Race Beyond Borders

On our season finale we examine “wildcards”, a term among futurists for seemingly improbable events that, were they to happen, would set the trajectory for the future. The episode features two of such possibilities: the elimination of race and of widespread racial reassignment. Featuring assistant professor of English at the State University of New York in Oneonta Sheena Mason, and writer Jess Row. Listen now. Subscribe to journey with us into the future of Blackness. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Lindokuhle Nkosi and Daryl Hannah Apply to the 2024 Fellowship at Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine

In this episode, we look at the future of Blackness from another lens - how it can be trapped in the rhythmic call and response with whiteness. Nigel Richard chats to Nigerian writer, Bayo Akomolafe. They explore these patterns of race-making and ways of reimagining Black experiences. Bayo Akomolafe wears many hats- a post-humanist thinker, philosopher, psychologist, professor and poet. He's a renowned author of two books, “These Wilds Beyond Our Fences” and “We Tell Our Own Story”. Subscribe to journey with us into the future of Blackness. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Lindokuhle Nkosi and Daryl Hannah Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine

"I find that listening to young people is like listening to the future,” Nigel says setting up our latest episode, which features the perspectives on the futures of race from young African people. Our guests, who are students of the groundbreaking African Leadership Academy, are among the millions of people below the age of 25 who make up 60 per cent of Africa's population and make it the world's youngest continent. They offer glimpses at how young Africans make sense of race now and how they could shape its future, amid complex personal and national histories. The episode also features analyses of intra-continental migration in Africa from Mariama Mohamed Cisse of the International Organisation for Migration. Journey with us across Africa. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Lindokuhle Nkosi and Daryl Hannah Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine

In this episode, Nigel chats with Remi Adekoya, author of Biracial Britain, about the complexities of race. Together, they explore demographic trends, biracial identity and corresponding shifts in the way Blackness is lived and expressed in the United Kingdom. Journey with us beyond the borders of time to explore how the nuance of biracial identity could impact how race is lived in the future. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Lindokuhle Nkosi and Daryl Hannah Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine

We continue this season’s exploration of the ideas, people, and places shaping the future of Blackness. In this episode, Nigel Richard chats with New York Times bestselling author Morgan Jerkins about the construction of Black identity online. Their conversation responds to Jenkins' Mother Jones article, "Black or Bot?", where she unpacks how Blackness is exploited online for political gain. Tune in and journey with us beyond the borders of time. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Lindokuhle Nkosi and Daryl Hannah Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine

In the first episode of season 3, we feature a Zimbabwean new media artist based in London, Kumbirai Makumbe. They use sculpture, digital audio-visual installation, video and images to interrogate the multi-dimensionality of "in-betweenness" and Blackness. Our Host, Nigel Richard speaks to Makumbe about Black quantum futures, the multiplicity of Black experiences and how the digital sphere provides new territory on which to map the multiverse of Blackness, beyond the boundaries of Afrofuturism. Subscribe to journey with us into the future of Blackness. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Lindokuhle Nkosi and Daryl Hannah Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine More: Kumbirai Makumbe

In Season 3 of Race Beyond Borders, we look at the future of Blackness through the lens of technology, art, innovation, changing demographics and geopolitics. Journey with us through conversations with artists, organisers, young people and other thinkers about Blackness today and tomorrow. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Nolwazi Laetitia Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, and Daryl Hannah. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine

In this prequel, Nigel Richard has conversations with two exceptional thought leaders about the future of Global Blackness. Our guest, Geci Karuri-Sebina, an urban-policy maker and Associate Professor at the Wits School of Governance, reveals tools that can assist us in planning and contemplating the future. Also joining the conversation is Rasheedah Phillips, director of The Housing Policy Link and Sci-fi author. She is the founder of The Afrofuturist Affair and Black Quantum Futurism Collective. She shares how to leverage time to empower communities. Together, they ignite a season-long exploration of racial imagination in the context of time and space. Hosted by: Nigel Richard Special thanks: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, Laetitia Nolwazi Mbuli, Yasmeen Rubidge, Modupeola Oyebolu, Anna Luiza Braga, and Daryl Hannah Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: Moya Digital Magazine Black Quantum Futurism

In our final episode, we share the most enlightening moments in our journey across the Black diaspora #BlackExperience. Hosted by: Nigel Richard & Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Special thanks to Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

In our penultimate episode of Season 2, we travel to the North Atlantic island of #Burmuda. Join us as we explore #Blackness across the #Black Pacific and Oceania with our guest, Quito Swan. Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Quito Swan Special thanks to Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Nigel Richard, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

The Black experience in Mexico - we explore the history of African kings and queens in colonial Mexico and uncover the power of Black Joy. Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Miguel Valerio Special thanks to: Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Nigel Richard, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

The Black experience in Iran - we find out what it means to be proudly "Siyah" in the Middle East. Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda Special thanks to: Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Nigel Richard, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah, Sidney Scott. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

The Black experience in Colombia - what’s the current racial conversation & how far do they still need to go? Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Manuel Gutierrez & Ana Maria Gonzalez-Forero Special thanks to: Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Nigel Richard, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah, Sidney Scott. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

So far, our journey towards discovering the Black experience across the globe has taken us to Italy & Martinique. We’re taking an end-of-year break, but will be back for our next leg of the journey. In Episode 3, we’ll travel to Colombia – 21 January 2022.

The Black experience in Martinique - a tale of an identity influenced by colonisation and claimed through liberation. Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Roseline Armange Special thanks to: Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Nigel Richard, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah, Sidney Scott. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

The Black experience in Italy - from growing up isolated within your own race to forging a unique identity & helping others embrace their own. Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Adama Sanneh Special thanks to: Laetitia Mbuli, Modupeola Oyebolu, Nigel Richard, Anna Luiza Braga, Daryl Hannah, Sidney Scott. Produced by: The Good People at Between Productions Website: MOYA

In Season Two, Race Beyond Borders explores race across the world in search of underexplored experiences of blackness. Released monthly, each episode features a guest who takes us through the political and the personal dimensions of Black life in their countries. In charting the global African diaspora ranging from Italy to Iran, Martinique to Colombia, this season will raise new questions about what it means to be Black beyond conventional notions and beyond white supremacy.

Dr Mutinda Nzioki and Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame discuss the politics and potential of philosophy in Africa. They reflect on the centring of western philosophical thought and the marginalisation of the non-European “other” in the discipline. Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Mutinda Nzioki Website: MOYA

Queues Define the Working Class by Race Beyond Borders Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Mosa Phadi Website: MOYA

How do we attack racialised inequality? Hosted by: Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame Guest: Stephen Menendian Website: MOYA