Consultation on Christian Communications in Africa

Abstract

Broadcasting, especially of a religious nature, has a varied pattern in Africa today. The reasons are not far to seek, in the variety of European colonial powers who left their mark on Africa, followed by the interest and influence of non-colonial powers such as the U.S.A. Nigeria owes most to the patterns of the B.B.C.; the former French territories show strong marks of resemblance to C.R.T.F.; Liberia looks like an American child, and Ethiopia has her own peculiar pattern, having learned much from Sweden, the U.S.A., and Germany. The variety is increased in the field of religious broadcasting by the activities of the various missionary societies. Some of these have totally ignored the opportunities of the mass media or concentrated on literature; others, notably the Lutherans and Baptists, have pioneered in radio and are ready to do the same for television. There are Christian studios in Africa producing programmes for the missionary stations like R.V.O.G. in Addis Ababa, or for commercial stations broadcasting to African countries.