Changing Narratives - Creative Voices from the Global South
Changing Narratives is a podcast featuring in-depth conversations with artists, architects, designers, and cultural practitioners shaping contemporary culture across the Global South. Hosted by Nissrin Zaptia, each episode explores the ideas, experiences, and places that inform their work. The show offers thoughtful, personal conversations that move beyond headlines and dominant narratives, creating space for voices and perspectives rarely represented in mainstream cultural media. Season One was co-hosted by Giovanna Dunmall.
Episodes
Shahed Ezaydi on The Othered Woman and how white feminism harms Muslim women
Last month a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14 came into effect in Austria. It has been officially justified as a measure to ‘promote gender equality, protect child welfare, ensure self determination, and prevent social segregation and patriarchal pressure’. Amnesty International argues that the ban ‘constitutes blatant discrimination against Muslim girls”, is ‘an expression o
Nada Hesham on Cairo, Arabic Visual Culture and Design
Cairo based graphic designer Nada Hesham discusses Arabic visual culture, decolonising design and the influences that have shaped her approach to graphic design.We talk about growing up between Cairo and Kuwait, questioning the dominance of Swiss and German design references, and looking instead at Arabic script, manuscripts and the visual language of Cairo itself. Nada reflects on why she is draw
Abdo Shanan on Photography, Algeria, Sudan and Photography as a Fourth Language
In this episode of Changing Narratives, Algerian Sudanese photographer Abdo Shanan describes photography as his fourth language and a form of expression.Abdo reflects on growing up between Algeria and Libya and on the questions of identity, belonging and national memory that have shaped his work. We discuss his acclaimed project Dry, colonial trauma, national identity and his ongoing research into
Annissa Durar on Film Photography, Libya, Diaspora and Belonging
Libyan American photographer Annissa Durar talks to Nissrin Zaptia about growing up in Kansas without access to her father’s culture, finding her way to film photography, and travelling through Morocco and Tunisia as she explores questions of diaspora, belonging and her relationship with Libya, a country she has still never visited.Season two of Changing Narratives focuses on creatives on and from
Rana Beiruti on Jordanian Design, Curation and Regional Practice
Rana Beiruti is an Amman based curator working across art, architecture and design. She co founded Amman Design Week in 2016, directed it for three editions, and in 2024 curated Arab Design Now, the headline exhibition of the inaugural Design Doha Biennial, bringing together more than 70 designers from across the Arab world.In this episode of Changing Narratives, Rana talks about design in Jordan
Spandana Gopal on Indian Design Beyond Stereotypes
In this episode we speak to Spandana Gopal, a designer based between Bangalore and London, whose studio Tiipoi challenges Western perceptions of Indian design. Spandana talks about moving beyond familiar stereotypes of embellishment, bright colour and romanticised craft narratives to make the case for India’s everyday utilitarian design and culture of innovation.From working with Longpi potters in
Noor Abuarafeh on Archives, Power and Who Gets to Write History
In today’s episode of Changing Narratives, we speak with Palestinian visual artist Noor Abuarafeh, whose work examines memory, history and the archive.Noor talks about tracing absences and questioning how history is shaped, constructed and understood, particularly when records are incomplete, inaccessible or simply do not exist.We focus on several of her works, including Observational Desire on a
Priscila Barbosa on Feminism, Muralism and Public Art in São Paulo
Priscila Barbosa, a visual artist, muralist and illustrator from São Paulo, discusses using public art to reclaim the image of women as agents of resistance rather than objects of spectacle.We talk about growing up in the east zone of São Paulo, encountering feminism through Latin American thinkers including Verónica Gago, and challenging the stereotypes imposed on Brazilian women both at home and
Mohamed Somji on Photography, Representation and Community
Mohamed Somji, Director of Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai, reflects on building one of the UAE’s leading platforms for photography and visual culture.He discusses the early days of Gulf Photo Plus, the structural gaps it responded to across the MENASA region, and the questions of representation that continue to shape how the Middle East is seen and understood. We talk about Slidefest, the exhibition A M
Changing Narratives: Creative Voices from the Global South
Changing Narratives is hosted by Nissrin Zaptia and Giovanna Dunmall.Each episode features architects, artists and designers working across the Global South and its diaspora, examining how cities are shaped, how culture circulates, and who controls representation.From the UAE to Palestine, from India to Jordan and Tunisia, and from Brazil in South America, we focus on the systems that frame creati
