Guardians of the River

By: Wild Bird Trust NGOWP House of Pod
  • Summary

  • 2021 Best Narrative Nonfiction Podcast Award winner at Tribeca Film Festival and Jackson Wild Film Festival. This is the story of the guardians of the Okavango water system and their monumental task: conserve a remote, near pristine environment facing threats from all sides. This podcast follows what happens when worlds connect, and at times collide, with the common goal of protecting a place
    All content is created or licensed for use to the Wild Bird Trust, House of Pod, and NGOWP for this podcast.
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Episodes
  • 1. Power to Protect
    Jun 10 2021

    A team of scientists and tribes members embark on an epic four-month National Geographic expedition to follow a trickle of water 1,500-kilometers across Southern Africa. As their journey unfolds, they realize their real quest will take trust, a team, and an alliance with a legendary snake-like demon named Mukisi.

    Show notes:

    To learn more, visit www.wildbirdtrust.com.

    To watch the original documentary Into the Okavango, visit: https://films.nationalgeographic.com/into-the-okavango.

    This podcast is hosted by Kerllen Costa. It is written, recorded, and directed by Cat Jaffee and House of Pod in partnership with the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project. Funding for this project comes from a National Geographic storytelling grant and the Wild Bird Trust. Additional audio recorded for the documentary was provided by Neil Gelinas and Kaya Ensor. Fact checking was conducted by Aimee Machado. Juliette Luini is the producer. The audio editor and sound designer is Jason Paton. The Angolan producer is Kerllen Costa, and the Motswana producer is Thalefang Charles. Story editing comes from Rebecca Mendoza Nunziato. 

    Geração 80 is the recording studio in Angola.

    Music: The Guardians of the River theme song was created by Victor Gama. 

    The theme music of this podcast is a journey of sounds from the villagers of Tempue preparing food and drumming on bomb drums while celebrating their faith in village churches, which is interwoven with a greeting song by the children of Tempue sung before the community meeting. There is also a reed harp played by Tom Rethio, a WaYei musician. In addition to custom pieces from Victor, the music featured in the series also comes from Victor's 2010 album Pangeia Instrumentos. The tracks included on the podcast are O Pescador De Sonhos, Homem Vermelho Homem Verde, A Guerra dos Homens Répteis, O Olho No Anzol, O Diálogo Dos Pernetas, Mibanga.

    Art: The episode art for Guardians of the River was illustrated by Fernando Hugo Fernandes. 

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    43 mins
  • 2. Ghost Elephants of Lisima
    Jun 17 2021

    A population of elephants in Angola lives in hiding, and only a few villages know their secret. But one big hint to their whereabouts stands tall in the main rotunda of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. If the NGOWP team can find them, these elephants might be the key to smoothening some of the human wildlife conflict in Southern Africa.

    Show notes:

    To learn more, visit www.wildbirdtrust.com.

    This episode referenced the late writer Jean Valentine, the clown cemetery from the Chicago Tribune, and Henry the elephant.

    This podcast is hosted by Kerllen Costa. It is written, recorded, and directed by Cat Jaffee and House of Pod in partnership with the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project. Funding for this project comes from a National Geographic storytelling grant and the Wild Bird Trust. Additional audio recorded for the documentary was provided by Neil Gelinas and Kaya Ensor. Fact checking was conducted by Aimee Machado. Juliette Luini is the producer. The audio editor and sound designer is Jason Paton. The Angolan producer is Kerllen Costa, and the Motswana producer is Thalefang Charles. Story editing comes from Rebecca Mendoza Nunziato. 

    Geração 80 is the recording studio in Angola.

    Music: The Guardians of the River theme song was created by Victor Gama. 

    The theme music of this podcast is a journey of sounds from the villagers of Tempue preparing food and drumming on bomb drums while celebrating their faith in village churches, which is interwoven with a greeting song by the children of Tempue sung before the community meeting. There is also a reed harp played by Tom Rethio, a WaYei musician. In addition to custom pieces from Victor, the music featured in the series also comes from Victor's 2010 album Pangeia Instrumentos. The tracks included on the podcast are O Pescador De Sonhos, Homem Vermelho Homem Verde, A Guerra dos Homens Répteis, O Olho No Anzol, O Diálogo Dos Pernetas, Mibanga.

    Art: The episode art for Guardians of the River was illustrated by Fernando Hugo Fernandes. 

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    40 mins
  • 3. A Thousand Voices of Tempué
    Jun 24 2021

    Due to civil conflicts, landmines, broken roads, and a decommissioned runway, a town called Tempué is cut off from the rest of Angola. As powers rise and fall, the town has guarded the rivers and lakes that run near it. Now facing an opportunity to reconnect to the rest of Angola -- and the world -- what will the people of Tempué decide to do? And who will they trust as their partner?

    Show notes:

    To learn more, visit www.wildbirdtrust.com.

    This episode featured voice actors who spoke for Ribio, Fanta, and Regedora Cristina. They are Edson Neto, Ana Carreira, and Baiana Carreira. The villagers of Tempué also granted permission to record their day-to-day activities, from pounding cassava to prayer. This episode is being translated into Portugese to be distributed in Angola and throughout the Lusophone speaking world.

    This podcast is hosted by Kerllen Costa. It is written, recorded, and directed by Cat Jaffee and House of Pod in partnership with the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project. Funding for this project comes from a National Geographic storytelling grant and the Wild Bird Trust. Additional audio recorded for the documentary was provided by Neil Gelinas and Kaya Ensor. Fact checking was conducted by Aimee Machado. Juliette Luini is the producer. The audio editor and sound designer is Jason Paton. The Angolan producer is Kerllen Costa, and the Motswana producer is Thalefang Charles. Story editing comes from Rebecca Mendoza Nunziato. 

    Geração 80 is the recording studio in Angola.

    Music: The Guardians of the River theme song was created by Victor Gama. 

    The theme music of this podcast is a journey of sounds from the villagers of Tempue preparing food and drumming on bomb drums while celebrating their faith in village churches, which is interwoven with a greeting song by the children of Tempue sung before the community meeting. There is also a reed harp played by Tom Rethio, a WaYei musician. In addition to custom pieces from Victor, the music featured in the series also comes from Victor's 2010 album Pangeia Instrumentos. The tracks included on the podcast are O Pescador De Sonhos, Homem Vermelho Homem Verde, A Guerra dos Homens Répteis, O Olho No Anzol, O Diálogo Dos Pernetas, Mibanga.

    Art: The episode art for Guardians of the River was illustrated by Fernando Hugo Fernandes. 

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins

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