Every 13 February is celebrated as World Radio Day and South Sudan will join the rest of the world in celebrating the day under the theme “Radio: A century informing, entertaining, and educating.”
South Sudanese citizens, media actors, and government officials across the country, particularly in the Upper Nile Region, view radio as a tool for advocacy.
Despite technological advancements and the majority of people in the developed world resorting to other mediums for information and entertainment, radio is heavily relied on in the world’s newest nation, South Sudan, a country where illiteracy remains alarmingly high.
In interviews with Radio Tamazuj ahead of World Radio Day, several Upper Nile Region residents say they owe many thanks to radio for playing an advocacy role in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile states which have been plagued by floods and insecurity among other challenges.
In Upper Nile State’s Melut County, Antony Tuong, a teacher, said they could have suffered immensely if it was not for radio being used for awareness and advocacy when the area was hit by floods.
“Two years ago, our area in Melut County was completely submerged in floodwaters. Radio personnel came to our aid by creating a platform for our voices to be heard, prompting aid agencies and the government to intervene,” he says. “We could have suffered greatly if it was not for radio. For me, radio is like a mirror and citizens use it to have their voices expressed and expect intervention.”
“Again, when there was a measles outbreak in Melut, it was the radio that provided health education about preventive measures and used by residents to demand for health care services,” Tuong adds.
A resident of Malakal town, Agany Deng, said radio is informative.
“When you switch on your radio, one gets updates on current affairs across the country, be it violent conflicts, lack of services, or disease outbreaks,” he states.
Asked if he sees radio still being crucial with social media gaining popularity among young people, Deng says, “Information from radio is credible and reliable because it has been verified and a listener hears directly from invited officials from the comfort of one’s house.”
For Peter Gatkuoth in the Unity State capital Bentiu, radio is indeed important and he echoes Agany’s sentiment and demands that radio information be made accessible to all.
“There is no doubt about the role played by radio in informing, educating, and entertaining us,” he says while adding: “The only thing I should say is that radio coverage should be extended in all areas across the country.”
Meanwhile, Kenya Mac, an activist with the Jonglei State Women’s Union in Bor Town in Jonglei State, describes her personal experience thus: “During the Covid-19 outbreak, I heavily relied on radio for health information which equipped me with skills and preventive measures, including the need for vaccination.”
According to the activist, radio has also been advocating for peace with Jonglei State and with the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“Many recommendations on the need for more schools, health facilities, and a need to eradicate cattle raiding and child abductions have been communicated through radio and it can still be used to advocate for peace between Jonglei State and GPAA,” she emphasized.
For his part, Bol Deng Bol, the head of Intrepid-South Sudan (ISS) and Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), lauded radio as a tool for change that educates, entertains, and informs the public.
“As indicated in this year’s theme, radio is very crucial as a source for education, entertainment, and information. Our country is facing a lot of problems and radio is playing a role in information sharing between the government and citizens at grassroots levels,” he says. “In terms of information, radio is taking news to our locals and creating a platform for our musicians. Generally, I see radio as a peace-building tool in this part of the country where cattle raids, child abduction, and killing are commonplace.”
According to Elizabeth Nyadak John Jok, the Jonglei State information minister, World Radio Day is paramount and reminds people about the role radio plays.
“As a government, we know that a common citizen gets to know what is going on just by having a mobile phone and switching to the radio,” she states. “The good news is that almost the whole of Jonglei State is on air, letting our people, even one with a small phone with a radio, listen to broadcasts.”
On the challenges facing the state in terms of connectivity, Minister Nyadak says plans are underway to have more radio stations established.
“In Jonglei State, there are five radio stations; Radio Jonglei, Peace Radio, Seventh-Day Adventist Radio, VOR, Duk Padiet FM, and Akobo FM. For areas without radio, they are in my plan and I have already engaged partners, especially Digitel which is soon launching a radio station in Bor town and it is going to be a New Year gift for us,” she reveals. “So, radio is very important for education, information in the form of news, and entertainment in the form of drama or songs in Nuer, the Anyuak, and Dinka languages. This way, social interaction is created.”
Majok Guet Kuol, the head of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) Bor office, says they are partnering with partners in celebrating World Radio Day to educate everyone on the important role radio plays in promoting a well-informed society.
“Currently, we are educating people through radio on things that are happening across the country. Our community needs to be educated on health issues, life-supporting skills, and others,” he says. “As part of the entertainment, our country is going through a lot, we are counseling people in this stressful environment through songs and our programs because you cannot spend a day without hearing bad news across the country.”
Majok, who is also a radio presenter, said, for the full potential of radio to be realized, a lot needs to be done.
“Resources are a problem. We are operating radios with our little resources, meaning few journalists are brought in to work. Another challenge is that most radio stations in the state lack stable power supply, with radio stations going off air for days and this creates an information gap for the community which relies on radio,” he laments. “Also, media restriction is a challenge with some people fearing to talk to journalists because of the current situation. So, there is a need for civic education.”