Welcome to this new episode of Handing Over the Mic, a podcast series where influential voices from the Global South share their perspectives on Europe—its past, present and future.

In this episode, we hand over the mic to Vera Songwe, renowned economist and global leader in development, finance and policy. In 2017 she made history as the first woman to lead the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the rank of Under Secretary General. In 2020, Forbes recognized her as one of Africa’s 50 most powerful women. Songwe currently serves as chair and founder of the Board of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility and co-chair of the Food System Economics Commission, which supports the transformation of global food and land use systems.

In this episode, hosts Christine Mhundwa, Elisa Díaz Gras and Vera Songwe discuss Africa’s evolving relationship with Europe and the global economy, emphasizing the need for equitable trade and meaningful partnerships. Songwe examines Africa’s strategic and independent role on the international stage and highlights the continent’s potential in areas such as climate action, food security, industrial development and youth education, while calling for innovative policies, investment and leadership.

“I think there is always this sense of what Africa needs to figure out [is] … whose side Africa needs to be on. Africa is on Africa's side. ... [W]hat African business are looking for is how we can grow our economies, how we can develop and deliver prosperity for the citizens of those countries. If China has the technology, we're going to get it from China. If China is cheaper in the technology, we will get it from China because we also need to be able to work with the resources that we have. ... I think that the question nobody ever asked the Europeans, are you going to go to the East or the West? What are you going to do? Why does Africa have to pick? “

Christine Mhundwa is a seasoned journalist and host of Deutsche Welle’s daily Africa news show, brings her deep expertise in political reporting, having covered key developments across southern Africa.

Elisa Díaz Gras has over 20 years of experience in diplomacy and international affairs, and is the Head of the Global South Programme at BIG.

Handing Over the Mic is a podcast by the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, produced with the support of the European Cultural Foundation.

Production and Distribution

Episodes are available on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and are also featured on the homepages of BIG and our partner, the European Cultural Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this new episode of Handing Over the Mic, a podcast series where influential voices from the Global South share their perspectives on Europe its past, present and future.

What does Europe look like from the outside? What narratives do people from regions of the Global South attribute to Europe? Through this series, hosts Elisa Díaz Gras, Margaux Cassan and Christine Mhundwa invite writers, diplomats, artists and intellectuals to offer new, often unexpected, perspectives on how Europe is imagined beyond its borders.

In this episode, we hand over the mic to Tarek Atoui, the trail-blazing Lebanese electro-acoustic composer and sound artist born in 1980. From his first impressions of Europe while witnessing France’s switch from the franc to the euro, to his globe-spanning performances that dissolve cultural and physical frontiers, Atoui invites us into a sonic universe where hospitality, experimentation and collective listening take centre stage. He reflects on the power and pitfalls of European cultural funding networks he first encountered in the early 2000s, and explains why he has learnt to resist the lure of artistic “fads” in favour of long-term, community-driven practice.

Drawing on formative projects such as Within, which re-imagines music through the expertise of Deaf and hard-of-hearing performers, and his recent collaborations with choreographer Noé Soulier, Atoui shows how sound can become both a bridge and a form of gentle provocation. He speaks candidly about growing up in war-torn Beirut, questioning Europe’s shifting borders, and exploring the Mediterranean not as a closed basin but as a channel of perpetual exchange. The result is a richly textured meditation on identity, inclusion and the ways subtle vibrations can upend entrenched narratives.

Handing Over the Mic is a podcast by the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, produced with the support of the European Cultural Foundation.

Episodes are available on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and are also featured on the homepages of BIG and our partner, the European Cultural Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this new episode of Handing Over the Mic, a podcast series where influential voices from the Global South share their perspectives on Europe—its past, present and future.

What does Europe look like from the outside? What narratives do people from regions of the Global South attribute to Europe?Through this series, hosts Elisa Díaz Gras, Margaux Cassan and Christine Mhundwa invite writers, diplomats, artists and intellectuals to offer new, often unexpected, perspectives on how Europe is imagined beyond its borders.

In this episode, we hand over the mic to Louma Salamé, cultural leader and director of the Boghossian Foundation. Born in Beirut and raised in Paris, Louma draws on a life between cultures to offer a deeply personal, nuanced reflection on Europe. From the Villa Empain in Brussels to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, she shares stories of métissage, migration, and the transformative power of art. With clarity and conviction, she reflects on how cultural institutions—museums, foundations, residencies—can serve as agents of dialogue, empathy, and soft power in today’s polarized world.

Handing Over the Mic is a podcast by the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, produced with the support of the European Cultural Foundation.

Production and Distribution

Episodes will be available on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify and also featured on the homepages of BIG and our partner the European Cultural Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.