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The Yiaku people of Kenya have been living in the Makugodo Forest for a long time as hunter-gatherers.
In the past decade, the Kenyan government has asked them to officially manage the forest.
The forest has been thriving under their care.
What is not thriving, however, is the language of the Yiaku people
On the eve of International Mother Tongue Day 2022, we spoke to Moffat Kihoro who will tell us about an app that will help to revitalize the Yiaku language.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Voices: Moffat Kihoro

Young girls on the shore of Lake Victoria are taken advantage of by men who conduct business in the area.
The Amazon Theatrix ensemble is a group of young people from the Luo community in Kisumu, Kenya, who use Theatre to empower young girls.
We spoke to Jones Arodi Okoth.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee:
Jones Arodi Okoth (Luo)
"Anania2, by TheBaba Project used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.

Cultural Survival will be hosting their summer bazaars in Newburyport, Massachusetts on July 20th and 21st and in Tiverton, Rhode Island on July 27th and 28th.
The Cultural Survival Bazaar Program goals work to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ articles 11, 20, and 31.
In this interview we hear from Benson Riyes Kitesho, who will showcase his artwork for the first time at Cultural Survival's Bazaar in July 2024.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoi/San)
Interviewee: Benson Riyes Kitesho (Maasai)

Muchos sucesos que involucran a los Pueblos Indígenas están pasando alrededor del mundo. ¿Sabes cuáles son? Como parte del derecho a la información, Cultural Survival presenta este noticiero del mes de junio de 2025 con notas relevantes de Norte, Centro y Sur América, África y Asia, el cual puedes escuchar, descargar y compartir de forma gratuita. Música de introducción: - “Burn Your Village to the Ground” de The Halluci Nation. Derechos de autor, propiedad de The Halluci Nation. Usada bajo su permiso. Redacción: - Rosy Sul González, maya kaqchikel, Cultural Survival, Guatemala.

Indigenous Traditional Knowledge systems and languages are interconnected, carrying essential ecological and cultural wisdom. Our languages hold insights about ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainable practices passed down for generations. When an Indigenous language disappears, communities— along with the entire world—lose the knowledge embedded within it. Safeguarding these knowledge systems is not only about cultural survival; it’s about utilizing time-tested wisdom to address today’s environmental crises.

Voices of Maize, by CS Radio Producer Shaldon Ferris. The importance of maize in South African culture is impossible to overstate. Listen to Shaldon Ferris describe some of the uses of this staple in his culture, and the variety cultures found throughout South Africa.

In this Afrikaans Language radio program, Indigenous Rights Radio's Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan, Johannesburg) receives a telephone call from Piet Berends and Willem Swarts (Khoisan, Northern Cape). They speak about survival in the Kalahari Desert and the hoodia plant.
This program is in Afrikaans.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewees: Piet Berends (Pictured) and Willem Swarts
Music: "Kora Kalabash and Hum" by Johannes Davids, used with permission

Humanity NPC travelled to the home of Rooibos Tea in Wuperthal, South Africa, to talk to the Indigenous people there about the origins of the tea, and how it had been in their families for generations. This podcast also discusses the benefit sharing agreement, which promises that a benefit of the sales of the tea will go to the Indigenous Khoi and San people of the region and what it means to the people of Wuperthal.
Produced by Humanity NPC
Music by Collin Fredericks
Funded by OXFAM South Africa
Image by Tristen Taylor

The Koena Art Institute celebrates creativity, openness, tolerance, and generosity. We aim to be inclusive where diverse cultural, artistic, social, and political positions are welcome. Committed to sharing the most thought-provoking modern, fine and contemporary art, and hope you will join us in exploring the art, ideas, and issues of our time.

We interview Wilhelmina Van Dyk who coordinated the Khoikhoi language gathering in South Africa. This event put the Khoekhoegowab language in the spotlight and left attendees with basic vocabulary of the language after a few days.

Produced by : Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Wilhemina Van Wyk
Music: "Burn your village to the ground", by A Tribe Called Red - used with permission.
"Avantgarde" by Tyso, used with permission

South Africa has been branded as “the Rainbow Nation” because of the diversity of its citizens. The country boasts a very liberal constitution and eleven official languages, which however do not include Indigenous languages. What is becoming more and more apparent lately is the exclusion of the Khoi and San languages especially from school curricula, radio, and television. IYX Radio is a new internet radio station that hopes to change the narrative.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sharri Cannel (San)

Riverside FM and Cultural Survivals Indigenous Rights Radio are embarking on a project that will see the last fluent speaker of the N/uuki language of the San people, record an audio dictionary.
Produced by Riverside FM
Music "Anania2" by the Baba Project, used with permission.
Image: Riverside FM Logo

Bush Radio is a popular and pioneering community radio station in South Africa. The station broadcasts programs in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa from Salt River, Cape Town on 89.5 MHz FM, with a music and talk format aimed at the 18 to 39 age group.
In this podcast, Bush FM discusses the resurgence of Khoi and San languages in Southern Africa.
Produced by Bush FM.

In this radio program, Bush Radio 89.5 FM in Cape Town talks to Chris Nissen, The Human Rights Commissioner of South Africa on the importance of revitalizing Indigenous Languages.

Produced by Bush Radio
Interviewee: Chris Nissen

Indigenous Women all around the world are subjected to marginalization and inequality.
As we commemorate International Women's Day, we celebrate the work of Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama), an Indigenous change maker who is the curator of The Koena Art Institute. Booysen tells us about the Institute's collaboration with the Iziko Art Museum.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lukretia Booysen (Griekwa, Nama)
"Anania by the Baba Project, Used with Permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

Sound and Soil is a live, collaborative, and experimental performance that took place in Nababeep, South Africa. Situated in the far Northern Cape Province, 50 kms north of Springbok and 65 kms from the Namibian border post Vioolsdrift, the performance included a collaboration with the Nama Stap Dansers from Steinkopf. Craig Beckett from Indigenous Youth Exchange Africa attended the event.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee Craig Beckett (Naro, Nama)
"Lights in the forest" by Ziibiwan, used with permission.

Can language be used as a skill? - The South African Nama Development Association is an organization who is recognizing the value in teaching youth the Nama language, an ancient language spoken by Indigenous Southern African people in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Lelani Jacobs (Nama)
"LIBRES Y VIVAS " by MARE ADVETENCIA, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission

In this Afrikaans language radio program, Catherine Wiese from Valley FM in Worcester, South Africa interviews Piet Berends (San) on a walk undertaken to get in touch with nature, and to celebrate the life of plants and animals.
Produced by Valley FM.

Language diversity, multilingual education, and the development of a deeper appreciation of linguistic and cultural traditions worldwide are all encouraged by the dissemination of mother tongues. The purpose of this program is to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue, and to remind us of the vital role that languages play in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage.
To commemorate International Mother Language Day we got in touch with correspondents from Progress Radio In Nigeria, who filled us in on the significance of mother tongue in that region.

Muchos sucesos que involucran a los Pueblos Indígenas están pasando alrededor del mundo. ¿Sabes cuáles son?

Como parte del derecho a la información, Cultural Survival presenta este noticiero del mes de noviembre de 2025 con notas relevantes de Norte, Centro y Sur América, África y Asia, el cual puedes escuchar, descargar y compartir de forma gratuita.

Música de introducción:
- “Burn Your Village to the Ground” de The Halluci Nation. Derechos de autor, propiedad de The Halluci Nation. Usada bajo su permiso.

Muchos sucesos que involucran a los Pueblos Indígenas están pasando alrededor del mundo. ¿Sabes cuáles son?

Como parte del derecho a la información, Cultural Survival presenta este noticiero del mes de marzo de 2026 con notas relevantes de Norte, Centro y Sur América, África y Asia, el cual puedes escuchar, descargar y compartir de forma gratuita.

Música de introducción:
- “Burn Your Village to the Ground” de The Halluci Nation. Derechos de autor, propiedad de The Halluci Nation. Usada bajo su permiso.

Muchos sucesos que involucran a los Pueblos Indígenas están pasando alrededor del mundo. ¿Sabes cuáles son?

Como parte del derecho a la información, Cultural Survival presenta este noticiero del mes de abril de 2026 con notas relevantes de Norte, Centro y Sur América, África y Asia, el cual puedes escuchar, descargar y compartir de forma gratuita.

Música de introducción:
- “Burn Your Village to the Ground” de The Halluci Nation. Derechos de autor, propiedad de The Halluci Nation. Usada bajo su permiso.