Many Depend on Radio Broadcasts across Africa

Many Depend on Radio Broadcasts across Africa

In much of Africa, traditional radio sets are widely used. Radios are more popular than smartphones and computers because internet service is not always available in many places in Africa.

The United Nations children's agency studied school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency said African countries south of the Sahara Desert had the highest percentage of schoolchildren who lacked internet during that time. Many students depended on solar-powered radio sets at home for their lessons.

Afrobarometer is a research group based in Accra, Ghana. It found that more than 80 percent of people in Africa own a mobile phone with access to a mobile phone network. But "fewer than half" have mobile phones with internet access. When asked, 28 percent of people in 34 African countries said they had access to a computer at home.

Afrobarometer said increasing information and communications technologies is important for "most African countries, and for the continent as a whole."

The research group found radio is "overwhelmingly" the most common way of getting news in Africa. About 68 percent of respondents said they listened at least a few times a week, compared to about 40 percent who use social media and the internet.

Traditional radio sets are easier and less costly¹ to use in comparison to internet service.

Many small radio sets now come with solar panels that permit people to listen to broadcasts even when they do not have electricity. Radios with a mobile phone charger and a light are popular. That kind of radio is very useful because electricity outages happen often in many parts of Africa and areas with internet can be far apart.

John Masuku has been a radio broadcaster for 50 years. He said many people trust information from their radio sets over other sources.

"There is a lot of disinformation and misinformation, so people still want to check...if it is not said on radio then it is not fact. That is why radio is popular and celebrated² in Africa," he said.

Broadcasts in local languages also get many radio listeners. Zimbabwe's state radio and many community stations offer broadcasts in Shona, Ndebele and 12 other local languages, he said.

However, the way many people in Africa listen to the radio is changing as internet service improves. The number of people getting news at least "a few times a week" from social media, the internet, or both has almost doubled from 24 percent to 43 percent over the past 10 years, Afrobarometer found.

Stanley Tsarwe works in journalism³ studies at the University of Zimbabwe. He said the falling prices of mobile phones that can access radio stations is also changing how people listen to radio in Africa.

"There is an ongoing⁴ convergence between radio and digital mobile technologies, especially the mobile phone," he said. "Radio is integrating more rapidly with the mobile phone because it is much more accessible in Africa. The mobile phone is the future of radio in Africa," Tsarwe said.

Words in This Story

mobile – adj. able to move from one place to another

digital – adj. using or characterized by computer technology

overwhelming – adj. very great in number, effect, or force

solar panel – n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity

charger –n. a device that provides electricity for computer, cell phones and other electronic equipment

converge⁵ – v. to come together and meet

integrate – v. to combine (two or more things) to form or create something

rapid – adj. happening in a short amount of time

1 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 converge   

vi.会合；聚集，集中；(思想、观点等)趋近

参考例句：

• The results converge towards this truth.其结果趋近于这个真理。
• Parallel lines converge at infinity.平行线永不相交。