I didn’t expect this, and I have to thank you all—especially you, my readers, who after so many years have become listeners. The success of the two seasons of the podcast on the History of Italians in Kenya is reflected in the numbers: an average of 700 listeners each week across various distribution channels, with peaks of up to 1,200, and a passionate following—even from those who didn’t know me or my work as a storyteller about Kenya for Italians and our compatriots here.
Thirty episodes, divided into two series of 15, spanning from the 1300s to the present day, setting sail from Genoa and finally landing in Kilifi. Amid this journey spanning roughly 1,000 minutes (more than 16 hours of broadcast time), there are many eras, characters, historical and current events, and social and political revolutions—all tied to the Italian presence in this country, the true leitmotif of the stories, the result of research, interviews, and direct and indirect testimonies. Another common thread is music, featuring original songs—some from my previous repertoire, others written specifically for the episodes—which served as an “emotional summary” or a complement to the narration.
I know that those who have made it this far have enjoyed it, but even those who listened only to the episodes that interested them often got hooked and ended up listening to others.
This gives me the drive and enthusiasm to continue, telling more stories: we’ll be back next Tuesday, now the designated day for the Podcast of Italians in Kenya. We’ll alternate the African book column “Africa Doesn’t Exist” with guest Claudia Nicolini, with other stories, monographs, testimonies, and digressions, with Kenya and the Italian language as cornerstones.
As a voice dear to those who have followed the podcasts so far would say: “See you next time!”