Siyakhuluma We Talk Podcast – An Interview with Creator and Host Nico Ndlovu

Siyakhuluma We Talk podcast is a podcast exploring the experiences of asylum seekers living in Glasgow and the rest of the UK, as well as the organisations that support them.

How did the podcast start?

Nico started the We Talk podcast during the first lockdown in 2020 as he lived alone and wanted to meet people and share ideas. He was expecting only 3 friends to turn up to the first session on Zoom, and instead found over 20 people were waiting to join the session! They spoke about how the lockdown had affected each of them, and Nico then taught himself how to edit the recording he’d made of the Zoom meeting. Siyakhuluma We Talk was born!

What is Siyakhuluma We Talk about?

Each week Nico presents an open topic and the group share their stories and contributions.  A recent example of this is the discussion the group have had around health issues facing asylum seekers. Nico pointed out that often people facing health problems are told to lose weight, which isn’t always possible for asylum seekers who can’t afford/don’t have access to healthy food choices. He believes providing a safe platform, where asylum seekers voices can be heard, can be used as an example for communities to work together and make change happen, as well as having control of their own stories. The podcast focuses on “creating a community of asylum seekers, who can be independent, speak freely, and raise awareness.”

Nico also does one-to-one interviews, often with managers and directors of asylum seeker and refugee projects across the UK. His reason for this is to hear the stories of service providers and the perspective of why people go into working in the sector. Nico has found this very eye-opening and sees the two types of stories as inherently linked; being part of the wider story of forced migration.

What’s next for Siyakhuluma We Talk?

Nico has lots of plans for the future and is currently looking for a co-host to join him on the podcast. Ideally an academic researching human rights, as he feels they would provide a helpful balance and perspective. Please contact Nico if this interest you.

Nico also plans to keep talking, and see where it takes him…

Where can you find Siyakhuluma We Talk?

You can listen to the We Talk podcast on Anchor, Spotify and other podcast providers, as well as on the We Talk website. You can also visit the Facebook page for updates.

Nico also runs a weekly stand-up comedy every Saturday on Zoom, and is looking for support building a website for that.

You can contact Nico directly on at nicondlovu119@gmail.com to get involved or support his work.

We Talk podcast is supported by Castlemilk Community Church, who are a member of SEIN.