The virtuoso musician detained as a child
South African Leon Bosch was imprisoned at 15 for organising a protest against apartheid. On his release, he took up the double bass with a passion, fighting racism with his music
Today, Leon Bosch is one of the most respected classical double bass players in the world but as a teenager he was made a political prisoner in South Africa because of his peaceful resistance to the apartheid regime – an experience that has haunted him for most of his life. But that time in prison also drove him to commit to playing the double bass with a passion; he speaks to Jo Fidgen about how he has used his music to resist a system that said he would never amount to anything.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Nathan Gower
Picture: Double-bass player Leon Bosch
Credit: Photography Juno Snowdon / Art Direction Adam Hypki
Podcast
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The Outlook Podcast Archive
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives
