A half hour of eavesdropping on the world that reveals a kaleidoscope of voices, sounds and places.
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May 2007
Rosie Goldsmith
showcases the best English language radio on the planet,
including features, plays, phone-ins, music and comedy shows.
May 26th 2007, in the last programme of A World In Your Ear, Rosie Goldsmith listened in to the first BBC Africa Radio Awards.
The winners of the BBC’s Africa Radio Awards were announced at a live gala event in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday May 26th . It’s the first time that radio in Africa has been celebrated in this way. Vera Kwakofi, Africa Service presenter and Project Manager of the Awards, joins Rosie for a special “World In Your Ear” selection of the winners. You can listen to all the winners at:
Winner: Radio Station of the Year, 2007: Talk Radio 702, South Africa
VERA KWAKOFI says: “Talk Radio embodies what modern Africa represents. This station is very commercial which a lot of radio stations are trying to become as they gain independence from government control. And even though “Talk Radio 702” is local it has national relevance.”
Runner up: Radio Station of the Year, 2007: Joy FM, Ghana
VERA: “We chose this station and this interview because they broke taboos. It’s about homosexuality, something that Ghanaians do not want to talk about, do not want to hear about and do not want to acknowledge as part of their society.”
Winner: Talk/Interactive Radio Station of the Year, 2007: CitiFM, Ghana
In Ghana there are about 20 FM radio stations in the capital Accra alone. This clip shows that talk radio stations really can be the first point of call when citizens have complaints.
Runner up:Talk/Interactive Show of the Year, 2007: “Faith in Action”, Feba/ SFM, Zimbabwe
Many radio stations, including the BBC are banned from broadcasting in Zimbabwe, so Vera was delighted to receive an entry from FEBA/ SFM in Harare. She says: “They sent it me and I was very excited to open the package. “Faith in Action” is permitted to broadcast because it’s a religious-based programme. As it doesn’t discuss politics it is not seen as a threat.”
Runner Up: Talk/Interactive Radio Show, 2007: “Chit Chat”, 98.4 Capital FM, Kenya
“Chit Chat” is a phone-in programme from Nairobi where the callers give each other advice. Vera says:” Capital FM has tapped into exactly what their audience needs. Their audience is a young one - 16-35 years old - and they nail it every single time.”
Winner: Best New Radio Station of the Year, 2007: Radio Pacis, Uganda
VERA: “This station is Catholic- run, although you wouldn’t notice by listening to the output. They do not let religion restrict the programmes they offer. They cover everything from classical music to health and they really take the community into consideration.”
Winner: News journalist of the Year, 2007: Esther Mbondo, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
Esther’s winning report is about the children abandoned by their families at the Kenyatta hospital in Nairobi. She tells the story of Boniface who had a broken arm but 4 months after it healed he is still there because his mother can’t afford to bring him home.
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