DECONFINING is a four-year EU-funded project bringing together cultural practitioners, artists, policy makers, and audiences from two continents – Europe and Africa. Dedicated to contributing to a better understanding of (social, political and economic) confinement patterns from different viewpoints, the project aims to explore and develop new ways of intercontinental artistic and cultural (policy) cooperation and provide better access and information for intercontinental mobility and co-creation.

This Podcast is followed soon by a translation and broadcast at Zongwe FM.

Julian Ehrenreich introduces the podcast recording with Peter Kuthan, highlighting the significance of taking time in deconfining processes and exchanges between Africa and Europe. Peter Kuttan reflects on over thirty years of fruitful exchange, starting with the Tonga people’s first «march» in Upper Austria 50 years prior. This exchange has evolved into various projects, including cultural exchange between artists and musicians, and support for the Tonga community with hardware and communication tools like internet, computers, and radio, through initiatives like Tonga Online and Tonga Radio.

Peter Kuthan agrees to revisit images and contacts, acknowledging the passing of key figures like Keith Goddard and Chief Sinasongwe, as well as Alfred Kummerich and Karl Katzinger, who documented the early expeditions. He stresses the importance of these stories and images for current communication and the future, focusing on the human dimension and the value of cultural exchange, especially in times of increasing isolationism.

Peter explains that at the end of the previous year, severe natural disasters in Sinasangwe—including storms, water, and landslides—had made broadcast operations impossible. Peter Kuthan details his communication with the Chairman of Radio Songwe FM via WhatsApp, receiving updates on challenges and progress. He confirms that a difficult rainy season in Sinasangwe caused floods and washed away access roads, delaying the completion of a mast project. However, by Easter, the mast was erected, taller and better than ever, significantly extending the broadcast range inland to the Plateau and across the lake to Zimbabwe, where a substantial Tonga community exists and maintains strong ties.

Julian Ehrenreich interjects, suggesting that this aligns with the spirit of «deconfining»—meeting on equal footing, strengthening local structures, and learning from each other. Peter Kuthan elaborates that the exchange is not just about learning but also about mutual encouragement, which has an incredibly uplifting effect when one engages in an equal-level exchange. To counter ignorance and prejudice, they focused on cultural exchange, organizing tours for musicians from Austria to Zimbabwe and other African countries, where they met and performed with local counterparts. These counterparts were then invited to Austria, ensuring a peer-to-peer, equal exchange without a hierarchy. This began with Adwenger in Africa in 1993, followed by a film project titled «Zimbabwe: Respect for Africa» in 1995, which aimed to counter prejudices. Peter Kuthan also invited artists to his birthday in Zimbabwe, leading to meetings with artists like Keith Goddard and the subsequent project of inviting the Tonga to the «Festival of Regions» and an expedition across the «Tote Gebirge» (Dead Mountains)

There is now a good base to work with. 2027 should follow an exchange between the two stations. B138 will be 20 years then.