Sound Africa

About Sound Africa

ARC is a non-profit documentary channel. We tell stories through film and narrative-driven podcasting that explore social justice issues, uncover histories that shape the present, and challenge dominant narratives. Our work amplifies voices often left unheard, creating space for deeper understanding. For more see: https://www.arcdocs.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

MED CINE

Category

history · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Nov 2015

Latest episode

16 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

138 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2025

   Unburied S2E4: The Myth of the Explorer

   Whips, fedoras and cliff-hangers make for great cinema, but they also shape how we tell real scientific stories. In our Season 2 finale, we trace the “explorer” myth from colonial expansion to modern paleoanthropology: why lone-hero narratives persist, how they erase teams and communities, and what that means for places like Taung. We meet artists, chiefs, and scientists re-centering local voices; unpack how discoveries get narrated (and who gets credit); and ask what inclusive science looks like on the ground. This episode was produced in partnership with The Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI (https://www.heriuct.co.za/)) and the University of Cape Town and draws on original research published in the South African Journal of Science special issue, “The Taung Child then and now: Commemorating its centenary in a postcolonial age.” (https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667) Special thanks to our guests in this episode: Prof. Sheela Athreya, PhD — Biological anthropologist; Associate Professor, Texas A&M University; National Geographic Explorer. Dr. Mirriam Tawane, PhD — Paleoanthropologist; National Heritage Council (South Africa); former Curator, Plio-Pleistocene Palaeontology, DITSONG Museum. Dr. Dipuo Kgotleng, PhD — Senior Lecturer & Director, Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg. Kosi Litsukhulele Kueni — Local chief, Buxton (Taung). Lungile Keswa — Artist/curator; Taung Skull study group. Bahidile "Mike" Dichaba — Community guide, Taung. Xola — Community member; Taung Skull study group. Resources & Links: ARC (http://arcdocs.org): arcdocs.org (http://arcdocs.org) HERI (https://www.heriuct.co.za/): https://www.heriuct.co.za (https://www.heriuct.co.za) SAJS Special Issue (https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667): https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667 ARC Angel (http://patreon.com/Arc_org): http://patreon.com/Arc_org Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/arcdocs.org): https://www.facebook.com/arcdocs.org Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/arc_docs/): https://www.instagram.com/arc_docs/ Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org): https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org (https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org) Sound bites from: YouTube: Paramount Movies: INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK | Official Trailer | Paramount Movies YouTube: CBS Sunday Morning: Almanac: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" YouTube: National Geographic: New Human Ancestor Discovered: Homo naledi (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO) | National Geographic YouTube: Al Jazeera English: Africa: States of independence - the scramble for Africa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   9 Oct 2025

   Unburied S2E3: The Dark Side of Dart

   Behind one of science’s greatest breakthroughs lies a darker story of skulls measured, bodies taken, and lives diminished in the name of science. The discovery of the Taung Child helped prove humanity’s African origins, yet it unfolded within a world built on racism, colonial power, and exploitation. From Mapungubwe’s golden treasures to Johannesburg’s mining compounds, we trace how Dart’s legacy entwined brilliance with harm: collecting human remains like specimens, his efforts to claim the body of a young San woman named Kiri-Kiri, and reinforcing systems that dehumanised the people he studied. This episode was produced in partnership with The Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI (https://www.heriuct.co.za/)) and the University of Cape Town. This series draws on original research published in the South African Journal of Science special issue, “The Taung Child then and now: Commemorating its centenary in a postcolonial age.” (https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667) Special thanks to our guests in this episode: Prof. Rebecca Ackermann, PhD — Biological anthropologist, University of Cape Town; Co-Director, Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI) Dr. Lauren Schroeder, PhD — Paleoanthropologist; University of Toronto Dr. Mirriam Tawane, PhD — Curator of Plio-Pleistocene Palaeontology, DITSONG: National Museum of Natural History (Pretoria). Christa Kuljian — Research associate; WiSER (WITS) Nashada Ndango - Guide; San Heritage Center !Khwa ttu Resources & Links ARC (http://arcdocs.org): arcdocs.org (http://arcdocs.org) HERI (https://www.heriuct.co.za/): https://www.heriuct.co.za (https://www.heriuct.co.za) SAJS Special Issue (https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667): https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667 ARC Angel (http://patreon.com/Arc_org): http://patreon.com/Arc_org Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/arcdocs.org): https://www.facebook.com/arcdocs.org Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/arc_docs/): https://www.instagram.com/arc_docs/ Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org): https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org (https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org) Support the Show ● Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leave a review ● Become an ARC Angel on Patreon for exclusive content Follow Us ● TikTok: @arcdocs.org ● Instagram: @arc_docs ● Facebook: ARC Docs Unburied is a production by ARC in partnership with the University of Cape Town and the Human Evolution Research Institute. Written, produced, and sound designed by Rasmus Bitsch and Neil Liddell. Hosted by Rasmus Bitsch, journalist and podcast creator. Sound bites from: YouTube - danaoja - Germany Invades Poland-France and Britain Declares War Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   2 Oct 2025

   Unburied S2E2: Pride and Prejudice

   In 1924, a mineworker in Taung likely held the fossilized skull of a three-year-old child before anyone else. That child, later named the Taung Child, would change science forever. Yet the man whose hands first touched the fossil remains unknown, while the credit went to Professor Raymond Dart. In this episode, Unburied unearths the hidden histories of colonial mining, scientific prejudice, and racial bias entwined with the discovery of the Taung Skull. We trace how exploitation created the conditions for discovery, yet denied recognition to those who did the work. Along the way, we revisit the Piltdown Man hoax that blinded scientists to Africa’s role in human origins, and we confront Dart’s troubling ties to race science. Through the voices of geologists, anthropologists, historians, and community members, we reveal a story not only about fossils, but about who gets written into history… and who is left out. This episode was produced in partnership with The Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI (https://www.heriuct.co.za/)) and the University of Cape Town. This series draws on original research published in the South African Journal of Science special issue, “The Taung Child then and now: Commemorating its centenary in a postcolonial age.” (https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667) Special thanks to our guests in this episode: Dr. Rieneke Weij, PhD — Geologist, University of Johannesburg Dr. Stephanie Baker, PhD — Anthropologist, University of Johannesburg Dr. Lauren Schroeder, PhD — Paleoanthropologist, University of Toronto Prof. Alan Morris, PhD — Physical anthropologist, University of Cape Town (Emeritus) Prof. Rebecca Ackermann, PhD — Biological anthropologist, University of Cape Town; Co-Director, Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI) Christa Kuljian — Research associate; WiSER (WITS) Bahidile "Mike" Dichaba — Community guide, Taung Resources & Links: ARC (http://arcdocs.org): arcdocs.org (http://arcdocs.org) HERI (https://www.heriuct.co.za/): https://www.heriuct.co.za (https://www.heriuct.co.za) SAJS Special Issue (https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667): https://sajs.co.za/article/view/20667 ARC Angel (http://patreon.com/Arc_org): http://patreon.com/Arc_org Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/arcdocs.org): https://www.facebook.com/arcdocs.org Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/arc_docs/): https://www.instagram.com/arc_docs/ Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org): https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org (https://www.tiktok.com/@arcdocs.org) Sound bites from: YouTube: The Leakey Foundation: 1973 Louis Leakey Memorial Symposium held by The Leakey Foundation in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences on December 2-3, 1973. YouTube: ThamesTv: 1960s South Africa | Apartheid | Nadine Gordimer | Industry | This Week | 1968 YouTube: PeriscopeFilm: 1940s SOUTH AFRICA TRAVELOGUE KIMBERLY DIAMOND MINES & GOLD MINES 43254 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on Sound Africa

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Anette Hoffmann
• Brian Mienies
• Willie Philander
• Walter Sauer
• Sophie Schasiepen

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

26 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

24 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

83

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Sound Africa

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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