Flat tops, braids and corn rows

Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Max Urban, a rapper, was also born here, but to African parents. Because he is Afro-Swiss, he knows about Swiss politics and traditions, but also knows about the latest trends, hairstyles and dance moves that come out of Africa. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

This content was published on September 7, 2017 - 17:00

1 minute

Socar has around 200 Socar petrol stations dotted throughout Switzerland.

Multinational companies

Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland

Swiss Politics

Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland

Multinational companies

Is Switzerland as innovative as it ranks?

Swiss Abroad

Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?

There are currently over 3,800 daycare centres across Switzerland. That's almost 700 more than four years ago.

Life & Aging

Why Switzerland’s daycare numbers are rising amid regional divides

How can we avoid AI being monopolised by powerful countries and companies?

AI has the potential to solve many of the world's problems. But the wealthiest countries and tech firms may seek to hoard these benefits.

Join the discussion

Nov 7, 2024

14 Likes

14 Comments

View the discussion

What could Switzerland and the United States learn from each other today?

What could the two democracies learn from each other?

Join the discussion

Sep 5, 2024

106 Likes

82 Comments

View the discussion

Have you ever heard anything peculiar about Switzerland that you found interesting?

Is there anything peculiar related to Switzerland that has caught your interest? Share it with us, and we might feature it in an article!

Join the discussion

Nov 13, 2024

1 Likes

4 Comments

View the discussion

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

What does it take to feel Swiss in Switzerland?

This content was published on Aug 31, 2017 Tama was born here to Tamil parents. Emily has Polish/Chinese roots and grew up in Canada. Emily feels Canadian but Tama doesn't feel that Swiss.

Tama talks to Tri, head of a Vietnamese summer camp.

Why language is not just about talking

This content was published on Aug 24, 2017 Tama visits a summer camp for young Vietnamese people growing up in Switzerland and finds out how language helps to unite the participants.

A life-changing art project

This content was published on Aug 17, 2017 This week, Tama visits the Kidswest Association set up a decade ago in Bern, which introduces art to disadvantaged children.

When Swiss kids are forced to go hiking

This content was published on Aug 10, 2017 What makes Swiss kids different from foreign kids growing up here? Tama Vakeesan discusses this with singer, Marco Kunz, from Lucerne.

Congolese do it in sunglasses

This content was published on Aug 3, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She talks to a comedian about how Congolese Swiss differ from Swiss natives.

Tama and the car freaks

This content was published on Jul 27, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she visits a show organised by Tamils for car freaks.

When commuters are smelly, loud and rude

This content was published on Jul 20, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Tama looks at the downsides of commuting here. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Why do ethnic Albanians do the double-headed eagle?

This content was published on Jul 13, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Sometimes it’s hard for Tama and her friends of different ethnic origins to stay true to family traditions. She asks Arjeta what being an ethnic Albanian means to her. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?

This content was published on Jul 6, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she investigates why Tamil women want to look paler. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

When your parents hate your career choices

This content was published on Jun 29, 2017 Swiss-born Tama Vakeesan has Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Both she and her friend from Cameroon had trouble with their parents and career choices.

Tama, her brother, and the child asylum seekers at a refugee centre take a selfie

Re-visiting a refugee centre

This content was published on Jun 22, 2017 Tama Vakeesan visits a refugee centre for the first time since she herself was an asylum- seeker. Her Tamil parents fled the war in Sri Lanka.

Me and my mum

This content was published on Jun 15, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to parents from Sri Lanka. She speaks with her mother who explains what it was like to leave her home country.

Let the beat go on!

This content was published on Jun 8, 2017 Tama's friend Priya Ragu, a Swiss-born ethnic Tamil, explains how hard it is making her way in the music world without her parents' support.

Under suspicion

This content was published on Jun 1, 2017 Tama meets her friend Mondher, who is Swiss with Tunisian roots. He tells how not looking Swiss has got him into trouble.

Tama and the #Pussyhats

This content was published on May 25, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. In this episode, she takes part in the Zurich Women’s March and finds out why demonstrators are wearing pink “Pussyhats”, and how their four-legged allies are protesting too. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

What our food says about us

This content was published on May 18, 2017 Tama Vakeesan meets up with her friend Zoe, born in Switzerland to Greek parents, to find out whose mum is the best cook.

So what if I wear a headscarf?

This content was published on May 11, 2017 Tama Vakeesan finds out how wearing a headscarf affects the lives of some of her friends. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)

My town – ordinary but extraordinary

This content was published on May 4, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She shows us her favourite places in her home town.

My big fat Tamil wedding

This content was published on Apr 27, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Tama and her best friends have a clear vision of their dream man.

Swiss or Tamil? Caught in the middle

This content was published on Apr 18, 2017 Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Sometimes she doesn’t know where she belongs.

Flat tops, braids and corn rows

Popular Stories

More

Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland

More

Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland

More

Is Switzerland as innovative as it ranks?

More

Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?

More

Why Switzerland’s daycare numbers are rising amid regional divides

Most Discussed

More

How can we avoid AI being monopolised by powerful countries and companies?

More

What could Switzerland and the United States learn from each other today?

More

Have you ever heard anything peculiar about Switzerland that you found interesting?

More

What does it take to feel Swiss in Switzerland?

More

Why language is not just about talking

More

A life-changing art project

More

When Swiss kids are forced to go hiking

More

Congolese do it in sunglasses

More

Tama and the car freaks

More

When commuters are smelly, loud and rude

More

Why do ethnic Albanians do the double-headed eagle?

More

Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?

More

When your parents hate your career choices

More

Re-visiting a refugee centre

More

Me and my mum

More

Let the beat go on!

More

Under suspicion

More

Tama and the #Pussyhats

More

What our food says about us

More

So what if I wear a headscarf?

More

My town – ordinary but extraordinary

More

My big fat Tamil wedding

More

Swiss or Tamil? Caught in the middle

Discover our weekly must-reads for free!

Manage my profile