Sources enrich Mandela series
History is more than dates and places. As interpreted by Joe Richman and Sue Johnson of Radio Diaries Productions, history lives within people. So it's the voices of individuals -- ranging from politicians to ordinary citizens -- that bring the history of South Africa to life on the 10th anniversary of its first democratic elections next week, in "Mandela: An Audio History," airing on National Public Radio's evening newscast.
A striking mix of archival materials and contemporary reminiscences, the series chronicles Nelson Mandela's struggle against apartheid. Appearing during the 4:30-5 p.m. segment of "All Things Considered" -- which airs locally on WBUR-FM (90.9) -- the pieces function as five 13-minute mini-documentaries, more history than biography.
Planned for broadcast Monday through Friday (and accessible at www.radiodiaries.org), they let the voices of Mandela, his colleagues, and enemies speak for themselves, as political speeches and news reports run into modern interviews of South Africans, both black and white.
"We did about 40 interviews," recalls Richman, in an e-mail interview from South Africa, where he and Johnson, his wife, are working. "We never set out to do a biography of Mandela himself," he explains.
Referring to Mandela's story as "the hub on the wheel of the apartheid story," Richman cites such sources as "former Robben Island inmates and warders, activists, National Party leaders, right-wing military leaders, parliamentarians, students, . . . friends of Mandela, and journalists."
Richman and Johnson also plowed through more than 150 hours of archival material found in such places as the National Archives in Pretoria. "South Africa didn't have television until 1976, so the radio archives really do hold the most comprehensive historical record," says Richman, "despite the fact that the apartheid regime destroyed some of the more controversial recordings."
One of the team's best stories, recalls Richman, involves prison guard Christo Brand. "He was given the task of recording and then transcribing every prison visit with Mandela and his family" while Mandela was interned on Robben Island, recalls Richman. "He had brought home one of these tapes to transcribe it in the 1980s and he forgot to return it. . . . We spent a month convincing Mr. Brand to let us use a clip of the tape.
"There is such a candor to those recordings from the late '50s and '60s. Language you would never hear today in our politically correct, culturally sensitive society," says Richman. He quotes a political leader who says, "blacks are nothing more than carriers of water and wood" and "My friends, this republic is part of the white man's domain in the world."
Citing the "heartbreaking decision" to cut "tape that just didn't fit into the story," Johnson most regrets leaving out an interview with six white high school girls.
"They speak so candidly about their fear of communists and terrorists and their fear of what would happen if, as one of them says, `the country went black,' " she says. "The complete indoctrination of an entire country is revealed in these young voices."
Spinning the dial
WFNX-FM (101.7) has announced the lineup for its June 3 "WFNX Best Music Poll" party. The Lansdowne Street event will have the Violent Femmes, the re-formed Presidents of the United States of America, the Rapture, the Stills, the Von Bondies, Fire Theft, Just Jack, stellastarr*, Laguardia, Elefant, the Lot Six, the Explosion, and the Unseen, among others.
Tickets ($20) will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster or by phone at 617-423-6398.
On Boston.com
Noon: Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert talks about what's hot on the tube.
2 p.m.: Globe Handyman Peter Hotton chats about home repair.
Globe on NECN
Here's what's happening on "Around the Globe" today:
9:30 a.m.: "Talk of New England"
12:30 p.m.: "Globe at Home" -- Folk music writer Scott Alarik and singer-songwriter Rosalie Sorrels.
4 p.m.: "Around the Globe"
6:30 p.m.: "New England Business Day"
8 p.m.: "NewsNight" Schedule is subject to change.
Talk of the dial
5 p.m. WPLM-AM (1390) -- "PM Magazine," with Lindsy Parker. Guests: William O'Neill, Investors Business Daily; Marsha O'Conner, on managing information overload; David Rourke.
