Interview series
In conjunction with the 2014 UNESCO Report on Gender Equality, a series of interviews was carried out placing the spotlight on advocacy and action at local level.
Artists, heritage practitioners and cultural entrepreneurs discuss their work and share first-hand experiences and personal insight on how gender impacts their respective fields, the challenges and emerging issues and the actions they are taking to bring about change.
Yaba Badoe | Sadika Keskes | Muriel Mayette Holtz | Gregory Maqoma | Esperanza Spalding
Breaking barriers through dance: Interview with Gregory Maqoma
South African dancer, choreographer and director Gregory Maqoma founded Vuyani Dance Theatre in 1999 with the vision to build a platform for artists in South Africa and beyond - where ‘collaboration could be a catalyst for breaking cultural barriers.’
Interview with jazz artist Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding is an American jazz bassist/ vocalist/ composer, whose work draws on multiple genres and influences. In 2011 she won the GRAMMY® for Best New Artist— becoming the first jazz musician in history to win the award.
In conversation with Muriel Mayette-Holtz (French)
The actress and director Muriel Mayette-Holtz was appointed General Administrator of the Comédie-Française (France) in 2006. She is the first woman to hold the position since the company was founded in 1680.
- Click here to download the full interview (PDF) in French
Close up on Ama Ata Aidoo: Interview with Yaba Badoe
Yaba Badoe is a Ghanaian/British documentary filmmaker, fiction writer and journalist. Her upcoming documentary film, The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo, centers on the life and work of one of Africa’s most prominent writers, Ama Ata Aidoo. Filmed over a year in Ghana and the United States, the film follows Ama Ata Aidoo from her ancestral home to the production of one of her plays. Yaba Badoe spoke to UNESCO about the process of making the film and her drive to bring women’s stories to the forefront in illuminating Africa’s history.
Safeguarding the traditional art of glassblowing: Interview with Sadika Keskes
Sadika Keskes is a Tunisian designer and glassblowing artist. Throughout her career she has remained committed to promoting the art of glassblowing through leading training initiatives for young artists, and establishing cultural centres and associations focused on promoting the rich traditions of women artisans, particularly in rural Tunisia.