Sauti Youth

Sauti Youth, ‘voice for the voiceless’ in Swahili, uses art and music to express themselves and to challenge racism in Ireland. They held the second Youth Anti-Racism Summit in Cork City Hall in 2024 and organized ‘Riot Against Racism’ to bring together many different performers and artists to tackle racism.

Thanks to the fantastic young people of Sauti Youth who talk to me for this podcast and who share their poetry, spoken word and music with us: Emmanuella, Ebenezer, Zoe, Kanyi, Pablo, Diamond, Toby and Caleb. And to Mark Mavambu and Raphael Olympio, youth mentors and founders of Sauti Studios who also share their insights on activism and working for change. 

‘Racism we’re gonna swing it out’ – Diamond

The poetry featured was created at a special workshop by Raphael Olympio (funded by the Arts Council) and the young people wrote about racism, the genocide in Congo, their hometown of Harare in Zimbabwe, ‘The Sky Is The Limit’, and their love of Nigeria. And we talked about colonialism, neo-colonialism, writing, activism and much more.

‘Although all these countries have these great mineral resources or whatever in their country, it’s supposed to be benefiting the country, not causing trouble and chaos in the country. Like this is not only happening to African countries, even in South America too, they have a lot of mineral resources and their country’s don’t get advantage of it – it’s been happening for years. We all think this stopped by the countries being, having the so called independence, but they might have independence, but the country’s not. It’s not getting controlled on its own.’ – Ebeneezer

Music recorded at Wander Live Event at The Laneway Gallery, Cork where Sauti Youth performed ‘Change’ and ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’. 

Follow Sauti Youth ⁠@sautistudiocork⁠ & Cork Migrant Centre ⁠@corkmigrantcentre⁠ 

Thanks to the ⁠Arts Council of Ireland⁠ for their continued support and funding.

Listen to previous Sauti Youth episode here // Raphael Olympio here // Wander Live Event

Transcript:

[00:00:00] Bairbre Flood: Hi and welcome to Wander with me, Bairbre Flood. And thanks to the Arts Council of Ireland for their continued support. 

A couple of weeks ago we’d an amazing live event at the Laneway Gallery here in Cork with digital art by Silvio Severino, a. k. a. Loop Conspiracy, and several poets performing. It was just a fantastic day, and hopefully the first of many Wander live events.

I’ve some of the audio from that event mixed in with this episode. It’s the two tracks by Sauti Studios which the young people performed on the day. And for some of you who listened in to the last season of Wander, you’ll remember I did an episode with some of these young people after a poetry workshop that Raphael Olimpio gave especially for the program.

Olympio also facilitated a poetry workshop for this series, and you’ll hear some of those poems later on. 

MUSIC

Sauti, voice for the voiceless in Swahili, have been creating for the past two years. Mark Mavambu, Cliff Mashetti and Raphael Olympio are the youth mentors and founders of Sauti Studios who use art and music to express themselves and to challenge racism in Ireland. They were part of the second Youth Anti-Racism Summit in Cork City Hall in 2024 and organized ‘Riot Against Racism’ to bring together many different performers and artists to tackle racism.

MUSIC

[00:01:38] Ebenezer: My name’s Ebenezer, and I’m from Congo. My poem is about Congolese culture.

In Congo’s heart 

where river waves

the dances ignite

where the spirits climb 

rhyme plus

vibin vines.

A culture innocences

pure and plain, 

feet pound the earth

in timeless beat.

Voices rise and souls reheat. 

In every step

a story is told

of ancestors pride

and legacies bold.

MUSIC

There’s so many different types of animals, culture, food. And this is what makes Congo what it is, the resources. 

And also it’s going through genocide right now. So yeah, I just wanted to put that out there too.

[00:02:30] Bairbre Flood: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, accounts for around 70 percent of the total production of cobalt in the world, and 60-70 percent of its coltan.

Coltan is essential for our mobile phones and our laptops. Multinational corporations continue to steal the resources of Congo under the ongoing chaos and instability of war.

[00:02:55] Ebenezer: I’m not trying to say because it’s my country, but Congo is actually quite a very important country, like in the world, I’ll be so for real, because it has so many mineral resources, like cobalt, diamonds rubber, and this is all used to make like our electronics, the electronic vehicles, Teslas, iPhones, whatever.

[00:03:16] Bairbre Flood: The first democratically elected leader of Congo, Patrice Lumumba, was murdered by Belgian contractors with the support of the CIA in 1961. Before this, despite widespread collective resistance, the people of the Congo were colonized, murdered and tortured by Belgium for almost a hundred years. So this current genocide could be seen as a continuation of colonialism under a different name.

Earlier this year, the EU struck a deal with Rwanda to access the minerals needed for electric cars and microchips. And critics say this pact creates a smokescreen to smuggle blood minerals out of the Congo.

[00:03:59] Emmanuella: My name is Emmanuella.

MUSIC

Young kids with old minds. The world doesn’t show a sign. Guns in their hand. Congo, oh, Congo. Why is there so much sorrow? 

Arrows in innocent hearts. Congo, oh Congo, Do we really deserve genocide? 

Or do innocent kids have to go to war? When they would love to go to a toy store. Congo, oh Congo, Save us from this sorrow.

So kids can go out to play. Congo, oh Congo, Save us from this sorrow.

MUSIC

It’s basically about what’s happening in Congo right now. And like, how kids have to go to war just to save their country and like it’s so bad Like you can literally go on Google and search it up and it’s still there and the world doesn’t even pay attention.

It’s not good because the world doesn’t even care like they know what’s happening, but they don’t even do nothing 

[00:05:08] Bairbre Flood: Because like we rely on all those minerals and all the things that come out of Africa and Congo. Yeah this thing I’m recording on, I’m sure has something that’s come from Congo.

[00:05:15] Emmanuella: It’s just terrible. There are kids out there that don’t even have a perfect childhood because they have to work, mine for gold, go out to war and stuff.

[00:05:32] Ebenezer: Although all these countries have these great mineral resources or whatever in their country, it’s supposed to be benefiting the country, not causing trouble and chaos in the country. Like this is not only happening to African countries, even in South America too, they have a lot of mineral resources and their country’s don’t get advantage of it – it’s been happening for years.

We all think this stopped by the countries being, having the so called independence, but they might have independence, but the country’s not. It’s not getting controlled on its own.

MUSIC

[00:06:11] Bairbre Flood: How do you find writing helps you both process what’s going on and try to express yourself and how would you describe what writing means to you?

[00:06:21] Emmanuella: Okay I don’t write that much, but genuinely, writing really helps me because even if you’re going through something and you need to tell someone, but you don’t have someone to tell, you can just write it on the paper.

And you put all your emotions and all the stuff you’ve been feeling, like the stuff that you really wanted to come out from your mouth, put it in that paper, or in your phone, like you can write it in notes. Just write it down. It clears all the stress and stuff. But if you have a diary, probably just write it down.

That’s probably what you need. Even if you don’t, even if you have someone like, you can talk to at least write it down. You’ll probably feel better because that’s what I do sometimes.

[00:07:11] Ebenezer: For me, I also don’t write that much, but I would be so for real, if I was in a very bad emotional state of mind, writing down my emotions would actually relieve me because I’d feel like I’m talking to someone.

I listen to music to calm myself down, but if I was really up to, a really grieving point of my life where I have so many predicaments and I just need to relieve myself. I’d probably write down how I’m feeling, how I can change things, how I can improve to motivate myself. And, also crying a little is actually good for a person.

If you let out those tears, let out your emotions, that’s good to get it off your chest than to just be, have all this bad energy sucked up in you. So yeah, writing is I’ll be real, I really recommend a lot of people to write down their emotions. Yeah.

[00:08:08] Bairbre Flood: Oh, cool. And just actually one last question.

I know I said that last question. How do you find the group here with Raphael and Mark and how do you find it?

[00:08:18] Emmanuella: I feel like it’s a really good group because like you not only get to see a lot of people like you get to socialize and stuff and like it’s also about racism so you’re really helping the society and stuff and like we right now we’re trying to change Cork and stuff yeah.

And I feel like it’s really if you need a place to go, probably come here. Cause it’s so nice and peaceful. 

[00:08:47] Ebenezer: For me, the group here is actually nice. Mark and Raphael and Cliff are doing a great job when it comes to helping us emotionally, and when it comes to music, writing down stuff, and also taking us out on events.

And also the anti racism summit was, it was actually a really good summit, but it’s only the A little things to improve and I also like the fact that a lot of politicians came over And you know a lot of older people were there and I really felt like they really For them taking the time off the day just to come to something like that.

I appreciate that so much it was good. I like I love the theme. I love the people that were producing everything, controlling everything, they really did a great job. There was nothing I really disliked, but obviously, there’s always room for improvement. Yeah, the team here is a nice Southeaster.

It’s a nice group coming here. It’s, it’s joyful to meet more people to interact to socialize. That’s really good, especially like for young people. It’s not good to be. Stuck up your own room using your phone. That’s not good for you. Yeah, I, I actually love salty and I hope we, we improve our music, become better and probably go global.

And also we changed cork into a very anti racism place, calm and safe environment for young people. Yeah,

[00:10:19] Bairbre Flood: I think it’s good. Well done on all the work you do. Thank you for talking to me.

[00:10:27] Ebenezer: Bye.

MUSIC

[00:10:27] Bairbre Flood: Hi,

[00:10:36] Mark Mavambu: My name is Mark. I’m a mentor here with Sauti Studios and I do mainly production. And I also do the writing workshops, as well as the music workshops. We organize stuff with Music Generation, and we work with Nanu Nagel’s place quite often as well. Ah yeah. To do stuff, yeah.

[00:10:53] Bairbre Flood: That’s a great spot up there, isn’t it?

[00:10:55] Mark Mavambu: Absolutely. Yeah, beautiful. 

[00:10:56] Bairbre Flood: And how do you find it? How do you find the art scene and working with the young people? 

[00:11:00] Mark Mavambu: I think working with the young kids is just, it’s very inspirational because, You see the beginnings of somebody’s creative journey and you see the confidence rise, from quiet, shy kids to outspoken, proud, more outgoing kids now.

So it’s just great to see that progression and they love getting involved in the art scene whether it’s drawing, writing music, poetry. Yeah. They’re open and willing to try out whatever.

[00:11:28] Bairbre Flood: Yeah, they’re at a great age, aren’t they? Like it’s the talent and the enthusiasm and just the vision that young people have is just incredible.

[00:11:35] Mark Mavambu: Absolutely, and you really get to see them shine because we try to give them the opportunity to do what they love and do it how they want to do it. So all the stuff we do is you led, so they in charge of the type of stuff that we do for them, with them,

[00:11:48] Bairbre Flood: So it’s all in consultation, you don’t come in with a big plan and say, right this is what we’re doing.

[00:11:51] Mark Mavambu: No, we try not to. Sometimes we do have to do it cause we also have to fit certain criterias and do certain things as well. But, for the most part, whatever it is we’re doing, even if we have to do it, we try to do it in a way that they want to do it – so that they still get that creative control.

Yeah.

[00:12:09] Bairbre Flood: Oh, thank you, Mark.

MUSIC

[00:12:17] Pablo: Hello. My name is Pablo Uzo and I’m from Zimbabwe.

[00:12:23] Bairbre Flood: And how are you finding it?

[00:12:24] Pablo: Yes, it’s very good. Raphael helps us a lot.

[00:12:27] Bairbre Flood: What do you be doing?

[00:12:29] Pablo: We’ll be, sometimes we write poems. And write songs to reach out to the young people of today about racism.

[00:12:38] Bairbre Flood: Nice.

[00:12:40] Pablo: This poem is titled Harare because I’m from Harare.

In the land of Zimbabwe rich and bold 

Stories of legends remain untold. 

Drums beating to ancient rhythms so old, 

a tapestry of cultures a sight to behold. 

MUSIC 

[00:13:05] Diamond: My name is Lou Island, a. k. a. Diamond, and I’m from Nigeria.

[00:13:09] Bairbre Flood: Nice one. Cool. Was I, did I meet you the last time?

[00:13:12] Diamond: Yeah, I think so.

[00:13:12] Bairbre Flood: Yeah. How have you been getting on?

[00:13:14] Diamond: I’ve been getting on good.

[00:13:15] Bairbre Flood: Nice, so what have you been up to?

[00:13:17] Diamond: We made songs and made poetries. We come here every Saturday. It’s prepare for the answer is something that happens out the other day and it’s just been fun. Just been going like having fun with my life

[00:13:29] Bairbre Flood: Do you have anything to share with us today?

[00:13:31] Diamond: I think I’ve got poetry for you guys. 

[00:13:35] Bairbre Flood: If you’ve got poems, great. Raphael’s going to send me some of your music as well, so that I can mix it in with the programme.

[00:13:40] Diamond: Oh, that’s really good.

[00:13:43] Bairbre Flood: Old school, on paper. I love it.

[00:13:45] Diamond: I’ve got like a good chorus. Racism we’re going to swing it out. Yeah. Swing it out of place, because everybody needs to know, most of the time, people know you, but they don’t know how to feel and act around you. She didn’t be taught and learn about it.

That’s like what the main program is all about. My poem is about my country. I’m from Nigeria. It goes like this:

From a land far away, a tropical monsoon there lay, where beautiful bright sunshine display, and African queens which lay. The lifestyle of this civilization is unique, with different variations of tradition, techniques, mystique.

The bright colors, green and white, that speak of a country at its peak. A society with good taste, with their cooking talents they create. A food worldwide embraced, Jollof, which has not been replaced.

MUSIC

[00:14:46] Bairbre Flood: Was there anything you wanted to add? Was there anything you wanted to say?

[00:14:54] Diamond: Just our last bit is ‘Racism we’re gonna swing it out’.

[00:14:58] Bairbre Flood: Lads, thanks a lot.

MUSIC

[00:15:04] Zoe: My name is Zoe. 

[00:15:04] Bairbre Flood: Very nice, and your name? 

Khanyi: I’m Khanyi. 

Bairbre Flood: Really nice to meet you. Do you have any poems you want to share with me today? Or anything you’re working on? 

Khanyi: I also have a poem that I just wrote now. 

Bairbre Flood: That’d be cool. So was this at the workshop you just did with Raphael?

[00:15:17] Khanyi: So should I say it? Should I say it now?

Bairbre Flood: Yeah, whenever you’re ready. 

Khanyi: Okay

 ‘The Sky Is The Limit’ 

The sky acting as a reminder of changes of time. 

Teaches you how to change every moment you live. 

The sky being part of the good and the bad personal encounters that you go through. 

The sky, as much as it is there to show the changes of time, it’s there to amaze you with its unique design of colors.

The sky reminding you of how your life could be colorful and positive no matter what, not if you really wanted it to be.

MUSIC

[00:15:50] Bairbre Flood: Oh, that’s beautiful.

[00:15:51] Khanyi: Yeah, like about possibility.

[00:15:55] Bairbre Flood: How do you find this group here? 

[00:15:57] Khanyi:  Oh, it’s actually amazing. You get so many opportunities and you get to learn how to speak out.

I’m talking about personal stuff yeah, I got to know how to speak out. Yeah.

[00:16:06] Bairbre Flood: Nice. Were you part of the anti racism summit? 

[00:16:07] Khanyi: Yeah, but I was actually at the MC with Zoe.

[00:16:16] Bairbre Flood: Wow, okay. How was that? How did you find the MCing?

[00:16:19] Zoe: It was fun. Yeah.

[00:16:20] Khanyi: I really enjoyed it. 

[00:16:22] Bairbre Flood: Was it stressful or was it great?

[00:16:23] Khanyi: No, it was great.

[00:16:24] Bairbre Flood: Okay.

[00:16:24] Khanyi: I think it was enjoyable. Yeah. As a team. 

[00:16:28] Bairbre Flood: Why do you think it’s important to have things like anti racism conferences?

[00:16:31] Zoe: To spread awareness. Even though there are people who know, but they still ignore it.

[00:16:37] Bairbre Flood: Yeah, and I think it was good that you had teachers there and politicians, especially people who are making decisions about people’s lives.

Yeah. Hopefully, they listen. Change happens slow sometimes, or it seems like it’s going slow, and then sometimes it can go fast. Yeah. 

And with the writing, I’ll just ask you first how do you what does writing mean to you? Or how, why do you like writing so much?

[00:17:01] Khanyi: To me it means conquering, conquer, conquering, yeah.

[00:17:06] Bairbre Flood: Mastering your emotions or mastering

[00:17:09] Khanyi: Yeah or anything in general, like anything you’re going through. If rising, then you are conquering it. 

[00:17:14] Bairbre Flood: I love that. That’s really nice. And how about you, what do you, how do you find writing or what does it help you with?

[00:17:20] Zoe: I find it peaceful because I can’t express how I feel most of the time, so I express how I feel on a book or my journal,

[00:17:28] Bairbre Flood: It’s easier sometimes then.

[00:17:30] Zoe: Yeah. 

Bairbre Flood: Sometimes there’s no one to listen. 

Zoe: There’s always people to listen, but the fact that I can express how I feel to someone, I prefer doing it in a book, and then maybe I can share it with Raphael or Cliff.

[00:17:45] Bairbre Flood: Do you find it just, it gives you the space to just be in your own emotions and thoughts? 

[00:17:50] Zoe: Yeah, because I believe I can be honest in a book. A book can’t judge me.

MUSIC

[00:17:56] Bairbre Flood: Kanyi and Zoe were MC’s at the youth led anti racism summit in April earlier this year. This was the second anti racism conference organized and led by the young people.

MUSIC

Bairbre Flood: What were some of the things that you were asking them to do? 

[00:18:14] Zoe: Oh, we asked them like since there’s racism, or mostly asylum seekers that are facing injustice, what have they done about it? Because I feel most asylum seekers are getting less attention, and the issue of what’s going on in Congo, Other wars are getting attention and while Congo, there’s no politician who talks about it, no Irish news that has posted about it.

So we’re asking them about that. What’s going on? Why are they ignoring what is going on in Congo? Because there are people living in Ireland that are Congolese and they haven’t said anything about it. While other wars like Palestine, they’ve said that they’re working, they’re supporting Palestine and we just wanted them to support the Congolese as well to get comfort, but they say nothing.

[00:19:04] Khanyi: Oh, yeah, we asked them about the accommodations And what we were not asking them to like, change a lot of stuff or anything like that. We were just asking them to put in their minds that no one would leave their home for no reason and decide to flee.

No one would ever do that for any reason of some sort. So that’s what we asked them to like, think about. Let them put the money and everything else aside and ask themselves the question is why would anyone leave their home for no reason at all?

[00:19:35] Zoe: Most politicians were saying, Oh, we don’t have a reply to that.

We don’t have enough power to do that. 

Khanyi: So we will fight until they have ears to listen. 

MUSIC [00:19:42] Sauti Youth: All the changes we’re seeking, I hope we get it, man. All the changes we’re seeking, I hope we get it, man. 

Sauti Youth: What do we want? Change! When do we want it? Now! 

Sauti Youth: What do we want? Change! When do we want it? Now!

[00:20:09] Bairbre Flood: As I mentioned earlier, Sauti Youth performed at the first ever live Wander event in the Laneway Gallery, Shandon Street this summer, including this track by Sauti Studios (Sauti Youth): 

MUSIC [00:20:20] Sauti Youth: It’s time for us to make a change and I don’t need to rearrange. 

Sauti Youth: Lights, cameras, action. I’m tired of all this talking, we need to solve this problem.

Sauti Youth: Lights, cameras, action. 

Sauti Youth: We need movement, change, and lasting impressions.

Sauti Youth: Movement, change, and lasting impressions.

[00:20:40] Toby: I’m Toby.

[00:20:41] Bairbre Flood: Nice to meet you, Toby. How are you?

[00:20:43] Toby: I’m doing good.

[00:20:44] Bairbre Flood: Yeah. Do you like this group? How did you find this group?

[00:20:47] Toby: I joined about five months ago, so I find it actually very nice.

[00:20:51] Bairbre Flood: Do you write or sing or what? What’s your main focus?

[00:20:54] Toby: I write and I sing.

[00:20:56] Bairbre Flood: Why do you like the arts so much? Like, why do you like creating?

What does it mean to you?

[00:21:00] Toby: I think it gives me a peace of mind since most when I joined, it was during the weekend. So it’s really nice to have it on a Saturday because that’s when I can relax. So it’s actually quite nice being with everyone. 

MUSIC

[00:21:20] Caleb: I’m Caleb.

[00:21:21] Bairbre Flood: How have you been since I saw you last year? 

[00:21:23] Caleb: I’ve been okay, just life, honestly.

[00:21:28] Bairbre Flood: Yeah. Have you been creating much or what? Artistically, like how is it?

[00:21:34] Caleb: Yeah, actually, we’ve created, me and the other Sauti Youth, we’ve created a lot of songs, a lot of anti racism summits, just different events, camps, all those things.

[00:21:46] Bairbre Flood: Nice yeah.

[00:21:47] Caleb: There’s just a mix of fun and work and everything.

[00:21:51] Bairbre Flood: And it seems since I was here last, the group has gotten huge. 

[00:21:54] Caleb: Oh yes!

[00:21:55] Bairbre Flood: And Raphael was saying there’s even more people that just couldn’t make it today, it’s lovely to see that growing, isn’t it? 

[00:22:01] Caleb Yeah, it is.

[00:22:02] Bairbre Flood: Yeah, the real community spirit, yeah. And how did you find the anti racism summit?

[00:22:10] Caleb: It was okay. I would say the last  anti racism summit the year before was a lot better, in my opinion. 

[00:22:18] Bairbre Flood: Oh, okay. Why is that?

[00:22:21] Caleb: I feel like there was more, there’s a lot of energy coming from different areas, maybe because it was the first one, I never know, but I just feel like the first one was actually like, it was really good, as opposed to the second one.

[00:22:32] Bairbre Flood: Okay. Do you think that they were listening? 

[00:22:37] Caleb: Yeah, they were. There was a lot of old people, there was Garda, coming from different areas,

[00:22:42] Bairbre Flood: yeah. Yeah, maybe, I don’t know. It’s hard to gauge these things, isn’t it? Yeah. Because it could have been just the excitement of the first one, but then maybe the second one went really well, but you 

[00:22:53] Caleb: I think it’s because I already did the first one, so my mind was already prepared for the second one, so maybe that’s why.

[00:22:58] Bairbre Flood: Yeah. Hopefully the president will come to the next one. 

[00:23:02] Caleb: Yeah, hopefully!

[00:23:04] Bairbre Flood: And the minister.

MUSIC [00:23:34] Sauti Youth:We go vet, we get love. We get joy. Now come and then Joy. Be free like me, Afro peace,

Gimme his. No black, no white, just you. And me.

From the east to the west, I’m the best. I come from the west, 

I’m so fly, like a jet. Let me speak from my heart, on my mind. 

MUSIC

Bairbre Flood: How have you been, Raphael?

[00:24:03] Raphael Olympio: I’ve been good just back from Kenya, back doing workshops with our young people, and the energy’s been great, so yeah.

[00:24:09] Bairbre Flood: Cork based poet, musician, rapper, and spoken word artist, Raphael Olympio is a mentor with the young people at Sauti. He facilitated a special poetry workshop for this series and has consistently been showing up for the young people here in Cork.

[00:24:25] Raphael Olympio: Yeah, it’s growing, and even our capacity to work with so many young people. We went from, we’ll say, about 12 young people, now we’re 30 plus.

[00:24:36] Bairbre Flood: How did the conference go? I’ve been hearing mixed feedback about the second one.

[00:24:41] Raphael Olympio: Yeah. So the anti racism summit went really well in a sense that the young people I felt got to express themselves without any limitation and their voices were heard but there was some backlash in regards to communication and how – we’ll say, people took what the young people were saying. Or how we’ll say some questions were addressed by policymakers which caused a little bit of tension.

But I feel if the young people held back and didn’t speak their truth and didn’t necessarily speak from the heart then it would have been a waste of time.

And that tension was always going to happen if they were going to speak what’s on their minds. And we need that tension to happen. We need things to almost crash in order for it to get better. I think we’re so delicate when we’re talking to young people and we see them as future leaders as opposed to, leaders of today, leaders of now.

Something that kind of spoke to me when I was in Kenya was the Gen Z movement and how taxes were being increased. And the young people spoke up against the president and said, you know what, we don’t want this anymore. And they came out in droves. All over the country. 

And the president had to do something and he’s, he backed down and then they had conversations on Twitter, live with the president talking about their concerns and I’m like, I see the same thing happening here in Ireland where young people if given, the tools and the confidence to do so can speak up and make change.

I think they’re the only people that can make change. Yeah, and there’s people, of the older generation and the younger generation and we’re on the same wavelength. There’s a lot of alignment in the conversations and the change that people want. But when a young person speaks up, it’s, ah, sure, they’re only young, they don’t know what they’re talking about.

But then you can have the same conversation with an older person and it’s oh, yeah, I get what you mean. And it’s great.

[00:26:40] Bairbre Flood: Young people have a particular vision because they’re growing up at a different time and they have access to different knowledge than we do with older people. It’s just, that’s a fact. And their energy is different.

[00:26:52] Raphael Olympio: Energy, I think, is the key word. I think you need the energy to be an activist, to want change, to use your creativity to express yourself or just your words. It takes energy. And I think a lot of people neglect that. If you don’t have enough energy, you’re not going to wake up and

[00:27:14] Bairbre Flood: Keep going,

[00:27:15] Raphael Olympio: We all have our individual and personal battles as well.

So to go out and face the world takes a lot out of us. Yeah.

[00:27:29] Bairbre Flood: But they’re a great bunch. It must be great fun working with them.

[00:27:33] Raphael Olympio: Oh yeah. I get again, with energy, I get so much energy from them and it’s what keeps me going as well. And you learn so much from them. You learn so much. You’re trying to teach them and you’re trying to mentor them, but then you end up learning as much as you’re giving or even more in some cases.. 

[00:27:49] Bairbre Flood: Yeah. That’s good. It’s good. And what kind of things have you going in the future? Anything you wanted to plug?

[00:27:56] Raphael Olympio: Yeah. So I guess we’re going to apply for Culture Night. I don’t know where exactly we’re going to do it, but if you follow us on Sauti Studios Cork on Instagram. Or the Cork Migrant Center at Nano Nagle Place, you’ll see where our young people will be performing. 

We’ll also be performing on November 18th for the Voices of Harmony gig which will be happening in the city hall. So that’s what we’re preparing for currently. Yeah. 

[00:28:23] Bairbre Flood: Brilliant. Okay, great. So people go on Instagram and follow ye.

Raphael Olympio: Yeah, please do. Brilliant. 

Bairbre Flood: Yeah, it’s great to see you again, Raphael. 

Raphael Olympio: Ah, you too. 

Bairbre Flood: And the lads. 

[00:28:29] Raphael Olympio: Thank you. 

Bairbre Flood: Thank you. 

MUSIC [00:28:35] Sauti Youth: This must change. This must change. It’s all in one package, filled with different races. Come from different places, all got different status. Share the same struggles, both have the same problems.

[00:28:46] Sauti Youth: Only difference is, you’re either rich or poor. Only way to make it is to keep your soul pure. 

Sauti Youth: Yo, my name is Daphne. I’m from Zimbabwe. I love my family. I love myself. I know I’m beautiful. I know I’m smart. I know I’m excellent. If you don’t like me, I don’t care. What am I doing? I don’t care about the world’s negativity. But as long as I know that God is beside me. 

Sauti Youth: What do we want? Change! When do we want it? Now! 

Sauti Youth: What do we want? Change! When do we want it? Now!

[00:29:36] Bairbre Flood: Huge thanks to Raphael Olympio, who you just heard there, and Mark Mavambu, two of the mentors with the Cork Migrant Centre’s  Sauti studios (Sauti Youth). And to the fantastic young people who talked to me for this podcast and who share their poetry, spoken word and music with us. Emmanuella, Ebenezer, Zoe, Kanyi, Pablo, Diamond, Toby and Caleb.

And thanks to all the young people who worked on the two pieces of music you heard in this program, which were recorded live at the Wander event we held at the Laneway Gallery, Shandon Street this summer. It was just such a great event with digital art from Silvio Severino, a. k. a. Loop Conspiracy, and performances from some of the poets and spoken word artists featured on Wander.

Check out the website to see some of these beautiful videos and a huge thanks to Silvio for his work and talent on this. Also, as Raphael Olympio was saying there, go and follow them at Saudi Studios (Sauti Youth) on Instagram. To keep up to date on when and where they’ll be performing again. And for all the latest on their anti racism summits.

It’s been a hard week in terms of anti racism organising. So please go and show them some support. They’re doing vital, necessary work to make Ireland a better place. To combat racism in all its forms and to strengthen our communities.

MUSIC

Thanks to the Arts Council of Ireland for their continued support. Not just for this podcast, but for the poetry workshop Raphael facilitated and his live performance and for all their funding over the years of Wander. for listening and see you next episode. It’ll be the one I promised you last time from Athens.

It’s just taken a bit longer than anticipated, but will be well worth it. Okay, from me, Bairbre Flood, bye for now.