Let’s talk Africa
11 April 2007
Developments Magazine
There is a media boom in Africa. Its growth is fuelled by democratic reform, globalisation, economic progress and the availability of new technologies. In the last five years, there has been a staggering growth in mobile phone use, far outstripping uptake of the internet. In Nigeria, for example, there has been a 66,000% growth in mobile phone users since 2001.Yet, despite this, radio remains the dominant mass media channel across the continent. These are among the findings of a major research programme in 17 sub-Saharan African countries.
The research sprang out of the 2005 report of the Commission for Africa Our Common Future. This included a recommendation to improve the quality and strength of media on the continent as a way of holding governments to account and getting ordinary people’s voices on air. Before such a ‘facility’ could be considered, the BBC World Service Trust and partner organisations felt there was a need for an accurate, up-to-date assessment of what the media landscape looked like on the continent – what had changed in recent years and what should be the priorities for future investment?
In the process of answering these questions, a large study of the media in Africa was carried out by the BBC World Service Trust, Rhodes University (South Africa), Ahmadu Bello University (Nigeria) and researchers in 17 sub-Saharan African countries. The research findings will help inform the design of a programme of work to strengthen the media.
Radio is in the forefront of Africa’s media boom, with the fastest growth in regional commercial FM stations. There is also significant growth in TV channels, although primarily an urban phenomenon. Newspapers remain focused on urban centres while community media, including non-profit small-scale private enterprises, are playing an increasingly important role in giving local communities a voice.
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