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Spotlight, Rokia Traoré, Will Smith

Will Smith explains why he and his wife are boycotting the Oscars

Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo outlines his role playing journalist Michael Rezendes in the Catholic-Church paedophelia true story Spotlight. We also hear from Michael Rezendes himself, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at The Boston Globe. We visit the sold-out fifth edition of the comedy showcase Arabs Are Not Funny in London. Its line-up included artists from Africa and the Middle East, among them award-winning British Somali comic Prince Abdi and upcoming Tunisian comedian Houssem Rhaiem.

Director Ben Hopkins tells us about the personal experience behind his satire Lost In Karastan in which an unemployed film-maker is hired by a dictator to make an epic historical action film extolling the virtues of his country. Rokia Traoré, Mali’s award-winning musician, discusses collaborating with Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison who has written lyrics for her new album, Ne So.

Will Smith tells us about how his wife led his family’s boycott of this year’s Oscar ceremony. British-Nigerian soul and jazz singer Ola Onabule tells us how years in Nigeria influence his life and music, and how this can be heard in his latest album, It's the Peace that Deafens.

We head to the Royal Academy in London and an exhibition bringing together some of the world's best-known works to examine the role that gardens have played in art since the mid-19th century. The exhibition will include a display of all three panels of Monet’s famous water lily work - it is the first time they have been on public display in Europe.

And, acclaimed novelist Han Kang sends the Â鶹ԼÅÄ a postcard from South Korea about the literary scene in the capital Seoul.

(Photo: Mark Ruffalo who stars in Spotlight (c) Larry Busacca/Getty Images, Rokia Traoré (c) Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, Will Smith (c) Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

50 minutes

Last on

Tue 9 Feb 2016 02:06GMT

Music and featured items

  • Spotlight

    We speak to Mark Ruffalo who plays real life reporter Michael Rezendes

    Duration: 06:55

  • Arabs are not funny?

    The sold-out fifth edition of the comedy show was held a few days ago in London

    Duration: 02:23

  • Lost in Karastan

    Ben Hopkins talks about his film, political satire Lost In Karastan

    Duration: 06:35

  • Rokia Traoré

    The award-winning Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré discusses her new album Né So.

    Duration: 07:05

  • Will Smith

    Will Smith explains why he and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith are boycotting the Oscars

    Duration: 08:37

  • Ola Onabule

    British-Nigerian soul and jazz singer tells us how Nigeria influences his life and music

    Duration: 07:42

  • Monet

    All three panels of Monet’s famous water lily work are to be exhibited together in Europe

    Duration: 03:34

  • South Korean Literature

    Novelist Han Kang sends a literary postcard from South Korea

    Duration: 03:07

  • Kyven

    Don't Shut Me Out

  • Trekkah

    Lacey - Promises

  • Rachid Taha

    Ya Rayah

  • Banzai

    I Know What I Want

  • Rokia Traoré

    A Ou Ni Sou

  • R. City

    Make Up

  • Jess Glynne

    Ain't Got Far To Go

  • DJ Jazzy Jeff

    Boom Shake The Room

  • Ola Onabule

    Truce Baby

  • David and Steve Gordon

    Monets Garden Part 1

  • CHUNG WOONG KOREAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE

    Chongsong Jajinha

  • Moh! Kouyaté

    Kakiife

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Feb 2016 15:06GMT
  • Sun 7 Feb 2016 22:06GMT
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 07:06GMT
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 09:06GMT
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 13:06GMT
  • Mon 8 Feb 2016 23:06GMT
  • Tue 9 Feb 2016 02:06GMT