Shortlisted for The Imison Award (2025)
“It was a joy to see music so closely woven with character and "story, making full use of the power of audio drama. At the same time, the characters were completely compelling, as the story navigated the hazards of growing up, displacement and identity. The sense of place was beautifully rendered, in all its variety. The voice over gave us a powerful insight into the troubles of the central character, and her struggle to understand and accept both the world and herself. This was a wonderful read which lingered long after the last page”
Judges Comments
Tribe of Two
Growing up in Devon’s sleepiest market-town, Mari has never felt she belongs. There’s the day-to-day trials that come with being a mixed-race kid in noughties rural England. And then there’s Baba, her larger-than-life Zimbabwean father – a local celebrity on the world music festival circuit.
Baba is desperate for Mari to learn his songs and follow in his footsteps, and Mari plays along. Literally. But she feels little connection to a country and a culture that Baba has always been strangely reluctant to talk about.
All that changes one blissful, teenage summer, when a daring distant cousin comes to visit from Zim. A fuse is lit in Mari that will blow the familiar certainties of her old life apart. When she swaps her dad’s world of festivals for uni in Plymouth, the town’s straight-talking, rough-edged gay scene offers a fresh sense of identity.
But will Mari’s new-found strength be enough to confront a dark family secret?
A story of multifaceted identities and what it means to truly make your own kind of music.
Written by Malaika Kegode
Mari ..... Mae Munuo
Makenda ….. Mogali Masuku
Baba ..... Cyril Nri
Mum/Chrissie ..... Mary Woodvine
Ben ….. Nay Oliver Murphy
Salt Peter/Hippy ….. Stephen Kennedy
The Jess’s/Form teacher ….. Jade Matthew
Lad ..... Flynn Hallman
Other voices played by the cast
Composer, Harry Wrigley
Mbira player and composer, Otto Gumaelius
Sound design, Adam Woodhams
Mix, Steve Bond
Executive producer, Nicolas Jackson
Director/Producer, Jesse Fox
An Afonica production for BBC Radio 4