My Albion

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

The Cuckoo

20201117

As a teenager, Zakia Sewell became entranced by English folk music, initially through Pentangle's haunting rendition of the traditional song, The Cuckoo.

But with this enchantment came a tension - a question - of whether such a song could really belong to her. Being of Caribbean and British descent, Zakia is sensitive to the darker histories that connect these two places and yet is drawn to a vision of Albion - an ancient, mythical land evoked in so many folk songs, symbols and stories.

Spiralling out from the personal to the national, from the present into the past - both real and imagined - Zakia grapples with the complexities of British national identity with the intent of resolving her own inner conflict and finding hopeful visions for the future.

With artist Ben Edge, musician Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and his mum Mignon, warden of Kilpeck Church, Hesketh Millais, members of Boss Morris - a feminist Morris Side - and Zakia's dad, Caspar.

Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.

Red Dragon, White Dragon

20201124

Continuing her quest for Albion, Zakia Sewell returns to the land of her Welsh grandparents. Zakia spent much of her childhood playing in the streets of Laugharne - a small town which provided Dylan Thomas with inspiration for the characters and setting of Under Milk Wood.

It was among the ruined castles and magical woods of the surrounding countryside that she first glimpsed a vision of Albion. Yet embedded in this mythical landscape lies a tension between Wales and its historically domineering neighbour, England.

She meets Fflur Morse at St Fagans, the National Museum of Wales, talks with artists Fern Thomas and Rabab Ghazoul, and the writer Alex Niven - as well as her grandparents Jojo and Pete.

Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.

Four Hundred Years

20201201

Zakia Sewell's quest for Albion takes her deep into the landscape of Britain and into the soil itself. Looking more closely at what lies beneath our feet, reveals a complex web of histories, some more readily visible than others and some more hopeful.

She talks to a young horticulturalist, Sam Siva; the author of a book on trespass, Nick Hayes; the rapper and playwright, Testament; the sociologist Ben Pitcher and her mum, Amey, as they walk across Hampstead Heath.

Correction: Contrary to the figure given in the programme, the compensation paid to slave owners in 1834 is equivalent to around £2.5bn in today's money.

Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.

New Myths

20201208

In this final episode, Zakia Sewell considers enduring symbols of Albion - from Stonehenge to the union flag - asking whether a refreshed perspective on our nation's past might pave the way for a more hopeful future.

She talks with artists Jeremy Deller and Dan Guthrie; classical musician, Chi-chi Nwanoku; the author of a book on contemporary British myths, Nesrine Malik; sociologist, Ben Pitcher; and her best friend and trainee psychotherapist, Izz.

Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	The Cuckoo	20201117	As a teenager, Zakia Sewell became entranced by English folk music, initially through Pentangle's haunting rendition of the traditional song, The Cuckoo. But with this enchantment came a tension - a question - of whether such a song could really belong to her. Being of Caribbean and British descent, Zakia is sensitive to the darker histories that connect these two places and yet is drawn to a vision of Albion - an ancient, mythical land evoked in so many folk songs, symbols and stories. Spiralling out from the personal to the national, from the present into the past - both real and imagined - Zakia grapples with the complexities of British national identity with the intent of resolving her own inner conflict and finding hopeful visions for the future. With artist Ben Edge, musician Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and his mum Mignon, warden of Kilpeck Church, Hesketh Millais, members of Boss Morris - a feminist Morris Side - and Zakia's dad, Caspar. Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.
02	Red Dragon, White Dragon	20201124	Continuing her quest for Albion, Zakia Sewell returns to the land of her Welsh grandparents. Zakia spent much of her childhood playing in the streets of Laugharne - a small town which provided Dylan Thomas with inspiration for the characters and setting of Under Milk Wood. It was among the ruined castles and magical woods of the surrounding countryside that she first glimpsed a vision of Albion. Yet embedded in this mythical landscape lies a tension between Wales and its historically domineering neighbour, England. She meets Fflur Morse at St Fagans, the National Museum of Wales, talks with artists Fern Thomas and Rabab Ghazoul, and the writer Alex Niven - as well as her grandparents Jojo and Pete. Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.
03	Four Hundred Years	20201201	Zakia Sewell's quest for Albion takes her deep into the landscape of Britain and into the soil itself. Looking more closely at what lies beneath our feet, reveals a complex web of histories, some more readily visible than others and some more hopeful. She talks to a young horticulturalist, Sam Siva; the author of a book on trespass, Nick Hayes; the rapper and playwright, Testament; the sociologist Ben Pitcher and her mum, Amey, as they walk across Hampstead Heath. Correction: Contrary to the figure given in the programme, the compensation paid to slave owners in 1834 is equivalent to around £2.5bn in today's money. Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.
04	New Myths	20201208	In this final episode, Zakia Sewell considers enduring symbols of Albion - from Stonehenge to the union flag - asking whether a refreshed perspective on our nation's past might pave the way for a more hopeful future. She talks with artists Jeremy Deller and Dan Guthrie; classical musician, Chi-chi Nwanoku; the author of a book on contemporary British myths, Nesrine Malik; sociologist, Ben Pitcher; and her best friend and trainee psychotherapist, Izz. Produced by Zakia Sewell and Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 Zakia Sewell explores the songs, stories and symbols of British identity.