A transatlantic conversation
PEN South Africa is excited to announce a new six-episode season of The Empty Chair podcast. You can listen to the trailer for Season Two here. Episode one will be available from 9 December on www.pensouthafrica.co.za or wherever you get your podcasts.
The first season of the enthusiastically-received podcast, “The Empty Chair by PEN SA” was completed in June of this year. It focused on freedom of expression, writing, constitutional rights and journalism during the Covid-19 Pandemic and is available on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Anchor FM and the PEN SA website.
Here is a sample of some of the responses on Twitter to The Empty Chair Season One:
- Finding Africa: Interdisciplinary PoCo African Studies @findingafrica: “The Empty Chair podcasts from @pen_southafrica are a must-listen” (12 June 2021).
- Rustum Kozain @grondwerk: “This was well worth it: Bongani Kona and Hedley Twidle discussing THE PLAGUE” (12 June 2021).
- Zubeida Jaffer @zubeidajaffer: “So proud to present my podcast with @Sisonkemsimang and @pen_southafrica that was recorded a few weeks back. Cannot wait to work more with them in the future.” (10 June 2021).
- Nadia Davids @NadiaDavids9: “Our latest episode, ‘Reading The Plague’, is now live and it’s a beauty! Brilliant literary analysis, historical commentary, and how books speak to us across time and space, all converge in this conversation btwn Bongani Kona and Hedley Twidle” (27 May 2021).
- Oxford Human Rights Hub @OxHRH: “Research Director and UCT Lecturer, @nomfundo_ram, gives a thoughtful analysis on The Empty Chair on how COVID regulations in SA are re-entrenching disadvantage against poor, Black communities and ends with an inspiring plea to stand up for oppressed peoples everywhere!” (17 May 2021).
- Elisha Kunena @Eli_Kunene: “PEN SA is hosting a really important series of conversations in solidarity with imprisoned and persecuted writers around the world. I was fortunate to participate in a conversation about our covid lockdown with two of my favourite voices on South African law. Please listen!” (13 May 2021).
- Khadija Patel @khadijapatel: “I so enjoyed chatting to these brilliant women. Listen to our podcast!” (29 April 2021).
- Mia Malan @miamalan: “I loved @khadijapatel and @agirliesgirl ideas about how to get around the challenges news organisations are facing. Have a listen, and thank you @pen_southafrica for hosting this discussion.” (29 April 2021).
- Nduko o’Matigere @ndukoomatigere: “#BigUp @pen_southafrica for these powerful voices of solidarity and hope” (29 April 2021)
The second season, “The Empty Chair: A Transatlantic Conversation”, is another enticing, exciting programme, this time featuring conversations among novelists, poets, theatre makers, artists, musicians, activists, journalists, legal scholars, academics and historians based in South Africa and the United States of America. Through these conversations PEN SA hopes to promote open dialogue, highlight shared histories, explore issues of social justice, of freedom of expression in art and in life, moments of solidarity, of difference, our difficult pasts, uncertain presents, and possible futures.
There is a brilliant line-up of six riveting episodes for season two. Guests include the inspiring and deeply wise Dr Ma Thida, a medical doctor, writer, human rights activist, former prisoner of conscience and chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee. Ma Thida will be in conversation with the President of PEN South Africa, Nadia Davids, for episode one, which will be available from Thursday 9 December.
The remaining five episodes will focus on the transatlantic legacy of Charlotte Maxeke and Wilberforce University, environmental journalism, theatre for social justice as well as interviews with inventive and award-winning writers and poets.
Tune in to “The Empty Chair by PEN SA” to listen to the insights of Nadia Davids, Ma Thida, Sisonke Msimang, Athambile Masola, Adanma Mbonu, Buhle Ngaba, Bongani Kona, Tope Folarin, Yvette Hardie, Mina Lora, Mandla Mbothwe, Leonie Joubert, Debra Utacia Krol, Tunicia Phillips, Esther Belin and Toni Giselle Stuart.
Every year, on the fifteenth of November, PEN marks the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, and at each event there is an unoccupied chair. This chair symbolizes those who cannot be with us because they have been jailed for their writings and it is from this symbol that the podcast takes its name. In keeping with the focus on social justice, each of the six episodes is dedicated to a writer in prison or a writer who has been curtailed, harassed, detained or tortured by the state. All podcast guests will offer messages of solidarity to these imprisoned writers and encourage listeners to take action in support of them.
Follow @pen_southafrica on Twitter and subscribe to “The Empty Chair by PEN SA” on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss this season of The Empty Chair.
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