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The Fifth Floor

Factual: Life Stories

Global stories from the BBC’s 40 Language Services, with Faranak Amidi

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services.

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services

The Fifth Floor: Stories from the Frontline: Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso Protest

07/11/2014

Stories from the Frontline: Burkina Faso

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Stories from the Frontline: Burkina Faso

Revolutions and counter-revolutions as told by BBC Afrique's Lamine Konkobo

Reflections on Burkina Faso's politics; From prisoner to president; Recipe tips for the mujahideen; Mexican and Iranian super-fans of Dr Who share their love of the Time Lord.

Over the last 27 years Burkina Faso has experienced one coup, one attempted coup, one army mutiny, and one popular uprising. Lamine Konkobo is a BBC Afrique journalist who has lived through and reported on these political convulsions. He talks about what it was like growing up during a time of revolution, and now as an adult watching as Ouagadougou walks the line between military and civilian rule.  Plus, a week in Ouaga - Laeila Adjovi sends a sound picture from Ouagadougou at the height of the popular protests.

From Prisoner to President
From East Timor's Xanana Gusmao to Uruguay's Jose Mujica and Brazil's Dilma Roussef, many of the world's most well known presidents served time in jail before before taking up their country's highest office. BBC Brasil's Rogerio Wasserman and BBC Indonesia's Liston Siregar provide insight into why so many notable presidents were formerly prisoners.

The Culinary Guide for Jihadi Wives
The new propaganda arm of Islamic State - the Zora media foundation - is releasing guides on how to be the 'ultimate wives of jihad'. The online information guides include recipes for foods that can be eaten in between battles, instructions on nursing and administering first aid, the books of God and Sharia science. This is just the latest in a long line of campaigns for recruitment to their cause. Murad Shishani from BBC Arabic talks us through jihadi propaganda methods and the role of women in IS.

Exploring the Global Appeal of Doctor Who
Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction TV programme in the world and has over 80 million fans. It began in November 1963 and the 50th anniversary special was watched in 94 countries including Thailand, Angola, USA, Guatemala and Uzbekistan. The launch of the new series recently saw the cast and crew surrounded by excited fans from Seoul to Mexico City. Not bad for a 2,000 year old time travelling alien in a blue police box. To discuss Doctor Who's global appeal David Amanor is joined by Alireza Vasefi, who as well as being the dubbing mixer on the programme for BBC Persian TV is also the farsi voice of The Doctor, and Social Media Editor and Mexican super fan, David Cuen.

Online Greatest Hits
Digital diva Fifi Haroon gives the lowdown on the weird and wonderful stories across the web, including a monkey marriage and a Taiwanese mosquito swatting contest.

The Fifth Floor is presented by David Amanor.

(Picture: Two young men in Burkina Faso pose with a police riot shield. Credit: Getty Images)

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