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Witness History

Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.

When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs, from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015, to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.

You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal’s worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.

And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.

If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2024

Latest Episodes:

Albania’s Stalinist purges Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

In the 1970s, Albania’s Stalinist leader, Enver Hoxha, launched a new series of purges against government ministers and officials, following numerous purges in previous decades.

Those accused of being ‘enemies’ of the ruling Party of Labour were executed or received lengthy prison sentences. Their families were punished too. Many were sent into internal exile and forced to work in the fields.

Rob Walker speaks to Kozara Kati whose father was imprisoned in 1975. She spent 15 years in a camp with her mother, brother and sister.

Rob also hears from Fred Abrahams, long term researcher and writer on Albania, who is the author of ‘Modern Albania: From Dictatorship to Democracy in Europe’.

(Photo: Enver Hoxha embraces Chinese Leader Yao Wen-Yuan 1967. Credit: Keystone-France, Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

The Little Black Book survival guide Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

In 1985, Carol Taylor wrote a survival guide for young black men in the Unites Stated who were stopped by the police.

Her son, Laurence Legall, tells Ashley Byrne the story of the small and important book created by his mum to help young black men stay safe on the streets of New York.

It all began when Laurence went shopping and was robbed but the police didn’t take his complaint seriously.

A Made in Manchester production for BBC World Service.

(Photo: Carol Taylor. Credit: Laurence Legall)

Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

In October 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard made an impromptu speech in the Australian parliament setting out the misogyny she endured for years as a prominent female politician.

Ten years on, she discusses with Alex Collins her career defining-speech which has been viewed online by millions of people.

(Photo: Julia Gillard giving her misogyny speech. Credit: PA)

Arrested for wearing trousers in Sudan Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

In 1991, a law was introduced in Sudan which was used to control how women acted and dressed in public. It resulted in arrests, beatings and even deaths during the 30 years it was in place.

Amiera Osman Hamed was arrested and fined for wearing trousers in 2002. She’s been speaking to Laura Jones.

(Photo: Amiera Osman Hamed. Credit: Amiera Osman Hamed)

Theatre siege in Moscow Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

It is 20 years since heavily-armed Chechen rebels took an entire theatre full of people hostage.

They threatened to kill them all if the Russian government didn't call off the war in Chechnya. When Russian special forces stormed the theatre they let off gas to stun the Chechens - it killed many of the hostages as well. In this programme first broadcast in 2012 Dina Newman speaks to one of the survivors, Prof Alex Bobik.

(Photo: Chechen rebel on Russian TV. Credit: Getty Images)

The Iranian Revolution and women Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Many women supported Iran’s 1979 revolution against the monarchy but some later became disillusioned.

Islamic rules about how women dressed were just one of the things that women objected to. Sharan Tabari spoke to Lucy Burns in 2014 about her experiences during, and after, the Iranian Revolution.

(Photo: Iranian women at the 1 May 1979 protest. Credit: Getty Images)

Indonesia’s indigenous people take a stand Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

In 1998 President Suharto of Indonesia resigned after more than thirty years of military rule. It meant people from indigenous communities were finally free to speak out after years of being ignored.

Tribal leaders seized their chance to gather together at the first ever Congress of Indigenous People of the Archipelago in Jakarta in 1999.

Laura Jones has been speaking to Rukka Sombolinggi.

(Photo: People in tribal dress at the Congress of Indigenous People of the Archipelago in 1999. Credit: Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara, the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago)

Founder of the Cuban National Ballet Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

We go back to 1959 when Cuba’s most famous ballet dancer Alicia Alonso turned her back on a successful career on the world stage and returned home to form Cuba’s National Ballet Company.

She spoke to Mike Lanchin in 2015.

(Photo: Alicia Alonso. Credit: Alicia Alonso)

Cuba's boxing ban Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Earlier this year, Cuba lifted a 60-year ban on professional boxing, which Fidel Castro imposed in 1962.

Before then, amateur boxers who wanted to turn pro, had to risk everything in order to defect.

Rachel Naylor speaks to Mike ‘The Rebel’ Perez, who escaped in 2007 with the assistance of Mexican gangsters, a fishing boat and an Irish promoter.

(Photo: Mike Perez (right) and Bryant Jennings during their heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden on 26 July 2014 in New York. Credit: Getty Images)

The ‘army’ that taught Cuba to read and write Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

In 1961, Fidel Castro launched a nationwide campaign aimed to eradicate illiteracy in Cuba.

An ‘army’ of volunteers known as brigadistas equipped with books and pencils travelled across the country to teach people how to read and write.

Alex Collins spoke to Rosa Hernandez Acosta who taught many adults even though she was a 10-year-old schoolgirl herself.

(Photo: Rosa Hernandez Acosta. Credit: Kian Seara)

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