Initiative Afrique Podcast

Episode 5. Frank Mintah

Recording date: 07.08.2024 

Moderator: Djouroukoro Diallo. Production: Patricia Teixidor

Music: Intro and outro: "Yadina" (xylophone duet). CD 1. MBUDI MBUDI NA MHANGA- NYMBO ZA WADODO. The Musical Universe of the Wagogo Children from Tanzania. ©PoloVallejo. Musical pauses: Habib Koite, "Barra"; Sere Quadrado, "Brazilian"; Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Ségal, "Niadou". Free Music Archive.

Frank Mintah is a PhD Researcher at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern. He holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Planning (Urban Planning and Land Governance) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. During this episode, he shared invaluable input about what activities Initiative Afrique could promote to offer extra value to African students. He mentioned career orientation programs, capacities, skills development tailored to the African landscape and transferable skills. The most critical point for him is how Initiative Afrique could support African researchers in moving beyond publishing a paper in a scientific journal. How can policies be impacted once they return to their countries of origin? 

 Members of the Initiative Afrique community at the University of Bern (Switzerland) introduce themselves in a series of podcasts. 

Episode 4. Djouroukoro Diallo

Recording date: 08.08.2024 

Moderator: Hugues Abriel. Production: Patricia Teixidor

Music: Intro and outro: "Yadina" (xylophone duet). CD 1. MBUDI MBUDI NA MHANGA- NYMBO ZA WADODO. The Musical Universe of the Wagogo Children from Tanzania. ©PoloVallejo. Musical pauses: Studio Mali - Wake Up - "It's Africa Calling"; John Bartmann, "African Bliss"; Giacomo Forte, "Nairobi"; Serge Cuadrado, "Voronkov - Arabic Action". Free Music Archive.

Djouroukoro Diallo came to Bern in 2007 thanks to a Master's scholarship from the canton for outstanding international students from Mali. He now works as an Associate Researcher at the Centre for the Study of Language and Society (CSLS) and is the coordinator of the Initiative Afrique. A few critical issues came out in this interview. He wants to contribute to showing a better image of Africa and considers himself a "minister" of the African continent. He firmly believes that Initiative Afrique is a welcomed opportunity to better integrate all people of African origin into the University of Bern. He thinks we should focus on decolonization, expanding funding opportunities and establishing partnerships for the future.

 Members of the Initiative Afrique community at the University of Bern (Switzerland) introduce themselves in a series of podcasts. 

Episode 3. Margaret Owuor 

Recording date: 12.06.2024 

Moderator: Djouroukoro Diallo. Production: Patricia Teixidor

Music: Intro and outro: “Yadina” (xylophone duet). CD 1. MBUDI MBUDI NA MHANGA- NYMBO ZA WADODO. The Musical Universe of the Wagogo Children from Tanzania. ©PoloVallejo. Musical pauses: Ksu Leer Yi, “Youssoupha Sidibe”; LaFaena, “Primitive Ritual”; Maria de Barros, “Cabinda A Cunene”. Free Music Archive.

Margaret Owuor, Professor of Integrative Biodiversity Conservation Science at the Wyss Academy for Nature, shares in this third episode of the Initiative Afrique podcast her insightful views on her role as an African scientist at the University of Bern and the challenges African researchers still face. She believes there is a need for inclusivity in the job opportunities and the grant processes. She feels that one of her roles as an African researcher is promoting meaningful, fair, and open collaboration. The biggest challenge for her is creating a “safe space” for interactions among African researchers at the University of Bern.

 Members of the Initiative Afrique community at the University of Bern (Switzerland) introduce themselves in a series of podcasts. 

Episode 2. Jean Claude Makangara Cigolo

Recording date: 06.06.2024 

Moderator: Djouroukoro Diallo. Production: Patricia Teixidor

Music: Intro and outro: “Yadina” (xylophone duet). CD 1. MBUDI MBUDI NA MHANGA- NYMBO ZA WADODO. The Musical Universe of the Wagogo Children from Tanzania. ©PoloVallejo. Musical pauses: John Bartmann, “Cuban Heat”; Ugo Mbaise, “Garri Gwu”, “Ofu Iko Mmanya”; Maria de Barros, “Cabinda A Cunene”. Free Music Archive.

Jean Claude Makangara is a medical doctor and researcher from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) who is doing his PhD at the University of Bern in infectious diseases -virology and bioinformatics-. In this episode he shares with us the multiple challenges he faced when arriving to Bern in 2023, such as the cultural clash that implies living “always close to your watch”! He thinks that studying at the University of Bern represents a huge opportunity for his career and feels as an ambassador of the Congo (the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, DRC). When he finishes his PhD, he plans to go back to his country and continue his work in Ebola and other infectious diseases.

 Members of the Initiative Afrique community at the University of Bern (Switzerland) introduce themselves in a series of podcasts. 

Episode 1. Nada El Makhzen 

Recording date: 23.05.2024 

Moderator: Djouroukoro Diallo. Production: Patricia Teixidor

Music: Intro and outro: “Yadina” (xylophone duet). CD 1. MBUDI MBUDI NA MHANGA- NYMBO ZA WADODO. The Musical Universe of the Wagogo Children from Tanzania. ©PoloVallejo. “Ibn Al andalus”, by Fatimamhedden. Tribe of Noise PRO Bronze licence.

In 2022 Nada El Makhzen arrived in Bern (Switzerland) from Fez (Morrocco) to pursue a PhD at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. In this first episode of the Initiative Afrique Podcast, Nada shared with us the challenges she faced when applying to the University of Bern. Despite the paperwork, she has some encouraging words for any African student wanting to come to Europe: “Do not lose hope, keep up!”. She feels a big responsibility upon her shoulders for being an African scientist at the University of Bern because she “must show that Africans are here, can do a lot and have a scientific mindset”. 

 Members of the Initiative Afrique community at the University of Bern (Switzerland) introduce themselves in a series of podcasts.