Main content

Che Guevara's daughter and marrying Freddie Mercury

Aleida Guevara on Angola's civil war in the 1980s, the discovery of HIV, the invention of the black box flight recorder, and the actress Jane Seymour on Fashion Aid in 1985.

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the 大象传媒 World Service. Our guest is Tony Kapcia, Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham's Centre for Research on Cuba. He tells us about the history of Cuban foreign policy.

We start with Aleida Guevara's memories of being sent from Cuba to provide medical aid in the Angolan Civil War during the 1980s. Then, the French scientist Francoise Barre-Sinoussi explains how HIV was discovered in 1983.

In the second half of the programme, we hear how Australian scientist David Warren invented the black box flight recorder in 1962, which made flying safer. An Ecuadorian politician explains how she tried to save the country's Yasun铆 National Park. And the actress Jane Seymour recounts how she played the role of Freddie Mercury's bride at the Fashion Aid event in 1985.

Contributors:
Tony Kapcia - Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham's Centre for Research on Cuba.
Dr Aleida Guevara - daughter of Che Guevara.
Francoise Barre-Sinoussi - scientist who helped identify HIV.
Jenny and Peter Warren - children of David Warren, inventor of the black box.
Bill Schofield - former colleague of David Warren, inventor of the black box.
Ivonne A-Baki - Ecuadorian politician tasked with saving the Yasun铆 National Park.

(Photo: Aleida Guevara with her father, Che, and Fidel Castro in 1963. Credit: Imagno via Getty Images)

Available now

51 minutes

Last on

Tue 7 Nov 2023 00:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 4 Nov 2023 14:06GMT
  • Mon 6 Nov 2023 10:06GMT
  • Tue 7 Nov 2023 00:06GMT

Podcast