| Anasthasie Tudieshe |
5 Questions for:
| ~ Journalist, Radio Show Host~ |
| ~Multicultural African Soul ~ Democratic Republic of Congo~ |
African Consciousness: Anasthasie Tudieshe: Tell us about your
journey into the wold of journalism...
Anasthasie Tudieshe: When at the age of 8, people would ask me
what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer would always be
the same: a Journalist and Writer.
So a few years ago, while living in the northern region of Madagascar
I had the opportunity to host a literary show for a local radio station.
When I returned to France- while working as a freelance writer for a
major interior design magazine- I decided to send demo tapes of my
work to the radio station Africa No. 1. They got back to me within a
week and I've been there ever since. This was three years ago.
A.C.: The host of "100% Culture" on "Africa No. 1", you have
recently launched a new show called "Africamix". What can you tell
us about this show? What can the public expect?
A.T.: 100% Culture is a weekly show airing every Saturday at
2.10 PM (GMT) dedicated to celebrating the cultural endeavours of
Africans and Caribbeans living in Paris.
Africamix, on the other hand, is a daily show, airing Monday
through Friday from 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM.
As the name suggests, Africamix is all about the mixing and blending
of generations, cultures and musical genres- with the common
denominator being, of course, Africa.
So every week, I present in the form of a mini-series, the portrait of
an African or Caribbean public figure (people like Basile Boli,
Dieudonné, the actress Felina or Meiway...). We also have a
psychologist and sexologist on the show, Pie Tshibanda, who, every
day, answers with tact and honesty questions people have about
sexuality... We also present a section dedicated to young African
professionals between the ages of 25 and 35, who are making positive
changes in France; twice a week, a historian comes on the show to
talk about african culture and mythology; 2 DJs present a hot new
musical selection every day; the comedian Mamane presents his
"coupé décalé" newscast, and we are still working on new additions!
And all of this is, of course, set to music! From Papa Wemba to
Mounira Mitchala, Garba 50 and Sly Johnon du Saian, all black
music is represented on this show, from the 50s to this day...
journey into the wold of journalism...
Anasthasie Tudieshe: When at the age of 8, people would ask me
what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer would always be
the same: a Journalist and Writer.
So a few years ago, while living in the northern region of Madagascar
I had the opportunity to host a literary show for a local radio station.
When I returned to France- while working as a freelance writer for a
major interior design magazine- I decided to send demo tapes of my
work to the radio station Africa No. 1. They got back to me within a
week and I've been there ever since. This was three years ago.
A.C.: The host of "100% Culture" on "Africa No. 1", you have
recently launched a new show called "Africamix". What can you tell
us about this show? What can the public expect?
A.T.: 100% Culture is a weekly show airing every Saturday at
2.10 PM (GMT) dedicated to celebrating the cultural endeavours of
Africans and Caribbeans living in Paris.
Africamix, on the other hand, is a daily show, airing Monday
through Friday from 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM.
As the name suggests, Africamix is all about the mixing and blending
of generations, cultures and musical genres- with the common
denominator being, of course, Africa.
So every week, I present in the form of a mini-series, the portrait of
an African or Caribbean public figure (people like Basile Boli,
Dieudonné, the actress Felina or Meiway...). We also have a
psychologist and sexologist on the show, Pie Tshibanda, who, every
day, answers with tact and honesty questions people have about
sexuality... We also present a section dedicated to young African
professionals between the ages of 25 and 35, who are making positive
changes in France; twice a week, a historian comes on the show to
talk about african culture and mythology; 2 DJs present a hot new
musical selection every day; the comedian Mamane presents his
"coupé décalé" newscast, and we are still working on new additions!
And all of this is, of course, set to music! From Papa Wemba to
Mounira Mitchala, Garba 50 and Sly Johnon du Saian, all black
music is represented on this show, from the 50s to this day...
A.C.: Over the past few years, you've interviewed a wide range of people working in panafrican arts and
culture. I personally find that one of your greatest qualities is your ability to bring out the best in people...
So after all these years of cultural and artistic exchanges, what do feel you have learned? What has most
touched you? What is that draws you to the cultural world, Anasthasie?
A.T.: Thank you for the compliment!
I am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have been living in France since the age of 5.
I am now 32. I was very lucky to have been raised by panafricanist parents, who instilled certain values in my
siblings and I, namely by adding to our cultural and educational learnings in the way that they taught us how
to look at our country of origin with a loving gaze. They also taught us how to maintain a critical view and
open mind with respect to the ways in which the african continent was presented in french media. So from an
early age, I was able to discern the great difference between the Africa that I knew and the one that was
presented in the media. Later on, as an adult, I was very surprised to discover how difficult it was for French
people of African descent to assert themselves, to be at peace with themselves, to define their identity on their
own terms. So for me, this is the ultimate purpose of culture: it is an essential form of nourishment for one's
spirit; it is what makes us who we are. To deprive an individual of culture is similar to depriving a newborn
from maternal milk and replacing it with water and sugar: the person will grow, but there will always be
something missing.
When I speak of culture, I am not necessarily referring to museums and things of that nature...
For me, culture is a way of life, it is a way to be open to the world, it teaches us how to live, feel and see the
world. But also and most importantly, culture makes understand who we are as people.
If I love artists so much, it is because I view them as the world's spokespeople. These are people who have no
other choice than to be who they are- more often than not, in spite of family disapproval- and they offer us a
mirror to ourselves. We have the luxury of being able to pretend. Not an artist. This existential fact fascinates
me, teaches me, and is a never-ending source of inspiration for me.
A.T.: Journalist. Intellectual. Woman. You are the type of person who lives her feminity in all its strength
and beauty. So as a female media personality, what are your views on the state of female presence in the
media world?
A.T.: To those three words you cited, I would like to add 'mother'. It is a natural change in a woman's life,
but it is also a very important one.
The more time goes by, the more I enjoy being woman- a woman with multiple facades, a woman with
countless possibilities. And yet, I never really think of the place of women in the media. As you know very
well, we live in a man's world, a white man's world, and the media industry isn't immune to this fact.
Nevertheless, the way I see it, there is no gender when it comes to talent. I do what I have to do, at the best of
my abilities and I always admire those women (and men!) whose work inspires me.
A.C.: I would define your spirit as one of a woman who is completely open and receptive to the world.
How you define your "African Consciousness", Anasthasie?
A.T.: Thank you for this beautiful description of me! Yes, I do live in a constant state of openness to the
world(s) that surround me.
As for my african consciousness, I polish it, shape it, nourish it... I feel fortunate to be able to confront my
thoughts and views to those my guests, to the public, and on a larger scale, to all the people I meet every day.
My african consciousness is that of an African woman who loves her continent, her country, in all honesty,
and with the unconditional nature of the word 'love' itself.
My african consciousness is the inspiration for all that I do.
~By Anna Djigo~
culture. I personally find that one of your greatest qualities is your ability to bring out the best in people...
So after all these years of cultural and artistic exchanges, what do feel you have learned? What has most
touched you? What is that draws you to the cultural world, Anasthasie?
A.T.: Thank you for the compliment!
I am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have been living in France since the age of 5.
I am now 32. I was very lucky to have been raised by panafricanist parents, who instilled certain values in my
siblings and I, namely by adding to our cultural and educational learnings in the way that they taught us how
to look at our country of origin with a loving gaze. They also taught us how to maintain a critical view and
open mind with respect to the ways in which the african continent was presented in french media. So from an
early age, I was able to discern the great difference between the Africa that I knew and the one that was
presented in the media. Later on, as an adult, I was very surprised to discover how difficult it was for French
people of African descent to assert themselves, to be at peace with themselves, to define their identity on their
own terms. So for me, this is the ultimate purpose of culture: it is an essential form of nourishment for one's
spirit; it is what makes us who we are. To deprive an individual of culture is similar to depriving a newborn
from maternal milk and replacing it with water and sugar: the person will grow, but there will always be
something missing.
When I speak of culture, I am not necessarily referring to museums and things of that nature...
For me, culture is a way of life, it is a way to be open to the world, it teaches us how to live, feel and see the
world. But also and most importantly, culture makes understand who we are as people.
If I love artists so much, it is because I view them as the world's spokespeople. These are people who have no
other choice than to be who they are- more often than not, in spite of family disapproval- and they offer us a
mirror to ourselves. We have the luxury of being able to pretend. Not an artist. This existential fact fascinates
me, teaches me, and is a never-ending source of inspiration for me.
A.T.: Journalist. Intellectual. Woman. You are the type of person who lives her feminity in all its strength
and beauty. So as a female media personality, what are your views on the state of female presence in the
media world?
A.T.: To those three words you cited, I would like to add 'mother'. It is a natural change in a woman's life,
but it is also a very important one.
The more time goes by, the more I enjoy being woman- a woman with multiple facades, a woman with
countless possibilities. And yet, I never really think of the place of women in the media. As you know very
well, we live in a man's world, a white man's world, and the media industry isn't immune to this fact.
Nevertheless, the way I see it, there is no gender when it comes to talent. I do what I have to do, at the best of
my abilities and I always admire those women (and men!) whose work inspires me.
A.C.: I would define your spirit as one of a woman who is completely open and receptive to the world.
How you define your "African Consciousness", Anasthasie?
A.T.: Thank you for this beautiful description of me! Yes, I do live in a constant state of openness to the
world(s) that surround me.
As for my african consciousness, I polish it, shape it, nourish it... I feel fortunate to be able to confront my
thoughts and views to those my guests, to the public, and on a larger scale, to all the people I meet every day.
My african consciousness is that of an African woman who loves her continent, her country, in all honesty,
and with the unconditional nature of the word 'love' itself.
My african consciousness is the inspiration for all that I do.
~By Anna Djigo~
| Photo Credit: Africa No. 1 |
| Anasthasie Tudieshe |
| African Consciousness® |
| Copyright © 2007-2008 AfricanConsciousness.com |
| For more information on Anasthasie Tudieshe: www.africa1.com |
| Anasthasie Tudieshe on Africa No.1: - Africamix- Monday through Friday- 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM (GMT) - 100% Culture- Every Saturday- 2.10 PM (GMT) Listen to her shows online on Africa No.1's website: www.africa1.com |
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| ~African Pride, Culture, Womanhood: Anasthasie Tudieshe. And so is named this talented journalist, who every day, offers her public a taste of the beautiful world of arts and culture- passions that she today shares with "African Consciousness", with the grace, candor and intellectual finesse which make her a great african mind!~ |