Science and Innovation / IFAS Research / Sounds of southern Africa. Music, Empowerment, Freedom 

Sounds of southern Africa. Music, Empowerment, Freedom 

SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
SHARE
THIS:
26 November

Our podcast series Sounds of southern Africa. Music, Empowerment, Freedom is finally complete, with the first five episodes released in July and the final four in October 2021. With the help of various experts, these podcasts explore the links between music, politics, freedom of expression and censorship in several southern and central African countries, from the 20th century to the present day. The researchers interviewed here analyse these complex relationships and, to our great delight, give us the opportunity to listen to little-known melodies and sounds. We invite you on a musical journey through a history marked by adversity and resilience, through a variety of musical genres — from South African and Namibian melodies in the apartheid era to Congolese rumba in the colonial period, and rap or pop music in contemporary Mozambique and Angola.

Follow this link to listen to all ten episodes

You might also like

SA creatives join global animation leaders at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market

From 8 to 14 June 2025, South Africa’s animation industry professionals are in attendance at the 2025 Annecy International...

Lancement d’un programme de formations linguistiques et pédagogiques à distance pour les professeurs de français en Afrique du Sud et du Lesotho.

Une offre de formations linguistiques et pédagogiques à distance a été proposée aux professeurs de français d’Afrique du Sud...

Spotlight on 3 French personalities who strove for Liberation in South Africa

When Ms Catherine Colonna, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs visited Freedom Park in Pretoria, South Africa, in...

Joining Forces to Save Citrus: French-South African research team explores new resources for better citrus greening detection

Developing bilateral cooperation to produce genomic resources to improve diagnosis of citrus greening CONTEXT Greening or Huanglongbing (HLB) disease...

Let's get social
This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue
Twitter feed is not available at the moment.
As part of the French Institute of South Africa’s (IFAS) 30th anniversary, this film turns to Lesotho to spotlight artists and cultural practitioners involved in co-creation initiatives supported by IFAS. Shot across the Mountain Kingdom, it features voices that have helped define the Institute’s work over the past three decades. Directed by Adam Heyns.
As part of the French Institute of South Africa’s (IFAS) 30th anniversary, a visit to Malawi captured the stories of artists and cultural practitioners involved in co-creation projects supported by IFAS. From Lilongwe to Blantyre, the film brings together voices that have contributed to the Institute’s work over the past three decades. Directed by Adam Heyns.
Join us for a special talk by Justice Edwin Cameron and Sohela Surajpal, two of the authors of the new book 'Behind Prison Walls'. Their talk will bring together Michel Foucault's reflections on the systems of discipline and South Africa's experience of incarceration, offering an original analysis: how prisons, far from serving as tools of rehabilitation, become instruments of social control and the perpetuation of inequality.
Launched in 2022 under the France 2030 initiative, the ICC Immersion programme supports French entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) as they expand into global markets. Implemented in South Africa by Institut français in Paris, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), Business France, and Business France South Africa and Southern Africa, the initiative connects French companies with key players in South Africa’s dynamic creative sector. This year’s cohort featured nine innovative CCI companies—Allegria, Atrack (Beam for Music), Agence Culturelle PLUS (Reunion Island), Culturespaces, Fabrik & Moi (Reunion Island), France Muséums Développement, Jakob + MacFarlane, Memorist, and Sound Birth—representing fields from architecture and immersive technology to museum development, cultural consultancy, and music innovation. Altogether, the South African edition fostered meaningful exchange between French and South African cultural leaders, opening the door to future collaborations across the two countries.  Special thank you to the featured sites: Constitution Hill Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation Spier Wine Farm, TRACE Studios Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct Wesgro Wits Digital Dome Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa ----- ICC Immersion is coordinated by the Secrétariat Général pour l'Investissement (SGPI) and driven by the Institut Français and Business France, with support from the Banque des territoires, the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The 2025 edition is implemented by IFAS and Business France in Johannesburg.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), this documentary film brings together nearly 50 voices who have been part of IFAS’s journey over the past three decades. From its beginnings in Newtown to its current home in Braamfontein, IFAS has helped shape South Africa’s cultural and creative landscape through collaboration, exchange, and long-term partnerships. Director: Adam Heyns Producer: Lali van Zuydam Music: NØ FØRMAT! Records
For 30 years IFAS has nurtured a vibrant space for dialogue, experimentation, and creative growth. It has helped tell untold stories, amplify diverse voices, and build platforms for both emerging and established talents to shine. Now, as we mark 30 years of impact and memory, we look back at three remarkable decades of collaboration, co-creation, and cultural connection. And in the words of the legendary filmmaker Ramadan Suleman, here's to the end of Episode 1—and the beginning of many more episodes in the eclectic, ever-evolving series that is IFAS. Video Production and Editing: Adam Heyns Music: NØ FØRMAT! Records
Ahead of the 2025 Series Mania Forum taking place from 25th-27th March, IFAS invited delegates from around the world to join and gain valuable insights from our Audiovisual team and Forum organisers on what to expect and how to prepare for the three jam-packed days of pitching, networking, and high-level conferences.
Organised by SAGES Africa (Services for Africa Gaming & Esports), the Mzansi Esports Champions is a key part of the Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, an innovative initiative which aims to spotlight and empower women’s talent in esports, promoting inclusivity and equality within the gaming industry. The 2024 players were: – eSwatini: Setsabile Shabangu, Sugar – Kenya: Sylvia Wahome, QueenArrow – Lesotho: Liteboho Thebe, EL – Madagascar: Safidy Andrianisoa, Sentaku – Malawi: Matimbe Gweyneth Edina, Gwyn Stacy – Namibia: Asante-Sana Maruwasa, ATMBYTES – South Africa: Zahraa Khan, Iron-Fist – Zambia: Bwalia Nkumbula, LiaRose The Mzansi Esports Champions event is part of a larger strategy by SAGES Africa to build a strong esports ecosystem across the continent. Through strategic partnerships, SAGES continues to empower African players and enhance their competitiveness on the global stage. This project is a collaboration of the French Institute of South Africa, SAGES and rAge Expo. It is made possible thanks to funding from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. --- Credits: Music: Chipego Producer: Junayd Bradlow Creative Director: Tasmin Jacobs Post-Production: Umar Bradlow Creative Studios: The Magic Pixel & The Ultimate Gaming Champions South Africa
The Live Music Lab is a flagship initiative brought to you by Bassline and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) celebrating a 25-year partnership with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Designed to incubate 15 youths with event and live music theoretical and practical training and work experience at two acclaimed events in Johannesburg’s social calendar: Bassline Fest on the 25th of May and Fête de la Musique on the 22nd of June. Read more: https://bassline.co.za/lab-joburg/
Live Music Lab: Maseru Edition is a two-day workshop designed for young musicians from Maseru, focusing on instrument skills and the business of music. Open to aspiring artists aged 18-25, particularly women, the programme included hands-on training and interactive sessions to help participants kickstart their music careers. Trainees also performed at the Ouh La La Music Festival before the workshop and the Standard Lesotho Bank LETOFE Lifestyle Festival after.
MyFrenchFilmFestival, the original 100% online festival of French-language cinema, is back for its 15th edition from January 17 – February 17, 2025: a unique opportunity for movie buffs around the world to discover the best of French-language cinema from the comfort of their own home. This year, all films in the selection will be available for viewing in their original French version, or with subtitles in one of eight languages: Arabic, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. The official selection includes the following films: - A Real Job - Alarms - Alexx196 & The Pink Sand Beach - All to Play For - Along Came Love - Blood Ties - Changing Rooms - GiGi - No Love Lost - Making Of - Mars Express - Montsouris Park - NUBE - Sweet Tooth - The Apprentices - The Dreamer - The Man with a Thousand Faces - The Mysterious Adventures of Claude Conseil - Through The Night - Winter Tune into the festival: https://www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com/ MyFrenchFilmFestival is initiated by Unifrance and proudly supported by the Institut français in Paris and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
Subscribe
© 2026 frenchinstitute.org.za. All rights reserved. Site design by Nicework.
View our Data Policy and Terms.