S3:E13 A Somali Village in Colonial Bradford

A unique conversation as the Blake Society’s Stephen Pritchard and poet, John Siddique, explore the similarities between two hugely influential writers and artists: William Blake and Kahlil Gibran. Both Blake and Gibran were poets and artists who dabbled in prophetic vision. Their readings of the Bible, their rebellion against Church corruption, and their sociopolitical visions were very similar. Gibran himself was referred to as the ‘twentieth-century Blake’ and actively emphasised the connection between them.

In May 1904, the Great Exhibition in Lister Park showcased Bradford businesses, art and culture, and featured a standout exhibit: the Somali Village. Within this village, 60 Somali individuals, including men, women, and children, resided in a walled compound for six months. In this fascinating event, Fozia Bora tells the stories of some of these Villagers – often polyglot cosmopolitans, and Bradford’s earliest-known Muslim community – who speak from the past through the recovery of written, oral and photographic archives.

With more than four billion people eligible to vote in an election in 2024, we delve into the electoral landscapes of India, the United States and the United Kingdom to examine the key issues shaping each nation’s political discourse and how these elections will impact international relations, economic policies and global democratic trends. This overview of the 2024 elections and their potential to influence the future trajectory of global politics and economics. Whether you are a political enthusiast, a student of international relations or simply curious about global democratic processes, this panel will offer valuable insights and stimulating discussion.

Explore a crucial chapter in Middle Eastern history as we delve into the British Mandate in Palestine, which spanned from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This period was marked by the emergence of nationalist movements and uprisings from both Arab and Jewish communities. Many viewed this era as a betrayal of the promised Arab independence, as it saw successive waves of Jewish immigration. This ultimately led to the United Nations’ plan to partition the territory. Join us for a timely examination of how the British administration in post-Ottoman Palestine still resonates today.

Join journalist, Nabila Ramdani, as she discusses her new book, Fixing France: How to Repair a Broken Republic, charting the course of France’s Fifth Republic, formed in the wake of the 1958 Algerian war of independence. Ramdani, with her Algerian heritage perspective, unveils a bold new lens through which to view modern France, tackling complex themes such as politics, economics, societal shifts and feminism. This trailblazing work delves deep into the challenges faced by marginalised minorities, particularly Muslims, who struggle against systemic barriers in housing, employment and education. It poses pressing questions about the foundational ideals of the republic and the pervasive influence of the far right. Join Ramdani as she exposes the harsh realities and sparks crucial dialogue about the future trajectory of the French republic, exploring whether France’s foundation was a castle built on sand and what it will take to forge a resilient future.

In this episode two of the biggest names in comics, Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher, discuss their fascinating careers and their book, Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography.As co-creator of Watchmen and with a back catalogue that includes everything from Doctor Who to Batman, Gibbons is comic book royalty. Writer, historian and comic book expert, Pilcher, is Chair of the Comic Book Alliance and dubbed ‘the Voice of the British comics industry’.

In this episode, renowned experts Barnaby Rogerson and Eugene Rogan, and chair Aaqil Ahmed, take a deep dive into the watershed moments that helped make and, at times, break the modern Middle East, a diverse region that is both incredibly culturally rich and yet fragile from the effects of empire and past and present power rivalries.

2024 marks 100 years since a watershed moment in Russia’s history: the death of Vladimir Lenin, and the beginning of Joseph Stalin’s rise to power. In this episode, Professor John Russell deep dives into the complexities of Russia’s past and present, from Stalin’s rise to power to Putin’s fifth presidential term.

In this episode, enjoy dynamic poetry readings which explore some of the biggest issues in the world today, with poets Ralph Dartford, Tasneim Zyada, and Matt Abbott.

In this episode, Professor Saeed Khan takes us back to the Watergate Scandal, exploring what it meant for the American Presidency, the legacy it has left, and whether Watergate set the stage for the rise of Donald Trump and the current political climate.