Fifth Floor

Latest Episodes:

Sticks of Power Jun 15, 2018

Show notes

BBC Afaan Oromo is sticking up for an ancient tradition in rural communities which is enjoying a revival among young urban Ethiopians. The "siinque" is a stick that offers protection to Oromo women. Yadeta Berhanu and Firaafoli Dhugasa tell us more.

Image: Oromo women holding their siinques Credit: BBC

Angry and Divided: Nicaragua in Crisis Jun 08, 2018

Show notes

In Nicaragua, mass protests sparked by pension cuts have escalated into unprecedented social unrest. More than 130 people have been killed, and protesters are calling for President Daniel Ortega to stand down. The conflict has divided the country and set friends and families against each other. Arturo Wallace is from Nicaragua and has been covering the story for BBC Mundo.

Image: An anti-government demonstrator fires a home-made mortar in Masaya, Nicaragua. Credit: Inti OCONINTI OCON/AFP/Getty Images

Throwing Off The Veil in Iran Jun 01, 2018

Show notes

When Iranian activist Masih Alinejad posted a picture of herself driving without a hijab, she had no idea what she was starting. Five years later, thousands of women have joined her movement against the mandatory hijab, and they have become a force for the Iranian government to reckon with. The BBC's Nassim Hatam has been following the story.

Image: Iranian woman with wind in hair, veil held aloft Credit: mystealthyfreedom

A Tale of Two Flowers in Afghanistan May 25, 2018

Show notes

It's a bumper year for two lucrative flower crops in Afghanistan. Rose-growers are harvesting flowers for rose oil whilst at the same time, illicit opium production has reached a record high. BBC Afghan's Auliya Atrafi tells the stories behind the flowers.

Image: (L) Damask Rose in Syria (R) and Poppies in Afghanistan Credit: (L) LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images Credit: (R) JAVED TANVEER/AFP/Getty Images

Shot At and Besieged: Quetta's Targeted Community May 18, 2018

Show notes

For the past 20 years, the Hazara ethnic group in Pakistan - who follow Shia Islam - have been targeted and attacked by militants. BBC Urdu's Musa Yawari, a Hazara himself, recently reported from his hometown Quetta on the lives of Hazara taxi drivers who make dangerous journeys ferrying passengers from one Hazara district to another, but he remembers happier times as well.

Image: Hazara graveyard Credit: BBC

Indonesia's Child Soldiers May 11, 2018

Show notes

In 1999 Christians and Muslims in the Indonesian island of Ambon turned on each other. Thousands were killed, but one aspect of the conflict never reported before is the involvement of child soldiers. As part of the Crossing Divides season BBC Indonesia's Endang Nurdin went to the island to meet Ronald and Iskander, former child combatants from opposing sides, now working together for peace.

Image: (L) Ronald Regang and (R) Iskandar Slameth Credit: BBC

Being a Naija May 04, 2018

Show notes

Lagos is Africa's most populous city stretching from the Atlantic seaboard and lagoons from where the city gets its name to the Nigerian mainland. Over 20 million people live there - around 100 working as journalists at the BBC Lagos bureau. It's through their lives that we're getting to know another side of Nigeria today.

Image: BBC Lagos staff Credit: BBC

Afghanistan's Saur Revolution: 40th Anniversary Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

Forty years ago the Afghan Communist party overthrew President Mohammad Daoud. Abdullah Shadan from BBC Afghan Service was a journalist at the state broadcaster at the time, and watched events unfold.

Image: Afghan communist supporters in Kabul 1979 Photo credit: S Sobolev/AFP/Getty Images

Goodbye Castro! Apr 20, 2018

Show notes

After six decades Cuba is no longer ruled by a Castro. Fidel Castro, succeeded by his brother Raul, influenced some of the world's most powerful nations. We hear from Jinxi Cao of BBC Chinese, Audrey Brown of BBC Africa and Irena Taranyuk of BBC Ukrainian.

Image: Irena Taranyuk, Jinxi Cao, Audrey Brown and David Amanor in The Fifth Floor studio Credit: BBC

Unravelling My Father's Mystery Life Apr 13, 2018

Show notes

40 years ago Manoshi Barua inherited a notebook with an old newspaper clipping inside. It was in Chinese, and showed a photo of her father as a young Indian doctor working in China. So what did it say? When chance brought Manoshi together on the fifth floor with BBC China's Yuwen Wu she finally had the opportunity to crack the mystery.

Image: Manoshi Barua holding a newspaper cutting Credit: BBC