In recent years Joan Baxter has reported and spoken widely on issues such as foreign direct investment in Africa, extractive industries, land rights, food sovereignty and sustainable farming. She divides her time between West Africa and Canada.
BBC 3
Timbuktu, Mali – Centre of the World’
(Mali 2005)
This 45-minute radio documentary by Joan Baxter and Louise Yeoman (BBC Scotland) explores the wealth and scholarship of Mali’s ancient fabled city(45 minutes)
CBC Global Village
‘Alpha Blondy’s Bittersweet Celebration’
(Mali 2003)
In this short documentary (8 minutes 15 seconds), Joan Baxter speaks with Ivorian musician Alpha Blondy about the conflict in his country in the final hours of 2002 at his New Year’s Eve concert in the Malian capital, Bamako
CBC Global Village
‘Mali’s Ali Farka Toure at home in Niafunke’
(Mali 2003)
In this radio documentary (9 minutes 13 seconds)in which Mali’s Grammy-award winning musician, Ali Farka Toure, speaks with Joan Baxter about the sources of his inspiration, especially the Niger River.
CBC Dispatches
‘Downstream from the Manantali Dam’
(Mali 2003)
In this short radio documentary (8 minutes 14 seconds), Joan Baxter explores the negative effects of West Africa’s largest hydro dam on the people immediately downstream.
CBC Dispatches
‘Ivory Coast on the brink’
(Bouake, Ivory Coast, 2003)
Joan Baxter reports from the Ivory Coast on the on-going crisis, its causes and its victims. (9 minutes 50 seconds)
BBC Radio Scotland
‘Bunce Island – Scotland’s Shame’
(Sierra Leone, 2007)
In this 27-minute documentary produced by Louise Yeoman (BBC Scotland), journalist Joan Baxter goes on a journey to explore Bunce Island and its place in Sierra Leonean history on the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery by the British Parliament.
BBC African Perspective
‘Johimbe – The Story of an African Aphrodisiac’
(Cameroon)
In this 28-minute documentary for the BBC, Joan Baxter heads into the tropical forests of Cameroon to learn about johimbe, an aphrodisiac that grows in the jungles of Central Africa, and how its popularity is leading to its demise.
BBC Outlook
‘Rwandan genocide convicts serving sentences in Mali’
(Mali, 2002)
In this documentary broadcast by BBC Outlook, Joan Baxter heads to prison in Bamako to examine the controversy around Mali’s decision to house Rwandans convicted of crimes against humanity (8 minutes)
BBC Outlook
‘The Marvels of Malian Mud’
(Mali, 2000)
In this short documentary for BBC’s Outlook programme, Joan Baxter heads onto the Niger River and into mosques and cloth-making shops to learn about the multiple uses of mud in Mali.
BBC Outlook
‘West Africa’s Traditional Hunters Celebrate in Bamako’
(Mali, 2001)
In this 10-minute documentary for BBC’s Outlook programme, Joan Baxter mingles with traditional hunters gathered in Bamako to celebrate and learns about their amazing heritage, skills . . . and mystical powers.
BBC Outlook
‘Banking on Beauty – Mali’s Conference Culture and Hostesses’
(Mali 2001)
In this 10-minute documentary for BBC’s Outlook programme, Joan Baxter looks at Mali’s booming conference circuit, and how the recruitment of beautiful, young women as hostesses is raising eyebrows and some women’s ire.
BBC Outlook
‘The Suffering and Struggles of African Migrants’
(Mali 2000)
In this 12-minute documentary, young Africans dreaming of reaching promised lands in Europe, speak of their struggles and suffering along the way.
BBC Outlook
‘Foods from the Forests’
(Cameroon 1999)
In this 6-minute documentary, Joan Baxter heads to the markets in Cameroon to learn more about the spices, oils, nuts and fruits that come from the tropical forests, and what deforestation will mean to the cuisines and health of Cameroonians.
BBC Outlook
‘African Festival of Beauty’
(Mali 2001)
In this 12-minute documentary for BBC’s Outlook programme, Joan Baxter visits the African Festival of Beauty and Hairstyling in Bamako, Mali, and is schooled in the fine arts of Malian coquetry, beauty and hair styling.
BBC Outlook
Abubakari II: trans-Atlantic explorer?
BBC From Our Own Correspondent
Rebels in Ivory Coast raring for battle
BBC News
‘Mali’s master musician, Ali Farka Toure, turns to farming’
(Mali 2003)
In this 5-minute radio item, Mali’s great musician Ali Farka Toure takes Joan Baxter on a tour of his farm, speaks of his dream of feeding the north of his country, and takes some time for a musical serenade too.
BBC Network Africa
‘Cooking with sunshine in Bamako’
(Mali 2003)
In this 3-minute radio piece, Joan Baxter attends an exhibition of solar-powered appliances to learn how Mali can save its trees by cooking with sunshine.
BBC Network Africa
‘Mali’s Habib Koite crowned with Cora Award’
(Mali 2002)
Mali’s Habib Koite speaks to Joan Baxter about his music, his Cora Award and what it means to him.
BBC Network Africa
‘Cameroon’s Francis Bebey – on his music, writing and poetry’
(Mali 2000)
Cameroon’s Francis Bebey, still going strong at age 69, speaks with Joan Baxter about his music, poetry, writing and his life.
BBC Network Africa
‘Farming with fertilizer trees’
(Mali 2003)
In this 3-minute radio piece, Joan Baxter learns about the importance and the mystery of the tree known as ‘balanzan’ – the fertilizer tree.
BBC Network Africa
‘Mali’s rising stars Amadou and Mariam’
(Mali 2001)
In this 6-minute documentary, Mali’s rising new stars speak with Joan Baxter about their music, their lives and about their love for each other that began when they were children at the Institute for the Blind in Bamako.
BBC Focus on Africa
‘All Does Not Glitter at the Morila Gold Mine’
(Mali 2002)
In this 3-minute documentary, Joan Baxter takes a trip to Mali’s Morila Gold Mine, perhaps the most profitable on earth, and finds that not all glitters there.
BBC African Perspective
‘The Changing Face of Islam in Mali’
(Mali 2002)
In this half hour documentary, Joan Baxter explores the changing face of Islam in Mali and what that may mean for the country’s political landscape and its future.