Selam & Hello Lilly Bekele-Piper

Join Lilly as she dives into a conversation with Susan Murabana, the visionary Kenyan astronomer and co-founder of The Travelling Telescope. Together, they unravel Susan's fascinating journey from a stargazing enthusiast to a trailblazer in community science education. Discover how The Travelling Telescope is captivating young minds and deepening their understanding of astronomy while weaving indigenous stories into its educational tapestry. As the Travelling Telescope approaches its tenth year, Susan shares what she believes their legacy will be and reflects on their experiences with the over 500,000 students they have invited to explore Africa's glorious skies and horizons.

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lilly@selamandhello.comproducer@selamandhello.com 
Music Credits: Selam & Hello Jingle by Silas Piper
Production by: Sahihi Africa Productions

Did you know that although Black South Africans represent more than 80 percent of the country, only 1% of wine brands sold there are Black-owned? Our guest today is determined to see that change one sip at a time. Munashe Kwaramba, a dynamic sommelier and winemaker, and the chef and owner of Hari Kitchen in Franschhoek, South Africa joins us this week to tell his story. Munashe journeyed from Zimbabwe to South Africa as a student, became a qualified sommelier at 23, and at age 27 founded his own restaurant and wine label. In this episode, he explores how his grandmother's influence has shaped his culinary creations at Hari Kitchen, his commitment to creating a space for Africans and those in the diaspora to feel at home, and why being a Black African is the best thing that ever happened to him! 

Lilly's kimono is from The Nuralains: https://www.instagram.com/the_nuralains/?hl=en

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Hari Kitchen Restaurant LinkedIn
References:
Exploring South Africa's Black Wine SceneAbroad drinking Wine with Munashe Kwaramba (Wine With Tuanni)
Email us at: 
lilly@selamandhello.comproducer@selamandhello.com 
Music Credits: Selam & Hello Jingle by Silas Piper
Production by: Sahihi Africa Productions

In this engaging live recording from the Littlgig Festival in Lamu, Lilly sits down with the distinguished Tsitsi Dangarembga, one of the Continent's most prolific writers, playwrights, and filmmakers, whose narratives have touched audiences across the world. Tsitsi's interview recounts her mother's profound influence on her life, instilling in her the conviction to harness the intellect and creativity that would lead to an award-winning career. She delves into the creation of her timeless character Tambudzai, an emblem of potential for Zimbabwean girls, and discusses the intricate ties between Tambu's story and the national narrative of the Zimbabwean Liberation Struggle as depicted in her acclaimed novels "Nervous Conditions," "The Book of Not," and "This Mournable Body." Further, Tsitsi reflects on the recognition of her work by the Booker Prize, the importance of political and social engagement, and by whom she most wants her writing to be understood. The conversation also traverses the critical importance of the African creative economy, as Tsitsi underlines the power of the boundless African imagination - a key to sustainable development and cultural empowerment. 

Tsitsi's art and courage have been lauded across the world. She has won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the 2021 PEN International Award for Freedom of Expression, the 2022 Windham-Campbell Literature Prize (fiction) at Yale University and was the 2022-2023 Joy Foundation Fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. In 2020, "This Mournable Body" was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Tsitsi is the Founder and Director of the Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa Trust.

Lilly's dress is by Katush. Thank you to Georgia Black for the privilege of recording this interview at Littlegig Lamu 2023 ~ asante sana.

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Follow Tsitsi:
LinkedIn - https://zw.linkedin.com/in/tsitsi-dangarembga-02556872  Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa Trust
Check out the Little Gig Festival:
Website - https://littlegig.co.za/event/littlegig-lamu-2023/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/littlegigfestiv/ 
Email us at: 
lilly@selamandhello.comproducer@selamandhello.com 
Music Credits: Selam & Hello Jingle by Silas Piper
Production by: Sahihi Africa Productions

In this episode, Lilly sits down with social anthropologist and Rhodes Scholar Alaba Angole for a conversation on colorism and the skin bleaching industry in Zambia. Alaba shares the personal encounters with colorism that have informed her research and mission to dismantle damaging social ideologies around color, gender, and social interactions. Alaba's intensive research on the cultural and social frameworks that sustain the skin bleaching phenomenon in Zambia highlights trends all too familiar in Black and Brown communities. Together, Lilly and Alaba explore the evolution and marketing strategies of these products, their effects on individual and communal health, and the importance of reserving judgment when researching issues of colorism. Alaba's work investigates the drivers behind the rising ubiquity of skin-bleaching products and its ramifications on Africa's socio-political stage.

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaba-angole-5542a6160/
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lilly@selamandhello.comproducer@selamandhello.com 
Music Credits: Selam & Hello jingle by Silas Piper
Production by: Sahihi Africa Productions

This episode was recorded on Thursday 26 October. 2023. Please note that themes of war, conflict and genocide are discussed. 

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King said:   "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny." Today, Lilly is joined by Irungu Houghton, Executive Director - Amnesty International Kenya. Together, they delve into the complexities of the war in Palestine and Israel, as well as the conflicts in Ethiopia, Sudan, & the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Irungu sheds light on the harsh realities faced by the people in these regions and the need for ongoing international attention and engagement. Irungu offers insightful perspectives on the links between settler colonialism in the Middle East and Kenya, the right-sized role of the global North in the Continent, and what may be looming ahead if the ongoing conflicts here and elsewhere remain unresolved. Lilly and Irungu also address the challenges posed by social media, misinformation, and disinformation in today's digital age, stressing the importance of triangulating information and relying on our principles, judgment, and moral compasses to navigate these turbulent times and understand our responsibilities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of these complex geopolitical issues, their impact on the affected populations, and the broader implications for global justice and accountability.

How you can get involved?
Consider signing the Amnesty International Petition to demand a ceasefire by all parties to end civilian suffering and joining Amnesty International (Kenya) Consider donating to:The Palestinian Children's Relief Fund Dror Israel  Help people fleeing violence in EthiopiaDemocratic Republic of the Congo EmergencyIslamic Relief Worldwide - Sudan  Consider reading the following: Irungu's articles: The world must now find lasting solution to Palestine occupation and Kenya must demand civilians are protectedMeditations on War and Peace by Mamka Anyona The Fall of all Walls: Genocide in Palestine by Osman SiddiqiQuote Irungu references from Gandhi can be found here The Birth of Israel, Myths and Realities by Simha Flapan (book)The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi (book)Consider watching or listening to the following: Dr. Gabor Maté on Israel/Palestine - October 28, 2023Hamas Took Her SonThe Jewish Left Is Trying to Hold Two Thoughts at Once - The Ezra Klein Show iTunesIsrael's long war on Gaza with Norman Finkelstein | The Chris Hedges Report"We are the indigenous people of this land": HE Hazem Shabat Palestine Ambassador to Kenya"Israel has not broken any law": HE Michael Lotem Israel Ambassador to Kenya Israeli Journalist Amira Hass: How Can the World Stand By and Witness Israel's Slaughter in Gaza?
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Instagram https://www.instagram.com/selamandhello/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGmO35TpU1jj2fGlzFQwLgA TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@selamandhello Website https://www.selamandhello.com/ 
Follow Irungu Houghton
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/irunguhoughton/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/irunguhoughton Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IrunguHoughtonPage LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/irunguhoughton/ Website - https://www.irunguhoughton.org/ 
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lilly@selamandhello.comproducer@selamandhello.com 
Music Credits: Selam & Hello Jingle by Silas Piper
Piano Ambient Music: Scott Buckley
Production by: Sahihi Africa Productions

Join Lilly as she engages in conversation with Mark Otieno Odhiambo, one of Kenya's top sprinters. In this episode, they explore his challenging journey back to running following a three-year ban due to an unintended violation at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. They delve into the complexities of being an international athlete, the rigorous guidelines they must adhere to, and the intense pressure that comes with high-performance sports. Mark shares not only his personal battle during the ban - but how the unwavering support from his community and his wife carried him through. Finally, Mark discusses his aspirations and preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics now that his ban is lifted and the track beckons him once again.
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lilly@selamandhello.com producer@selamandhello.com  Music Credits: Selam & Hello Jingle by Silas Piper 
Production by: Sahihi Africa Productions
Technical Team: K-Krew
Habibi Chairs courtesy of Love Artisan