Radio Workshop

At 23, trans woman Awo Dufie is outed, homeless, and facing a prophecy that says she will die at 30 — because she is queer. This threat is reinforced by Ghana's social climate and a looming anti-LGBT bill. Determined to break free from the prophecy, Awo embarks on a risky journey to find an 83-year-old queer elder who didn't just survive decades of hatred and colonial laws — she built a rich life. Can Awo too live long and live free? This is the first episode of a series on queer elders, produced by openDemocracy.
Show Notes 
Sign up for Radio Workshop’s newsletter on Substack, and connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Sources: 
Human Rights Watch - This Alien Legacy
Human Dignity Trust, Ghana
Modern Ghana - The Bawku Chieftaincy Conflict Needs To Be Resolved Within The Framework Of The 1992 Constitution
Amnesty International - Ghana: Anti-LGBTI bill stirs up hatred, persecution and discrimination
Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act 2024, Ghana
Purdue University - Social Media and Human Rights Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Rights in Ghana
Acknowledgements:
Fondation CHANEL, Luminate, Ford Foundation, and Stephen Hendrickson. Special thanks to Rob Byers.
Support the show
We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

It’s early 2025, and the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is being taken over by a rebel group called the M23. In response to the chaos, Feza, one of the few trained psychologists in the city, opens a therapy practice in the back of a cinema to treat what she calls an epidemic of post-traumatic stress.
Support the show
We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

You may remember John Obot from a previous episode – the Nigerian teacher who attempted to break the Guinness World Record for time spent reading out loud. Well… despite the sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and false start, it turns out John’s attempt was rejected. So, what went wrong? And could he fix it? Or was this the end of his world record dreams?
Support the show
We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

Pascal Mirindi, a 25-year-old activist from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, grew up surrounded by the violent fall-out of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which spilled over into the DRC. But at age 17, when Pascal joined a peaceful demonstration in the streets of Goma, it showed him another way to fight. Experiencing non-violent resistance changed his life and set him on a path to  protect his country's ecosystems from the greed of oil companies. But – being confronted constantly with police repression, threats, and even forced exile – he wonders if it's time to step back or time to step up…
Support the show
We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

Before the month of love comes to a close, we wanted to share one of our favorite episodes from the archive. 
Dating is complicated. Not to mention dating on the apps! And for LGBTQI+ folks on the African continent, where many countries criminalise queerness, it’s even MORE complicated. We asked reporters in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya and Namibia to share how they navigate the highs and lows of seeking romance, community and friendship online. Despite all the pitfalls, love calls out to all of us.
________
Support the work of Radio Workshop by donating today.

Support the show
We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.