“We want to make unapologetic radio”
Perle & Rita – Eindje0Filter
Eindje0Filter is a platform that was founded in the summer of 2020 by a group of women from Eindhoven. As radio host, Perle Miangue makes ‘unapologetic radio’ together with her editorial team. Eindje0Filter gives a voice to Black women and women of colour, and speaks out to break the silence surrounding topics like racism and our history of slavery. In addition to radio broadcasts about topical social issues, the group also host events online and hopefully again in real life again. “We are women from Eindhoven who say what’s on our mind, without mincing words. In other words, zero filter.”
This interview is part of a series of six conversations with activists who received a Spark grant. Through our Spark Portfolio, we support small, feminist initiatives in the Netherlands and in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Martin, Saba and Sint Eustatius We talked with activists from six different Spark groups about their work, their convictions and their drive. Photographer Sophia Maria Favela took their pictures.
Perle Miangue is 29 years old, is a mother and works as an afro hairdresser. In 2018, Kick Out Zwarte Piet (Kick Out Black Pete, KOZP) demonstrated for the first time in Eindhoven, and Perle happened to be in the city centre that day. When she saw the aggression of the crowd of pro-Zwarte Piet hooligans, she decided to go live via Instagram. She made her support for the KOZP demonstrators clear from the sidelines. However, when a number of pro-Zwarte Piet men started intimidating her, she decided to join the KOZP demonstrators for her own safety. By chance, media platform VICE was there and also filmed what happened. The VICE Netherlands video went viral, and since that time Perle has been active in the anti-racist movement and voices her opinion in the media, including as a host with Eindje0Filter.
Rita Pieternella is 32 years old. She studied Cultural and Social Studies, makes video clips and short films, and ended up in the editorial team of Eindje0Filter via Kick Out Zwarte Piet.
How did you come up with the idea for Eindje0Filter?
Perle: “In 2020, I was invited a few times to Rararadio in Eindhoven to appear as guest presenter. After two shows, Rararadio wanted to give me my own programme. I then brought together a group of women to come up with a concept together about the type of programme it should be. That is how our team was created, consisting of Rita, Marieke, Brenda, Diewke, Glenda and myself. We are really a perfect mix of women, who come from various corners of society. We now make a radio show every month, but often more than once a month too. For example, in 2020 when the KOZP demonstrations in Eindhoven didn’t take place, we decided to dedicate a special show to that. And there will also be a special show soon about the elections: Eindje0Filter Goes Political. In that way, we continue to respond to topical themes and news.”
Rita: “Our point of departure was the idea of ‘unapologetic radio’. Not mincing one’s words. That’s also where the name Eindje0Filter comes from. We are women from Eindhoven who say what’s on our mind, without a filter. So, zero filter, in other words. And it’s a nod to the area code of Eindhoven, 040, which also sounds like ‘nulfilter’ [meaning ‘zero filter’] if you pronounce it loosely in Dutch.
How do you tackle it precisely?
Perle: We sit around the table together often and talk extensively and freely about a broad range of topics, such as representation in the media, Africa Awareness, and Black Lives Matter. We subsequently translate that into items for our radio shows. In this way, we want to disseminate knowledge, in Eindhoven and beyond.
Eindje0Filter was launched by means of a livestream event in October 2020 during Black Achievement Month.
Perle: “During this livestream, we paid tribute to Black-owned businesses and organised a panel about the representation of Black citizens from Eindhoven in the media and about Black excellence. A DJ and various musicians and spoken word artists performed. The livestream was a wonderful way to launch our radio programme. It was, of course, a challenge to organise something like this during the coronavirus pandemic. Each time we thought that we had found a location, it ended up not going forward due to restrictions. But it all worked out in the end.”
Rita: “We could have also organised an online event as launch event, but we really wanted a live meeting with our first guests. You feel stronger if you see each other in real life.”
Rita: “We started with something small, but our radio show is growing every week. We have dreams. We’re currently focused on Eindhoven, but we discuss national topics. It is our goal to develop into a platform that is known nationwide. We want everyone to know us as that group that stands for being able to speak out, no matter what.”
What does the Spark grant mean to you?
Perle: “An awful lot. This will enable us to achieve more as a group, to establish ourselves as a foundation and to work on our next livestream.”
Rita: In addition to the Spark grant, we have received a lot of support in the form of donations and volunteers. However, we want to be able to support the artists who collaborate with us, for example, and create more visibility. We can now take the first steps to achieve this.”
What have you got planned for 2021?
Rita: “We’re going to continue with our radio shows, of course, and in addition to that we want to organise more events like the livestream during Black Achievement Month in October 2020. Unfortunately, the opportunities to organise live events are still very uncertain due to the coronavirus. For the time being, Eindje0Filter will therefore be organising events online and you will be informed of that via our Instagram. In 2021, we are going to begin a monthly online Eindje0Filter open mic session on Instagram and the Eindje0Filter Book Club. We would also love to begin a podcast. Plenty of ideas!”
Eindje0Filter Online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eindje0filter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eindje0filter