Episode 1 My City

times. What's more at two o'clock but now

on BBC News, it is for My City. Cities are never out of the news,

and not always the best reasons. Over the past year, the BBC has

reported across the world on the people and events that have shaped

2013. When the headlines are over and the cameras are gone, life

returns to normal. The BBC has journalists in more cities than any

other international broadcaster. In the next half-hour, they will tell

us what life is like in the cities that have been in the news, giving

us an insight into the beautiful, frantic and often surprising cities

that they call home. In a moment, we find out why hitchhiking is the best

way to get to work in Havana, and why the president of Rwanda has to

clean his own front doorstep. But first, Mumbai. Everywhere you look,

people in a hurry. One of the most popular cities in the world, where

time is money. Hi, this is my city. Surrounded by the Arabian Sea, it is

hard to believe that this metropolis was once just a cluster of islands.

It all changed when Portugal seized control in the 16th century.

Look hard enough, and you will still discover areas of Portuguese

colonial influence. This settlement is one of them. Some of these homes

are more than 200 years old. They are vanishing fast. High-rise flats

are taking their place. It is becoming a concrete jungle. In the

end, we will need beautiful, quiet places. We may be able to save a

small part of the city, but with the rest of the city being destroyed the

way it is, I wonder what our children will be left with. The

skyline is transforming. What has really affected the lives of

residents are the violent attacks in recent years. What is striking is

how quickly the city moves on. It is a tough place. Difficult to travel

around. I often feel as though I cannot breathe. But if it all gets

too much, this is the place to escape to. Look out to sea. Nothing

is happening. It is perfect. The city will give you a fair chance if

you are willing to work hard. Many come to the city to become a star.

After all, it is the home of Bollywood. This dance class may be

in a shanty town, but the dreams here are big. Everyone from slum dog

to millionaire is just crazy about the movies. TRANSLATION: When I grow

up, I want to be such a big superstar that when I walk in the

streets, every person should recognise me. They should come to me

and say, isn't she the same girl from that famous movie? Cricket is

the only other pastime that unites us. There is one more thing, despite

all our problems, we are eternal optimists. It all looks a bit mad,

but this is laughter yoga. Practitioners swear that having a

good giggle is the key to a healthy and happy life. In Mumbai, when life

is stressful, we would say to come and join us. You forget all your

problems, your depressions. Laughter is crazy? No, come and try it, it is

excellent. It is the best medicine for your life. At times, I do feel

frustrated that the people deserve better. But, there is not time to

dwell on what could have been. Here, they live every day not with a sense

of hopelessness, but eager anticipation of what tomorrow can

bring. Mumbai is my city. Green and blue. A city that is

buzzing. It continues to be haunted by a traumatic past. This is my

city. The population is young, and growing rapidly. Modern buildings

compete for a spot on the skyline. Two decades ago, it was so

different. The darkest episode in our history? Ethnic groups at war,

close to one million people murdered in the genocide, including members

of my family. The challenge we faced was how to pacify the city after

such horrors. One idea was reconciliation with villages.

Survivors and perpetrators living side-by-side. TRANSLATION: It was

very different for me to confess to murder. After being preached to

while in prison, I felt the urge to repent and move on. TRANSLATION: I

was hurt, I was angry, but he never gave up asking for my forgiveness.

Eventually, it paid off. I forgave him because it was clear he had been

forced into it. We have been living happily ever since. We are not shy.

We do things in style. This is why I love my city. Technologically

speaking, Kigali is well ahead of other African cities. Some prefer to

do things the old-fashioned way. These fingers have been tapping out

for over 30 years. They have typed up everything from government

documents to love letters. TRANSLATION: Exchanges between

married couples often contain very interesting details. Some stick in

my mind. There was a letter I typed out on behalf of a woman writing to

her husband. In the letter she said that she had decided to dump him

because he had not shown enough love. Once a month, everything

grinds to a halt. It is a communal clean-up where everyone gets

involved. This is why we are one of the cleanest cities in the world. It

is compulsory for the entire population, even the President.

TRANSLATION: I hate people dodging the clean-up. Some even choose to

pay the fine rather than come and help. It is in our best interest, I

wish they would see that side of things. It is very important and

brings the community together. This city has reinvented and rebranded

itself for the better. Residents of Kigali are strong in body and mind.

Proud to be from Rwanda. Kigali is my city.

Coming up - rollerballers, and the real story behind a Scandinavian

crime drama. First, we head to Asia, where we meet punks in Rangoon and

get soaked in the Burmese New Year celebrations.

A golden, glowing city. If the dazzling sights don't take your

breath away, then the searing temperatures certainly will. Hi,

this is my city. For the whole of my life, all of this was hidden from

the world. Now, Rangoon has been uncovered. The transformation has

been extraordinary. Looking good. Exposing skin to the cameras was

previously forbidden. Society is more relaxed. These models are from

the first ever agency. Those who have what it takes can now make

serious money. TRANSLATION: To tell you the truth, the life of a model

is a really hard job. We have to learn as needed. In this country, I

believe we have become essential in promoting products. Although

modernisation is hugely welcomed, there are painful side-effects. Old

sites in prime locations are being marked out for development. This was

once the most famous social club in all of Rangoon. It is now totally

derelict. The biggest threats to this and the other heritage

buildings is neglect. Everywhere you look, you see monks. Buddhism

influences so much of what we do. Almost all Buddhists enter monkhood.

Many start very young. Some will remain in the monastery for a few

days, others, a lifetime. Living is simple and strict. TRANSLATION: My

goal is peace of mind. I am still at the early stages of my study. I do

not know much. The main thing is to control and conquer my mind, and

study the religious texts. I came here for a better education. I

arrived by boat when I was 15. I still remember the noise. I had

feelings of excitement. Although the state controls much of what happens,

there are always the nonconformists, the rebels. Punks have been around

in Rangoon for decades. TRANSLATION: In the view of society, punks are

young people who have spiky hair and leather jackets. In reality, what is

really important is a rebellious mind that rejects tradition and all

those useless things. How they dress does not matter, it is all about

spirit. A place devoid of rules is the water festival. Pretty much

anything goes. It is an ancient tradition to mark the Burmese New

Year. It may not be the capital any more, but Rangoon remains the heart

of the country. It is an exciting time to be here. Rangoon is my city.

One of the last communist strongholds in the world, despite

all its struggles, the people remain upbeat and proud of their city. This

is my city. Famous for its drinks and cigars, it was the 1959

communist revolution that transformed the lives of everyone

here. Little has changed since I grew up. At every school, children

still swear an oath to communism. It is not just politics that

concentrates young minds, everyone is baseball crazy. From games on the

streets to organised matches, it is the pastime of choice. Along with

health and education, sport is one of the success stories of the

revolution. TRANSLATION: When I grow up I want to play for Cuba's

national team. Getting around in Havana is

unpredictable but always exciting. Many of the American cars you see

here are taxis. But locals can't really afford them. This is the

alternative. Hitchhiking. Communism means that this is a secular

society. For decades, religions were banned, but Afro-Cuban beliefs,

along with Catholicism, have always been part of our culture. Now,

ceremonies like this one have become widespread. Offerings are made to

Saints in the hope of protection and good health. TRANSLATION: In every

house of every Cuban family there are at least one or two followers

who believe in the faith. Other family members will turn to them for

help. There is one thing that everyone follows religiously, and

that his socialism. Whether you are from just around the corner, or the

other side of the world, making friends is always easy. It is not

all about twisting and turning. Many here dream of a freer Cuba.

This man raps about social change, and is banned from radio and TV. His

music is spread by word of mouth. He believes his rapping has

revolutionised the way people think. TRANSLATION: When I look at my city,

I still adore it without that same childish innocence I once possessed.

I see a place that is evolving, it is slowly opening up. Its lust for

life never fading. Havana is my city.

The gateway to west Africa. Busy, bustling, boundless energy. Two

million of us grinding away in the heat, making this place boom. Accra

is my city. As one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa,

Ghana is upheld as a beacon to others, and the city has never been

better off thanks to cocoa, gold and now oil. But the city has problems.

Living conditions are poor, healthcare, basic. Many disabled

people are shunned and left to be, but for brief few hours every Sunday

this taxi park becomes their arena. Their sport, rollerball. It is not

for the fainthearted either, the rough-and-tumble is part and parcel.

TRANSLATION: It's not easy being disabled in Accra, the sport has

changed my life. I feel like a star when I come down here on Sundays to

play the game. There is a real community feel all over town. Life

and death, everybody comes together. We do things a little differently.

Even our funerals need to be seen to be believed. Crafted all over the

city, all handmade, be it farmer or fisherman, these fantasy coffins are

a reflection of your life, what you did and how you did it. These

coffins are a trademark of Accra. They are not made anywhere else. If

you see them being made anywhere else you know they have copied them

from Accra. They are popular here, and everyone wants to be buried in

one. On Friday evening, this city ignites. Fight night. We love a good

fight, some of the world's boxing greats were born and bred here in

Accra. We are famous for producing champions. But the first jabs start

here. Early-morning workouts. Brutal late afternoon training. In one

suburb, dozens of gyms filled with young fighters dreaming of a world

title. The facilities may be basic, but the coaching is class. Accra in

particular is so special for boxing. Most of our boxers are very

aggressive. If I get the support, I give myself five years, I will bring

world champions. With the economic boom and a feeling of luck, there is

a feeling of good times for everybody. Accra is my city.

Medieval and modern, once Sweden's Viking heartland. This is my city.

Built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, Stockholm is known for its

long summer days and the never-ending icy winter nights. I

was born in Iran, but came here with my family in the 80s. Then, you

would only see fair skinned blondes, but not anymore. The central

Stockholm market represents the shift in our make-up. The people

here are as diverse as the flowers on sale. TRANSLATION: Most children

who are born here go to school and learn several languages. Most people

working here are immigrants, and we are able to support our families. I

think Swedes can be proud that we live here. For a capital it is

amazingly calm and peaceful. But it would be wrong to think the city

doesn't have its challenges. It does. Violent crime, issues of

corruption, tension around immigration. This is the darker

side, one painted on the pages of crime novels. "In a doorway appeared

a tall, sinewy old man, wrapped in a strange cloak. If he hadn't studied

up on the nature of these organisations, he probably would

have tried to twist the man's arm out of its socket. What do you do,

said the man." This is fiction, but much of the subject matter is very

real. "I am the guardian of the order of..." It may look very pretty

from the outside, but on the inside it is as ugly as the rest of Europe.

It is not a paradise, it is a lost paradise. Swedish crime is getting

more and more to the surface. It used to be hidden away, tucked

away. Stockholm always has a way of surprising you. This is the world's

longest art exhibition, 110km of it. It certainly brightens up the day.

If it is not the Metro, then it is the buildings, the parks, the

people. Stockholm is all about looking the part. Like so many

aspects of our life, we take a practical approach to what we wear.

There are countless designers setting trends across the globe.

Young, fresh, sporty chic. It is part of the lifestyle here to look

good. To dress nice, it is really fresh what people are wearing, very

new and fresh, I think. I get a lot of inspiration from here, and you

can probably see that in the collection. Minimalistic designs an

simple cuts. Beauty is everywhere, on the streets and the faces of the

people. Each time I return, something else has changed. A city

in motion. Stockholm is my city. That is all from our special

programme. With more reporters in more cities around the world than

any other broadcaster, the BBC brings the people, the stories and

the local knowledge to you. It is going to be a rather damp

Monday morning, many places will brighten up as we go through the

day. At the moment, lots of cloud covering the UK. The rain is really

quite heavy, there could be a lot of standing water and spray on the

roads on Monday