Lassina (Lasso) Ouattara is a musician from Burkina Faso, West Africa – a percussionist (primarily dundun and djembe), dancer and singer with a huge talent and a big heart. Normally Lasso lives in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, touring to neighbouring countries including Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana to play in concerts and festivals. In February 2013, Bali […]

Simon Husson is an orangutan conservation expert who has worked in Borneo for 18 years, first visiting as an undergraduate zoology student in 1995 and then co-founding the Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project to promote research and conservation in the region’s peat-swamp forests, providing the essential scientific basis for establishing the Sebangau National Park. Since 2009 […]

Based in Southeast Asia since 1987, Adam Schwarz has written extensively on Indonesia, including A Nation in Waiting, a highly acclaimed work on contemporary Indonesian history. Living as a journalist, author and political observer in Indonesia before and during ‘reformasi’ his books lifted the veil on Suharto’s Indonesia and chart the journey through the era of democracy. His latest […]

Erwin Arnada (born 17 October 1963) is an Indonesian journalist and filmmaker. Born to a devout Muslim family in Jakarta, Arnada became interested in journalism in 1984, and, after a time as a photographer, he interned at the weekly Editor. Beginning in 1990 he took editorial roles in various print media, including the controversial tabloid […]

Josh Meares is the Advocacy Officer for World Relief Indonesia. He started out as an English teacher in the Bali Detention Center in February 2012 (about 4 months after its opening) and was promoted to advocacy officer this year. His daily personal interaction and friendship with refugees and asylum seekers in Bali have greatly impacted […]

Mara Rabin, MD is the Medical Director of Utah Health and Human Rights (UHHR), a non-profit organization, founded in 2003.  It is a direct service and advocacy agency that promotes the health, dignity, and self-sufficiency of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants who have endured severe human rights abuses, including torture and war-related trauma.  As Medical […]

Brenda Flanagan is the author of  plays, poems, and numerous short stories, some of which are collected in  her most recent book, In Praise of Island Women & Other Crimes (Peepal Tree Press, 2010), two novels, Allah in the Islands (PTP, 2009), and the prize-winning You Alone Are Dancing (University of Michigan Press, 1996). She […]

Hailed by the Sydney Morning Herald as ‘groundbreaking roots musician’ and ‘sublime – *****’ by the Montreal Metro, German born ‘genre bender’ Yeshe is a true global musical gypsy, heavily inspired by his many years spent in Africa. His uplifting, mesmerizing songs transcend all labels and boundaries. Connect with Yeshe Reiners on Facebook Find out […]

Rili has worked in marine conservation in South East Asia for over 20 years, improving the management of marine protected areas and striving to eliminate unsustainable fishing practices. As the Executive Director of the Coral Triangle Center in Bali, Rili is involved with strengthening the local capacity for marine conservation through training, networking and forming […]

With cheeky innocence and a face only a mother could love, Asep Suaji makes audiences fall in love with him the minute he steps on to the stage. His endearing character and humility sometimes mask the intelligence of his gags, and you’ll often find yourself laughing at the way he said something before you realise […]