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Woman's Hour

Artist, Elsa James; Forced adoption and unmarried mothers; Ukrainian refugees; Chef, Fatmata Binta

Woman's Hour

BBC

Society & Culture, Health & Fitness, Personal Journals

4.22.9K Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2022

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A formal apology should be issued by the government to the thousands of unmarried mothers in England and Wales who had their babies taken for adoption in the 50s, 60s, 70s. In a report published today, the Joint Committee on Human Rights says the Government bears ultimate responsibility for the pain and suffering caused by public institutions and state employees that railroaded mothers into those unwanted adoptions. Harriet Harman MP is Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Fulani chef Fatmata Binta has won the world's most prestigious gastronomy prize, the 2022 Basque Culinary World Prize, an international achievement award for chefs who improve society through food. Fatmata is the first African to receive the award, and won for her work celebrating nomadic food culture and exploring west African cuisine through her Dine on a Mat pop-up restaurant. What shape does a life take after fleeing a war? It's nearly five months since Russia invaded Ukraine and families across the UK are trying to redefine their 'normal' after being displaced. Many will be housed in temporary accommodation; others will be living with host families. While safety and the promise of a new home will bring comfort and relief, sharing a domestic space with strangers can bring its own set of challenges. Anastasia Skelton is an Ukrainian living in the UK who is currently volunteering as a coordinator in Canterbury, helping to match refugees with host families. And Kate Daniels is a family therapist and senior lecturer in clinical psychology at Christchurch University. She has set up a project to equip host families with the emotional skills necessary to make the transition as easy as possible for the people displaced by war. The artist and feminist activist Elsa James tells us about exploring her identity as a black woman living in Essex in her latest exhibition 'Othered in a Region that has Been Historically Othered'. She has lived in the county for more than 20 years but asks ‘Is being in Essex diluting my black identity’? She also examines the lives of historical black female figures as well the women who came over as nurses as part of Windrush and who made their homes in Essex. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Harriet Harman Interviewed Guest: Veronica Smith Interviewed Guest: Fatmata Binta Interviewed Guest: Anastasia Skelton Interviewed Guest: Kate Daniels Interviewed Guest: Elsa James Film Still: Andy Delaney

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts

0:04.4

Hello, I'm Anita Rani and welcome to Woman's Hour from BBC Radio 4.

0:10.5

Good morning and welcome to Woman's Hour.

0:12.8

I'll be speaking to the new recipient of the world's most prestigious food price today,

0:18.2

Fatmata Bintas' speciality is the food of her tribe, the Fulani.

0:22.9

Really can't wait to talk to her about the food culture she promotes and is also very

0:27.3

importantly preserving. Not only the recipes but the way of life and crucially the stories

0:33.2

connected to the West and Central African cuisine. So this morning we're going to talk about

0:38.4

one of my favourite subjects, food because I'm permanently hungry. I'd like to hear from

0:43.0

you about the dishes or recipes that have been passed down in your family that you would

0:47.9

continue to share with the next generation. What is the special food stuff that brings

0:52.5

a smile to your face or makes you drool just thinking about it? Is there a spectacular

0:57.3

trifle that only your family makes? Is there a secret barbeque rub or marinade that only

1:03.5

you know about? Do you have a peculiar food ritual? Share your stories with me this morning

1:09.0

you can get in touch in the usual way. The text number is 84844. We've got so many

1:14.2

recipes in our household but the one thing that I would preserve to pass on to the next

1:18.4

generation is definitely my grand ginger pickle and my nanns, carrots and cauliflower pickle.

1:25.6

And this is because I remember on a trip to India when I was about seven years old. She

1:30.0

made tons of the stuff. First of all she dried out the carrots and the cauliflower by laying

1:35.4

them out in the midday sun before pickling them in lots of spices and then putting them

1:40.4

into huge containers for us to bring back to the UK in our suitcases which is what you

1:46.0

could do in the 80s. So your food stories please. You can text me 84844. You can also email

...

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