SOAS Radio

The SOAS Festival of Ideas has a principle aim of fostering research synergies and enabling cross-disciplinary conversations within SOAS and throughout higher education in the West. The festival will celebrate and be shaped around the core theme of ‘decolonising knowledge’. At the heart of the Festival of Ideas is meant to be a debate. We have invited four speakers (Professors Margo Okazawa-Rey, and Yamila Hussein-Shannan and ‘FOR’ decolonising-- with a special message from Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith. Dr Kehinde Andrews and Dr Brian Alleyne ‘AGAINST’ decolonising higher education).

This Oxford-style debate considers our location ‘in the heart of Britain post-Brexit in this period of late-capitalism to ask the burning question, Should we decolonise higher education?’ Some of the themes our speakers will consider for the debate are:

What is the meaning of decolonisation?

Why do we need to decolonise?

Whose history matters and why?

What are the structures that impede us?

Is there a desynchronisation between academics as knowledge producers and students as customers in higher education? And what role does this changing dynamics play in the decolonising debate?

How do we understand race and racialisation?

Find out more at: www.soas.ac.uk/fest-ideas/

Alternative Panjabi, Desi Ambience and New Wave Panjabi Beats. Conversation and introspection with Seattle based cross genre and multilingual artist Ron Sidhu who speaks about his recent releases, his family and his journey from producer to vocal artist @ronsidhu

#PanjabInMyEye @msb._____

De-risking solutions to take on electricity corruption explained: Mushtaq Khan; Pallavi Roy; Neil McCulloch and Muzna Al-Masri in conversation with Sophie Van Huellen unpack the complex story of corruption in the electricity sector in Bangladesh, Nigeria and Lebanon.

In our next episode of Global Sport Conversations, Dr Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff speaks with Katia Foucade-Hoard, a sports PR expert and former professional, Team France, and NCAA University of Washington basketball player, on the ways her Franco-American experience and basketball diplomacy shape her anti-racism activism.

W/msb Episode 3. Finding the vibe and prescribing it.. a transcendent experience. A mellow yet thorough mix of beats and flips with artists such as Kwollem, TEK.LUN and aywy.

Cover artwork by: @_mannmehndi

This week, we are speaking to the esteemed journalist Veronica Pedrosa on Media Spectacle & Democracy in the Philippines. Veronica is an award-winning presenter with experience in news reporting, production and presenting. As a journalist she has worked at Al Jazeera English, CNN International, BBC World News, and BBC World Service. With her deep knowledge about global issues, Veronica has been invited to moderate panel discussions by the United Nations, the Red Cross Movement, and the European Union. She is also an experienced communications consultant for humanitarian organisations in emergency situations.

Music for a Micro-chip found in Amber. A sonic timestamp of f lo a t i n g soundscapes from 2020 and 2019. At times communicating weariness, at others reverence. Just as the amber does, the current situation magnifies. In turns, we are engulfed by the importance of each second and each decision.

But trepidation breeds inaction. Let go of that Beta-Blocker. Choose ur painting music carefully. 2020 happened to all of us. It made plain all of the things still happening. It made still happen.

Starting off with a new one from Anna Roxanne, our ears follow the audio environments as they chug along through different landscapes. Past Wilson Tanners' Antipodean canals; over Nailah Hunter's blue-toned, dewy early-morning mountain; through KMRU's chattering Nairobi market.

As our journey heads into the night, its surroundings turn baroque. Pianos and cellos hit against sub-base and digital gurgles. We step into John Carrol Kirby's living room and feel the dormant threat of Anthony Joshua. We find ourselves gazing at the shoes and the spirit of Oliver Coates. If you strain ur ears enough, perhaps even a strangled hope for a continuation of hope is audible.

Artwork: Alfie Dwyer @ze.zima

For Black History Month, this podcast series explores the research journeys of black academics at SOAS to tease out what has enabled them to succeed. We will be exploring their realistic but also inspiring careers and how they contribute to the SOAS community and student development to inspire students at all stages to think about becoming academics.

In this episode we speak to Dr da Hadjivayanis about her academic career and translation work.

Join Lucia Kula as she speaks to Antonia Bright, the SOAS SU Representation & Research Coordinator about her experiences at SOAS as well as what it's like being a student representative.

Bass culture and folk Panjyaab, satisfying your soul. Delivering mighty sounds to drive your emotions, Panjabi style. Standing for Panjab and Panjabiyat against the mass privatization of the agricultural industry. "If you go to Pardes, dont ever forget your Des, your Boli, and your Bhes”, Malkit Singh. Panjab In My Eye Episode 9, featuring artists such as Jass Bajwa, Sabi Bhinder and Badd Company amongst others.

DM for music conversation, translations, requests and shout outs

Image: The Late Idu Sharif (Folk Music & Musical Instruments of Punjab: From Mustard Fields to Disco Lights, Alka Pande, 1999), a Sufi Dhadi from the great Idu Clan, who sang Heer to ailing animals, contented Panjabi souls with his powerful folk delivery and kept Panjabi cultural heritage alive

#PanjabInMyEye @msb._____