Libor Kukal
I graduated as MSc in African Studies at Charles University in Prague but it turned out that in the contemporary Czech reality my Russian language skills are appreciated more than Amharic or Swahili. Nonetheless, I still like to recall my African period and I am still sure that studies in dissimilar cultures greatly enhance one’s outlook. I started at Radio Praha in 2000, on the first day broadcasting in Russian commenced. Last year it was 14 years I had been working for the Russian Service of Radio Praha, initially as an editor, then as the Head of Russian Service. At present I am Content Editor for Radio Praha International Broadcasting.
articles by the author
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Summer music competition: Czech covers of international hits (PART 3: chansons)
Join Radio Prague International's music competition by guessing the original of a Czech cover song.
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Summer music competition: Czech covers of international hits (PART 2: Rock 'n' roll and country)
Czech cover versions of international songs became huge hits in the former communist state. Domestic audiences often didn’t even realise they were listening to covers.
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Summer music competition: Czech covers of international hits
In our new three-part mini-series, we bring you some popular Czechoslovak cover versions of world-famous hits. At the end of each episode there will be a competition song.
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No porn and vibrators, but still happy
Pornography, sex shops and prostitution were all taboo in communist Czechoslovakia. So how did Czechs live without all that?
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Why did Czechoslovakia decriminalise homosexuality relatively early?
Czechoslovakia decriminalised homosexuality in 1961, earlier than many Western European countries. Why was it that the repressive Communist regime showed such tolerance?
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How Czechs became experts on the female orgasm
In the 1950s, Czech sexologists started to research the female orgasm, outpacing most of their colleagues abroad.
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Less freedom, more sex
There were no goods in shops. You weren’t allowed to travel. Rock stars didn’t come to the country to perform. So how else were Czechs supposed to entertain themselves?
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Leoš Janáček's opera Katya Kabanova premiered 100 years ago
A century has passed since the world premiere of Leoš Janáček's opera Katya Kabanova, which was first performed in Brno on November 23, 1921.
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Gustáv Husák – the face of ‘Normalisation’ in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia
Gustáv Husák, the last communist president of Czechoslovakia and living emobidment of the Normalisation era, died 30 years ago.
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Anniversary of the Week
Václav Havel, dissident playwright turned statesman, born 85 years ago
Václav Havel came of age after the Communist coup. The dissident playwright's criticism of the regime landed him in prison, and eventually to Prague Castle as president.
