Projects

The Robeson Files was a very interesting programme to work on that went out on BBC Radio 2…

 

“A first rate nuisance in the world peace campaign… slightly anti-British, he is a crank on the colour question.” Words from security files about the American singer and civil rights campaigner, Paul Robeson, as they feared the effect his popularity may have on the European colonies. Dotun Adebayo looks at back at the extraordinary talents of one of the greatest American recording stars of the early 20th century, Paul Robeson, at how both the FBI and MI5 colluded to try and crush both his career and social justice activism, and examines his extraordinary relationship with the miners of South Wales. Robeson, the son of an escaped slave, became a forerunner of the civil rights movement and is credited by many – including his godson, singer-songwriter Eric Bibb, for laying the path for future activists such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.This moving and powerful documentary includes archive of Paul Robeson’s early performances, his recordings, his speeches and recounts a selection of extracts from the security files – his FBI file is said to be one of the most extensive of any entertainer ever investigated. The Robeson Files also examines Robeson’s relationship with the miners of South Wales – whose plight he paralleled with slavery and looks at the years of espionage that resulted in the confiscation of his passport in 1950. This was a particular blow to the Welsh mining community who had invited Robeson to sing at the Miners’ Eisteddfod. However, the 1957 Eisteddfod festival was to go down in history. Frustrated at the US and British governments’ attempts to control his movements, Robeson addressed and sang to the miners in one of the first ever trans-Atlantic telephone link ups. A year later, Robeson’s passport was returned.

Presenter – Dotun Adebayo,

Sound Designer – Mike Thornton

Producer – Hilary Robinson


Hilary brought me in much earlier in the production process and sent me copies of the FBI files to look at. I went through them and identified ones that leapt off the page that would work on radio. I then developed a style so that we could use these texts on the radio. I had them voiced up by a selection of British voices, because quite a number of the files were from the UK, as well as an american voice. Then I used the sound of an old fashioned telex machine to under score the text clips, simple but very effective. I also used music and clips or archive weaved together to help bring together the Welsh connection.  Although I say it myself it was a riveting programme showing the culture of spying and monitoring in the 50s and 60s.