Original version

BBC World Service Online

Migrated podcast image for: Outlook

Outlook

Factual: Life Stories

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Outlook: I am South Africa's 'Black Mamba'

Magazines & Reviews

Ronald Dlamini - the Black Mamba - MMA champion

17/10/2017 GMT

I am South Africa's 'Black Mamba'

BBC World Service - Outlook, I am South Africa's 'Black Mamba'

Meningitis left MMA fighter Ronald Dlamini blind, but he has since returned to the ring

MMA fighter Ronald Dlamini went blind after contracting meningitis but he has since returned to the ring.

Ronald Dlamini was the first black man to become South Africa's Mixed Martial Arts or MMA champion in 2009. But three years after winning the title he started getting severe headaches and slipped into a coma. When he awoke, he'd lost his sight. But since then he has returned to the ring. Ronald told us about his amazing comeback and how he got the nickname "Black Mamba". 

81-year-old Rebeca Aravena from Chile left school when she was 13 and started working in a factory. But she never gave up her dream to finish her studies and this year she finally managed to get a place at a technical university in Santiago.  

Drew Goodall always wanted to be an actor. He went to drama school and started getting parts in movies starring international actors like Brad Pitt. But after getting a bad review he decided to quit acting and ended up sleeping rough on the streets of London. Eventually his life took a turn for the better thanks to a tin of shoe polish. 

Mexican Mariachi bands are traditionally made up of men. The Flor de Toloache band of New York is an exception: all of the performers are women. Its co-founder Mireya Ramos told us why she thinks playing in the band is so empowering. 

Images and credit: Ronald Dlamini

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Outlook

I am South Africa's 'Black Mamba'

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service