 5 million online viewers and over 20,000 in-person spectators, John will push himself to his limits... and beyond.

12-11

23:54

Nigerian audio producer, Mo Isu, suffers from severe anxiety. It’s gotten so bad that he thinks it might be time to get some professional help. But is that something his stern, old-school father would approve of? Mo decides to face his fears by having a tough conversation...

11-28

19:36

On 17 September our episode “This Coal Life” was featured on National Public Radio’s daily news podcast Up First. The Sunday Story, hosted by Ayesha Roscoe, featured the Radio Workshop story that explores how the Skhosana family is going to cope with South Africa's transition to renewable energy.  The Skhosanas live a modest yet comfortable life in Kriel, South Africa. And they owe it all to coal. In fact, their family has worked in this industry for generations. But, now, the entire energy sector in South Africa is set to be rewired. Renewable energy will replace coal in a transition intended to dramatically reduce carbon emissions, while also making it a “Just Transition,” as the government calls it, with better jobs and cheaper energy - and maybe even healing past wounds. But what happens to the people who built their lives on coal? The world is watching to see how Kriel - and families like the Skhosanas - are going to do it.

09-19

30:40

Young people in Zimbabwe are torn. Not just about who to vote for, but whether or not they’ll vote at all. Zimbabweans head to the polls on August 23rd 2023. It may be the first or second time young people can participate in the election of a president since the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule in 2017. The coup that toppled him sparked new hope. But election violence, an unstable economy and lack of reforms in the years since have jaded Zimbabwe’s youth. This story was produced by Radio Workshop in collaboration with Magamba Network.

08-16

18:30

We held an audio storytelling workshop in Cape Town, South Africa in early 2023, where nine producers from five different countries learnt how to produce a story from beginning to end in just 10 days. This episode features two stories made by new producers, Naomi Grewan from South Africa and Munirah Kaoneka from Tanzania. ‘I'm Just a Wes’ is a story that explores trans joy, and 'Embracing Your Scars’ - a thoughtful and empathetic story about surviving trauma.

08-03

21:09

The Skhosanas live a modest yet comfortable life in Kriel, South Africa. And they owe it all to coal. In fact, their family has worked in this industry for generations. But, now, the entire energy sector in South Africa is set to be rewired. Renewable energy will replace coal in a transition intended to dramatically reduce carbon emissions, while also making it a “Just Transition,” as the government calls it, with better jobs and cheaper energy - and maybe even healing past wounds. But what happens to the people who built their lives on coal? The world is watching to see how Kriel - and families like the Skhosanas - are going to do it.