Year 2025

Recording date: 04.10.2024. 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: Crowander, "Afronauts"; Blue Dot Sessions, "Dirtbike lovers"; Blue Dot Sessions, "Around plastic card tables". Free Music Archive.

Philipa Birago Akuoko arrived in Bern to pursue a PhD at the Institute of Geography two years ago from Kumasi, Ghana. She is an urban development researcher focusing on spatial planning and informal economy through predominantly qualitative case studies and mixed-method approaches. Her interest also covers gender studies and women’s welfare in the Global South cities. Her biggest challenge at the University of Bern has been living alone without her infants and family, “fighting loneliness” every day. On the positive side, what she values most is the Swiss canton’s uniqueness, the fact that each one has its own identity and iconic image. She feels that one of her roles as an African researcher is to show other people what an African is; as an African woman, her role is to highlight misconceptions. She explained to us how important community building is for Africans and how much Africans love the idea of identifying with others. She suggested that Initiative Afrique could promote more social activities, such as a monthly lunch to share different cultures in a more informal environment. When asked about how to improve research collaborations south-north, Philipa mentioned that Swiss researchers could benefit from the local environment by getting in contact with researchers in Ghana through research stays.

Recording date: 15.11.2024. 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: Rocky Marsiano, "Munana"; Ketsa, "No clouds"; Abdoulaye Alhassane Touré, "Tamaya". Free Music Archive.

Cecilia Olima arrived in Bern 3 years ago to pursue a PhD in the Integrative Biodiversity and Conservation Science research team at The Wyss Academy for Nature at the University of Bern. She holds a master's degree in Plant Ecology from Kenyatta University. Her master's project focused on assessing coastal protection and harvested goods provided by the mangrove forest in Mida Creek, Kenya. She is passionate about the sustainable use of ecosystems and raising awareness among different stakeholder groups regarding environmental issues and possible ways to solve them. She would like to be a role model to African girls and women, giving them an example of the fact that one can still achieve their dream, even if one decides to have a family. It is never too late to go to school.