A Tale of Failure: Indigenous Language Radio Broadcasting in Zimbabwe

Memory Mabika,Abiodun Salawu

doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2391

Memory Mabika, Abiodun Salawu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2391

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Abstract

Using the electronic colonialism theory and globalisation approach, the study reflects on the distinctive features of indigenous language radio broadcasting stations in Zimbabwe. This is done in an effort to establish how the prevailing radio broadcasting landscape is limiting the use of minority languages in this multilingual nation. Studies reveal the importance of indigenous languages and expound on how radio broadcasting can effectively enhance indigenous languages revitalisation processes. However, due to the previous and current political contexts in Zimbabwe, indigenous language radio broadcasting has continued to create an atmosphere where minority languages are not given necessary recognition, leading to their exclusion from most of the existing radio stations. Qualitative data were collected using three instruments, namely interviews, focus groups discussions and document analysis. Findings reveal that most indigenous languages in Zimbabwe have never been developed beyond their oral use by speakers in their confined locations. This makes any effort to use these languages for broadcasting a serious challenge since speakers and non-speakers do not value these languages. The government’s stringent Broadcasting Services Act of 2001 (BSA) has also made the usage of radio broadcasting in preserving minority languages an almost impossible task. It is the contention of this paper that no positive change is possible to radio broadcasting if the existing BSA is not revisited, in order to broaden the broadcasting landscape so as to introduce community stations which can broadcast to specific communities in indigenous languages spoken in those areas. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2391

Highlights

Since their inception, the media as disseminators of news are considered principal institutions that have the mandate to facilitate dialogue and provide relevant information to the citizenry, from which members of the public get a better understanding of their society (McCombs & Shaw, 1993; Browne, 2008)
Using the electronic colonialism theory and globalisation approach, this study examines the distinctive features of indigenous language radio broadcasting stations in Zimbabwe, in an effort to understand how indigenous languages are being side-lined and the implications of such an action
In order to verify the usefulness of indigenous language radio broadcasting in revitalising indigenous languages, the study assessed the various features of the two ILRBSs in Zimbabwe

Summary

Introduction

The media as disseminators of news are considered principal institutions that have the mandate to facilitate dialogue and provide relevant information to the citizenry, from which members of the public get a better understanding of their society (McCombs & Shaw, 1993; Browne, 2008). Interact by exchanging information in a language understood by the people involved in the communication process. Communicating in indigenous languages, it has been noted, enhances social cohesion, which facilitates the preservation of African cultures (Salawu, 2006).According to Sonderling (2009: 85) “Language is important and central in all aspects of our lives, from face-to-face situations to communication through the mass media”. For that reason, using indigenous languages to interact with the masses through the media, radio, enhances the effectiveness of mass communication. Studies have shown that indigenous language radio broadcasting is the most effective channel of mass communication since it reaches more peripheral areas than other media, and is understood by the audiences (Mufwene, 2002; Manyozo, 2009)

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