Seun’s Talking Drum British and West African

In the five-part podcast Seun’s Talking Drum British and West African, British-Nigerian journalist Seun Matiluko seeks to figure out what it means to be British and West African. The BBC series is called Talking Drum, after the traditional West African musical instrument used to tell stories. Says Seun, “I recognized that, through this podcast, I would be continuing the West African tradition of sharing stories.”

By her own admission, the journalist wanted to create a series that unpicked differences between Black groups in Britain. “So often, we are talked about as though we are one homogenous Black blob. On the rare occasion where difference is discussed, media figures and government officials suggest we can be packaged into two neat groups, ‘Caribbean’ or ‘African,’ seemingly unaware there are 13 countries in the Caribbean and 54 (or 55, depending on who you ask) in Africa, many of which are well represented in Britain.”

But at the same time, Seun, who talks about this at the festival with De Standaard journalist Josephine Dapaah, wanted to tell a personal story in an accessible way. “I worked with my team to ensure the podcast tackled serious issues while maintaining a joyful tone. I was inspired by the Peabody Award-winning Have You Heard George’s Podcast? Hosted by British Ugandan writer and activist George the Poet, the series effortlessly weaves complex histories alongside compelling sound design and impactful archive clips.”

This Q&A is in English. With the support of the British Embassy.