Episode 13: How Lima’s Sonic Landscapes Are Shaped by Afro-Peruvian Women

In this episode, I chat again with Roxana Escobar Ñañez. Roxana is pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Geography at the University of Toronto and she was recently one of five special guests on the 12th episode of the podcast. Given her unique research interests, after our last conversation, I decided to invite her to the show again to dive deeper into her work examining 'the places Afro-Peruvian women hold in Lima’s sonic landscapes' and Black womanhood in Latin America and to get a better understanding about how these themes of music, Blackness, and cities emerge in the diaspora. What started off as a discussion of her research turned into a vivid exploration of Lima's history through the lens of Afro-Peruvian music, food, culture, and most importantly Black joy and resilience. 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• the project of mestizaje and the origins of criollo music and culture in Peru,
• what are sonic landscapes and how Afro-Peruvian women, in particular, are essential to shaping Lima's vibrant soundscape and unique cultural identity,
• the key characteristics of Afro-Peruvian music, 
• additional resources and artists to help you learn more about Afro-Peruvian culture and its impact in Peru,
• the importance of highlighting Black joy when researching Black histories and geographies,
• and much more!

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This episode is sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities. The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about their work visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

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Episode 12: An Exploration of Black Excellence in Future Geographers and Planners at the University of Toronto (Feat. GGAPSS)

This special episode of Urban Limitrophe is brought to you in collaboration with the Graduate Geography & Planning Student Society (GGAPSS) in celebration of Black History/Black Futures Month! In this episode, I speak with Roxana Escobar Ñañez (PhD Human Geography), Brianna Lane (MSc Physical Geography), Priscilla Ankomah-Hackman (MSc Planning), Jane O'Brien Davis (MSc Planning), and Bola Oshinusi (PhD Planning) to explore why they got interested in geography and planning, and their advice for other aspiring geographers and planners looking to study in this field.

In this episode, you'll learn about each guests':

• research interests and upcoming projects,
• reasons for studying at the University of Toronto,
• hopes for having more diversity in their respective field,
• advice for other emerging geographers and planners,
• and much more!

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Episode 11: How the Black Planning Project is Diversifying Urban Planning One Story at a Time

In this episode, I speak with Abigail Moriah, a registered urban planner and founder of the Black Planning Project. Through this initiative, Abigail and her team, collect and share the stories of Black urban planning professionals and students to highlight their important work and encourage more diverse voices to enter the profession. Most importantly, through its various mentorship opportunities and research endeavours, the Black Planning Project builds the relationships and the community ties necessary to make sure that urban planning and hopefully the city building sector overall makes room for new perspectives and ideas.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• why it is essential to encourage spaces where urban planners can discuss racial injustices in planning,
• about some of the experiences and injustices that Black planners face in their profession,
• about resources and advice for emerging urban planners of colour to help them navigate the field,
• the importance of including diverse voices in the urban planning profession,
• and much more!

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Episode 10: How BuildX Studio is Creating Dignified Circular Affordable Housing Across Kenya

In this episode, I speak with Carolina Larrazábal, the co-founder and design director at BuildX Studio. BuildX Studio is an innovative award-winning architectural studio based in Nairobi, which is the first architecture, engineering or construction company in Africa to become B Corp™ certified. The team at BuildX Studio is on a mission to build radically better buildings. In our conversation, Carolina explains how her team is building dignified circular affordable housing in Kenya and how through their partnerships (i.e. with their sister branch BuildHer) and design process, their work embeds equity, diversity and sustainability in every stage of the development process.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• what is dignified affordable housing and what considerations go into creating it,
• Mass timber/Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and why BuildX thinks that it is the future of building materials in this region and beyond,
• BuildX's Circular Cooperative Affordable Housing Project,
• BuildX's efforts to build 10,000 affordable homes by 2030,
• how BuildX hopes that their affordable homes will provide a pathway to homeownership for low-income sectors of the population,
• and much more!

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Episode 9: How the Dikan Center is Building the First Photo Library in Ghana

In this episode, I speak with Paul Ninson, a photographer, and filmmaker about the importance of visual storytelling and how after collecting over 30,000 books on photography and film, he is in the beginning stages of building The Dikan Center. The center will be the first visual storytelling library in Ghana. The Dikan Center will train not only the next generation of storytellers but build a community hub that welcomes locals and newcomers alike to learn about, celebrate, and create African stories and flip the dominant, negative narrative about life on the continent.  

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Paul's vision for the center and the programming it will provide,
• the upcoming photography exhibition,
• how he collected over 30,000 books to start the Dikan Center,
• how the center will be an incubator for talent as well as community,
• opportunities to get involved with getting the center built and learning/teaching about visual storytelling,
• and much more!

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You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Apple Podcasts  | Amazon Music | RSS 

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