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The author is an award-winning youth advocate. He is the co-founder of a number of community initiatives including the Youth Congress, a premier youth-led organization in Kenya.
In many of Africa’s 54 countries, which have a combined population of about 1.3 billion people, radio is the most popular source of news and information and is widely utilized. In particular, radio is an important tool for civic education in Africa.
According to Helen Mudora, a civic education manager at Uraia Trust, a non-for-profit organization that has been delivering civic education to Kenyans for over 20 years, radio is essential for creating awareness, informing and educating people on governance.
“Radio is still a popular channel for information sharing and it still has a wide reach.” said Mudora “Any radio station that provides information that has a positive impact on people’s lives will always have an audience.”
For example, Spice FM Radio in Kenya has a morning show dubbed “Situation Room” that holds conversations on critical issues. The interactive radio show helps inform its listeners about political issues and other topics that promote informed citizen engagement. Situation Room reaches several million listeners in Kenya and beyond.
Mudora notes that community and vernacular radio stations in particular have become very popular and effective.
And she’s right. For example, community stations in Senegal are playing an important role serving marginalized groups, including those in rural areas, through localized information. Community radio stations are important channels for conversations and the transmission of essential information, some of which help to shape policies.
As has been noted, these stations in Senegal often run programs focused on civic education, covering topics such as democratic processes, human rights and civic responsibilities.
It is the same case in Namibia, where radio has become a powerful tool for civic education. Ahead of Namibia’s general election this year, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a political foundation active throughout Germany and abroad, partnered with Eagle FM Radio to create voter awareness through a program dubbed “Voters Education Radio Programme,” which taught citizens how they can participate as voters.
In Zambia, radio is also being used to amplify community voices. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with Breeze FM to conduct radio listening groups, helping citizens to engage in governance and accountability and empowering communities with tools for impactful participation.
The power of radio must continue being used to help inform and encourage citizens’ participation in governance.
Radio can contribute to informed active citizenry, and it should continue airing programs that inform and educate people on governance.
[Related: “How Radio Is Tackling Period Poverty, Social Justice Issues Across Africa“]
