Refuge Worldwide: Live Radio & Community Activism

Madre has long supported communities of creatives, artists and activists. Most of these communities have been based in the United States or Mexico, however, as interest in mezcal has grown, we’ve been fortunate to meet and collaborate with communities around the world.

Based in Berlin, Refuge Worldwide is at the same time a community raising awareness about issues around the world, a collective that hosts events, a radio station, and a group of friends who love music and hanging out at their favorite bar.

Dipping into their community, Refuge Worldwide put together an epic playlist for Madre Radio, our longest yet, spanning 10 hours of music. We also asked Refuge founder Richard Akingbehin to share a bit on how the community came together and the work they do together.

Oona Bar is the beating heart of Refuge Worldwide. It’s where our studio is for live broadcasts, and where we work, socialize, and exchange. The core idea is that anybody who hears about the radio should feel like they can come down to Oona, alone even, listen to the radio show live, and find a friendly face to chat to over a drink.

LOOKING BACK AT THE PAST 3 YEARS OF REFUGE WORLDWIDE, WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS?

We are most proud that we managed to survive three years! It’s been a real hustle but we are grateful to have worked with an amazing team, met so many talented people, and hopefully brought some joy to many people’s lives.

HOW WERE YOUR 3RD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS?

It was great! Big thanks to Madre Mezcal for the support. We had a three-day birthday weekender at Oona, and finished off with a party at Arkaoda. The Madre Mezcal happy hour radio show is online here.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR REFUGE WORLDWIDE?

We are living in such fast times, with so much pain and evil in the world. In such conditions, the best we can hope for is to stay true to our values and to support the people around us as much as we can. If we can do that, while continuing with our radio, workshops, events, and editorial, we will be happy for years to come.

IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEZCAL WITH ANYONE LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

We would be in Oona on a vibey weekend evening, sharing a mezcal with friends old and new. Of course! Also, as it happens, Fela Kuti might be performing live in the studio and Haruki Murakami might be sat at the bar telling stories.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PLAYLIST YOU CREATED FOR MADRE?

A collection of songs chosen by our team and some radio residents, in response to the question: "Which song do you associate with Refuge Worldwide?"

Find Refuge Worldwide on their website or follow them on Instagram.

WHAT IS REFUGE WORLDWIDE AND HOW DID IT GET STARTED?

Refuge Worldwide is a radio station, community space, education platform, event series, and more. It keeps on changing as we learn, grow, and involve more people with different ideas.

The project was initially called Refuge, an event series started in 2015 to raise money for people fleeing their homes and arriving at refugee shelters in Berlin. There were five years of Refuge parties - and other kinds of events - until the pandemic started in 2020. That’s when the planning for the radio station began, and, in January 2021, Refuge became Refuge Worldwide.

WHY DO YOU THINK MUSIC AND ACTIVISM GO SO WELL TOGETHER?

Think about blues, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, grime, jungle, house, techno - the list goes on - all these genres come from places of struggle or social inequality. They tell stories of revolution, of life on the streets, and of the history they don’t teach you in school. Now, more than ever, music fans want more than good tunes. They want a cause to identify with.

TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT OONA BAR, YOUR VENUE SPACE