Liya Lupala had a vision.

As someone growing up in Aotearoa with African heritage, she felt invisible.

‘There was nothing set up for the African community. There hasn’t been a national narrative about what it means to be African in New Zealand, and I felt it was important to provide a space for our stories’, says Liya.

This vision became a reality with the creation of The Blackhouse, a radio show and community organisation that centres the African heritage and Black diaspora experience in Aotearoa.

Premiering in 2020, the show shares stories, social observations, music, history, news, interviews, politics and events from the very diverse Pan-African communities across the country. The show has been so successful that it was a finalist in the Best Access Radio Programme category at the 2024 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards.

Run by Liya and a ‘fluid’ team of about six other people, The Blackhouse doesn’t hold back when it comes to addressing the challenges the communities face.

‘I didn’t want to sweep things under the carpet,’ says Liya. ‘There can be pressure to be a ‘model migrant’ and only focus on the positives, but the reality is that there are some real issues and trauma in our communities that need to be addressed.’

Liya hopes that by having these conversations, it will provide opportunities to process and heal from the challenges – and that things can be different for those who come next.

‘A lot of our team come from a younger generation who have grown up in New Zealand. It’s really important that their generation can have strength in who they are. African New Zealand youth have as much right to a sense of belonging as any other group, without it diminishing their African identity’.

Music is also a core part of the The Blackhouse, and Liya is passionate about promoting young local Afro-Kiwi artists and lifting them up, ‘specifically and unapologetically’. People listen in from around the country as well as Australia and Africa.

As for the future, Liya has plenty of ideas.

‘There are still so many guests I’d like to interview. We’ve had great conversations with people like Mazbou Q, or the South African ambassador, and I hope to get some more international interviews happening as well. I want to keep increasing the team and get our audiovisual elements up and running’.

However, the main thing she wants to focus on is getting young people heard.

‘It’s so important to get the voices of young people out there. The Blackhouse can be a space where they can come in and create shows about issues that are important to them. I want it to be a place where young people can evaluate people in positions of power – and push back.’

You can tune into The Blackhouse every Saturday from 3-4pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1.