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Performing for Peace at the United Nations

As nations from around the world meet for the UN General Assembly we hear from international artists who are using their voice and art to call for peace and support for refugees

Meet the Syrian violin virtuoso who has performed for peace at the White House and the United Nations. Mariela Shaker tells us why she uses her violin to tell the story of the life and the war she left behind in her home city of Aleppo.

Has a song, a film or a poem ever changed the way you see the world? The Russian writer Grigori Chkhartishvili better known by his pen name, Boris Akunin, shares the story of the Japanese poem which has had a profound impact on his life and his writing.

The critically acclaimed writer Sulaiman Addonia reveals how a childhood spent as an Eritrean refugee in Sudan inspired him to write his new novel and to launch a writing academy for refugees.

Plus - prepare for an audience with GRRRL, the all-female international super group formed by musicians from countries from all over the world. We head backstage at one of their performances and discover how they tell their collective stories of life, conflict, inequality and change through music.

Presented by Tina Daheley.

Produced by Mugabi Turya, Shoku Amirani, Kirsty McQuire, Nancy Bennie, Milly Chowles and Will Coley.

Image: Violinist Mariela Shaker. Credit: Getty Images

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 1 Oct 2018 06:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 29 Sep 2018 02:32GMT
  • Sat 29 Sep 2018 08:32GMT
  • Sat 29 Sep 2018 17:32GMT
  • Sun 30 Sep 2018 19:32GMT
  • Sun 30 Sep 2018 23:06GMT
  • Mon 1 Oct 2018 03:32GMT
  • Mon 1 Oct 2018 06:32GMT

Podcast