Fifth Floor

Latest Episodes:

My Friend and Musician Hugh Masekela Jan 26, 2018

Show notes

Legendary South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela has died at the age of 78. One person who knew him well was Focus on Africa's Audrey Brown, who's also South African. She discusses the laughs, the conversations and the man behind the music.

Image: Hugh Masekela Credit: PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images

The Pope in Chile Jan 19, 2018

Show notes

Pope Francis was in Chile this week, but he wasn't received with as much enthusiasm as the late Pope John Paul II thirty years ago. Chilean radio host Paula Molina reports regularly for BBC Mundo, and shares her impressions of both visits.

Image: Pope Francis in the northern city of Iquique, Chile Credit: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

Sharing Secrets From the Red Carpet Jan 12, 2018

Show notes

The Golden Globes and Oscars are synonymous with fashion and glamour. But for those who cover the ceremonies, they also mean long hours in high heels or tuxedos in a tiny space, trying to get good quotes and pictures from superstars. Beatriz Diez from BBC Mundo and Bahman Kalbasi from BBC Persian share secrets, tricks and anecdotes from the red carpet.

Image: BBC Persian's Bahman Kalbasi with "The Crown" stars Claire Foy and Matt Smith on the red carpet at the 2018 Golden Globes Credit: BBC

Indian Voices From The First World War Jan 05, 2018

Show notes

The British Library holds several recordings of soldiers from South Asia who fought for the British during the First World War. One of them, Punjabi soldier Mall Singh, was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1915, who used the latest technology to record his voice. Ishleen Kaur of BBC Hindi tells the story behind the recording.

Image: Indian infantrymen on the march in France during World War I Credit: Hulton Archive/Stringer/Getty Images

My Name, My Identity Dec 29, 2017

Show notes

What does your name say about your identity? Can it define or influence your personality? In many languages a name can be very revealing about culture, ethnicity and religion. Stories from Famil Ismailov of BBC Russian, Janay Boulos of BBC Arabic and Cagil Kasapoglu of BBC Turkish - after some examples in the Kinyarwanda language.

Image: David Amanor and members of the BBC's language services Credit: BBC

Witch-hunting in Rajasthan Dec 22, 2017

Show notes

The north Indian state of Rajasthan has registered 50 cases of witch-hunting since 2015 even though it has banned the practice. BBC Hindi's Sumiran Preet Kaur has been to one district and met women whose lives have been changed forever.

Image: 80 year old Ramkanya Devi, branded a witch Credit: BBC

Mozambique's 'Ghost' Airport Dec 15, 2017

Show notes

No passengers and no planes - Nacala International Airport in Mozambique cost millions and was meant to help the economies of both Mozambique and Brazil. Instead, it has proved an expensive white elephant. Amanda Rossi of BBC Brasil went to Nacala to find out more.

Image: Mozambique's "ghost" airport Credit: BBC

Fleeing Home: An Iraqi-Kurdish Story Dec 08, 2017

Show notes

Roj Ranjbar has experienced displacement three times in his life. Roj is an Iraqi Kurd with BBC Monitoring, he's covered the recent referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, and subsequent developments as Kurds face renewed civil conflict with Baghdad. Watching the images coming out of Kirkuk of families fleeing their homes has triggered memories of his own family's experiences in the 1990s.

Image: Families fleeing Kirkuk, Iraq in trucks Credit: MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Living with Mugabe Dec 01, 2017

Show notes

After 37 years of the Mugabe regime, Zimbabweans are adjusting to life without him. Most of the population have only known his rule, and he had become part of the fabric of the country. Two BBC Africa Zimbabweans - Kim Chakanetsa and Stanley Kwenda - share memories of the Mugabe era and the moment when it ended.

Image: School children holding an image of Robert Mugabe’s face Credit: JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/Getty Images

Commuting in the Skies of Medellin Nov 24, 2017

Show notes

Medellin in Colombia was one of the first cities in South America to integrate cable cars into its metro transit system. The Metrocable links the affluent valley with poor neighbourhoods in the hills. Arturo Wallace of BBC Mundo explains how it's also affected social attitudes.

Image: Metrocable car in Medellin, Columbia Credit: RAUL ARBOLEDA /Stringer/Getty Images

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