Audio files require a sound card, speakers or headset, and a free browser plug-in such as Real Player. A fast internet connection helps.

Addis Live: Ethiopian Music Internet Radio

Ethiopian music and radio. To listen requires a high-speed internet connection. "contemporary, popular, and traditional Ethiopian music .............. features traditional Ethiopian songs such as Tizita, Bati, and Ambassel played by modern and traditional musical instruments....... includes hundreds of popular and contemporary songs by famous Ethiopian artists such as Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Aster Aweke, Gigi, Neway Debebe, Ephrem Tamiru and more." News, photographs. Artist interviews, short stories (in Amharic). Links to artists' sites. [KF] http://www.addislive.com/

Africa No. 1

In French. Radio station begun in 1981, based in Libreville,Gabon and Paris. Has a selection of past interviews http://www.africa1.com/

Africa Centre (London) - Talking Africa

"weekly radio programme which features discussion and debate on topical issues of importance to Africans on the continent, Britain and the rest of the Diaspora, including art reviews and news analysis. TA is based and sponsored by the Africa Centre in London." Listen to past programs (requires sound card, speakers or headset, and program such as Real Player). http://www.talkingafrica.org/

African Radio Online

Listen to African music 24/7 with live DJs (click on Listen Live Now). Discussion (male-female relationships for ex.), interviews with musicians. Music videos (from YouTube). Site owned by Hassan Bakarr, CEO and founder of Mama Africa Productions and Salone Bor Bor entertainment. Based in Roslindale, Massachusetts. http://www.africanradioonline.com

African Union of Broadcasting

Formerly Union of National Radio and Television Organizations of Africa, URTNA. Based in Dakar, Senegal. http://www.urtna.org/

Africana

The Africana.com site features selections of African music through Radio Netscape. http://www.africana.com/

AfriRhythms

African music internet radio. African, Afro-Caribbean, Reggae, Jazz, Zouk, Oldies and Today's Hits 24/7. Artist interviews, news. To view the music videos requires (free) registration. http://www.afrirhythms.com

Broadcast, Film and Convergence

E-mail newsletter on TV, radio, film in Africa. Free subscription. Published by Balancing Acts' Southwood Consultants Ltd. http://www.afridigital.net/

Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV

In French and English. Short news articles, audio clips (need Windows Media Player), the President of Cameroun's activities, information about CRTV. [KF] http://www.crtv.cm

Channel Africa

From the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Has live broadcasts. http://www.channelafrica.org/

Choice FM

Select 107.1 for live African popular music from Ghanaian DJ Uncle Sam of Africa and others. Based in London. http://www.choicefm.com/

Clandestine Radio.com

Information on political radio stations such as Radio Baydhabo which "broadcasts in support of the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA), Somalia. See the Clandestine Radio Intel directory of stations from guerilla and opposition radio stations from Congo-Kinshasa, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Western Sahara, etc. Some have detailed histories. Has full text of its newsletter, Clandestine Radio Watch and a report "Investigative Report: Liberian Situation and Star Radio: Bureaucratization of Clandestine Radio" By Nick Grace C. January 30, 1998. Based in Washington, D.C. [KF] http://www.clandestineradio.com

Developing Radio Partners

Supports "independent radio stations in young democracies through professional development in journalism, programming, station management, and finance." Examples - using radio in Sierra Leone to fight corruption, a radio station in a South African township which helps solve community problems. Based in Washington, D.C. http://www.developingradiopartners.org/

Development Through Radio Project

Site has closed. On the Development Through Radio Project in Sierra Leone. "The project [of the Forum of Conscience, in Freetown which] gives 30 women’s groups access to policy makers and the wider development aid community through airing their concerns and aspirations on national radio." Has case studies from war victims, discussions on Reparations and Testimonials from the community on a variety of topics and issues. On Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Forum Of Conscience (FOC), a Sierra Leone based human rights organization. Has a survey of women’s radio listening patterns in Sierra Leone. See also Mercy Wambui, 2003 Reuters Digital Visions Fellow at Stanford University. [KF] http://www.dtronline.org/

Frequence Verte

In French. Radio program produced by SYFIA, "un réseau de journalistes francophones africains, canadiens, asiatiques et européens." Audio files are online but may be slow to load.Syfia also publishes Bulletin de Presse de SYFIA (Montpellier, France). http://www.syfia.info/fr/radiointro.asp

Ghanawaves Radio

"Internet Radio for Ghanaians abroad." 24 / 7 from Accra, Ghana. Has ads. Web site based in Germany. http://www.ghanawaves.com

Higher Ground

Wisconsin Public Radio program playing music with African roots (from Africa, U.S., Brazil, Caribbean and beyond). Playlists. Hosted by Jonathan Overby http://www.wpr.org/higherground/

Intermedia Consultants SA

In French. "un bureau d'études qui fournit des services dans le domaine de la communication, des télécommunications et du développement rural." Supports rural radio in Africa, has audio clips of traditional oral history recordings. Offices in Berne, Switzerland and Dakar, Senegal. [KF] http://www.intermedia-consultants.net/

International Telecommunication Union. Rural Application Focus Group

Gathers information on projects to develop technology for rural telecommunications applications. Summaries and full text case studies. Use the Search, by Country, to locate studies on by country, for example -
Rural Community Radio Stations in Mali (also in French).
Multipurpose Community Telecentres: In support of People-Centred Development (Mali). http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/fg7/

Joy FM Online

Web site for an Accra FM radio station. Music and the news in English and Twi. Has a business directory, Ghanaian proverbs, local news and events, feature stories such as on the new Asantehene, the budget, AIDS, discussion on Ghana, etc. http://www.myjoyonline.com/radio/

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

News, the Nairobi Stock Exchange, weather. Listen to news in Swahili. Information about Kenya TV and radio. "Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is a state corporation established by an Act of Parliamen... to undertake public services." [KF] http://www.kbc.co.ke/

Live Radio - COMFM

Has some radio programs not at the MIT site. Covers Benin, Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania. From COMFM in France. http://www.comfm.com/live/radio/?k=1

Mediafrica

Extensive directory of radio stations in Africa. http://www.mediafrica.net/index.php

Media Institute of Southern Africa, MISA

News of press freedom violations in Southern Africa, links to member radio and TV web sites, action alerts, full text papers from MISA's May 2001 Seminar, directories of Southern African newspapers and Southern African radio stations, MISA chapters, lists of their publications, training for media practitioners. MISA, based in Windhoek, Namibia, is an NGO with members in 11 of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries. Their Southern African Media Directory 2004/2005 is 139 pages, in pdf. Based in Windhoek Namibia. [KF] http://www.misa.org/

Monitor FM Radio

Listen to radio from Uganda. From the Monitor, a Ugandan print newspaper. http://www.monitor.co.ug/mwenda/mwenda_live.htm

Nigerian WebRADIO

"100% Nigerian music" Internet radio station, news, sports and exclusive interviews. From Virgo Visions Media, Houston Texas. http://www.nigerianwebradio.com

OneWorld Radio. AIDS Network

"OneWorld Radio AIDS Network is a community of broadcasters, NGOs and activists coming together in the fight against AIDS. The network launches with 100 member organizations and radio stations across the world. Globally, radio programming is being used to share experiences of AIDS and to give advice on reducing risk and supporting those living with HIV/AIDS." http://radio.oneworld.net/

ORTM : Office de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision du Mali

In French. Mali's national radio and TV corporation. http://www.ortm.net/

Pan African Allstars

Listen to the Pan African Allstars internet Radio. Sells music DVDs, CDs. Audio samples. Music discussion forums. Site based in College Park, Georgia. http://www.panafricanallstars.com/

Radio Banadir

Independent, non-governmental station, based in Mogadishu, Somalia. http://www.radiobanadir.com/

Radio Bridge Overseas Trust (Harare, Zimbabwe)

"We are an African based initiator of grassroot communication through radio." http://www.radiobridge.net

Radio do Canal Angola da Quakenet

Listen to Angolan music - kizomba. (requires soundcard, speakers/headset). The Embassy of Angola U.K. site also has kizomba music. Web site based in Toronto, Canada. http://www.CanalAngola.net

 

Radio Ecclesia

In Portuguese. [A July 2001 report describes "a decision by independent Catholic-run Rádio Ecclésia to suspend all news reports in favour of religious broadcasts only."] A independent Catholic radio station in Angola which carries news including very brief selections from Angolan newspapers, important documents such as statements from the Catholic Bishops of Angola and Sao Tome, interviews with the political opposition. For those with sound cards and Realplayer, click on the satellite dish icon to listen to the news. This site does not work in Netscape Navigator browsers. [KF] http://www.recclesia.org/

See also article "Tightening Controls on Media Worry Journalists in Angola" by Rachel L. Swarns in New York Times, Sept. 20, 2000, A8. [KF]

 

Radio France Internationale

In French. Listen to news in French with African reporters using Real Player. Or listen to African musicians and read their biographies.http://www.rfi.fr/

 

Radio Libre Kayira

In French, with some English pages. Civil society radio station in Bamako, Mali. Text only, no audio files. A radio cooperative founded to promote tolerance, respect, and democratic vigilance. Information on the different stations and their activities, philosophy, etc. http://www.kayira.org

Radio-Locator (formerly MIT List of Radio Stations in Africa)

Extensive list of African radio stations. Maintained by Theodric Young at WMBR-FM.http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/nation

Radio Maria Togo

Catholic internet radio station in Lome, Togo. http://www.radiomaria.tg

Radio Nacional de Angola (Luanda)

In Portuguese. Has the program schedule. http://www.rna.ao/

Rádio Nacional de São Tomé e Príncipe

In Portuguese. Based in São Tomé. http://www.radionacional.st/

Radio Okapi

In French, Kiswahili, Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba. Listen to broadcasts from this radio station for Congo news. (Requires soundcard, speakers or headset). Sponsored by the United Nations. Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and Fondation Hirondelle. See also the audio report on Radio Okapi by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's "Congo Wasted Promise." Web site based in Lausanne, Switzerland. [KF] http://www.radiookapi.net/

Radio Sans Frontiere

In French. News blog on radio stations in Africa and elsewhere. Based in France. http://www.radiosansfrontiere.info/archive-12-2005.html

Radio Simba

Uganda radio station. News, listen to music (requires sound card/speakers), profiles of programs and radio personalities. http://www.simba.fm/

Réseau de Partenaires des Médias Africains / African Media Partners Network (Paris)

- Radio

The Network, based in Paris, is composed of donor agencies. Has the latest news on the media (newspapers / radio) in Africa, a directory of African journalist associations, directory of press centres, full text media status reports (the media sector in the country, including the media landscape and its stakeholders, the legal framework, the role of donors and the sector's support needs) for Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Niger, Togo. For each country, has a "List of newspapers, completed with indicators on the importance of their audience (frequency, average circulation, number of staff...) and addresses," a list of radio broadcasters, and two maps. Donors include governments, foundations and international bodies. Has a directory of media organizations by country. http://www.gret.org/mediapartner/index.htm

Rowing Upstream: Snapshots of Pioneers of the Information Age in Africa

Edited by Lisbeth A. Levey and Stacey Young. Developed by the Project for Information Access and Connectivity (PIAC). (Johannesburg, South Africa: Zann Hoad Sharp Sharp Media (Pty) Ltd., 2002.). Full text of a book on the history of the internet in Africa, with a timeline (and maps). Covers the role of African NGOs, especially SANGONET, a photo essay (includes community radio in Mozambique, women's enterprises), African content on the web including from the Diaspora, ICT in African universities, ICT funding in Africa, accounts of the beginnings of the internet in Africa by some of its pioneers. [KF] http://www.piac.org/rowing_upstream/

Seattle Area African Music Radio Programs

Listen to Streaming Live African Music from Seattle, Washington.

http://members.aol.com/dpaterson/radio.htm

SW Radio Africa

"The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe" is a short-wave liberation radio station based in London broadcasting news on the political situation in Zimbabwe and music. Listen to past programs any time (requires soundcard, headset/speakers, Windows Media Player). Run by Zimbabweans, operated by Gerry Jackson who once ran the first independent station in Zimbabwe which was subsequently closed down by the govt. It broadcasts on the 6145khz wavelength in the 49m band, daily 6 - 9 pm Zimbabwe time. See also a print article in Southern Africa Report, (Johannesburg), Vol. 20, No. 2, Jan. 11, 2002. http://www.swradioafrica.com

TV Radio World

Find radio stations throughout Africa. Based in Addison, Illinois. http://www.tvradioworld.com/region3/

The Voice

Johannesburg's Muslim Community Radio Station. http://786.co.za/voice/

Voice of Nigeria

Nigeria's national world-wide radio station. "Founded in 1961, the Voice of Nigeria began life as the External Service of the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria)." Includes selected audio files of broadcasts, an audio file of the national anthem, facts about Nigeria, photographs. Offices in Abuja and Lagos. [KF] http://www.voiceofnigeria.org/

Wakilisha

Listen to Kenyan popular music on Radio Wakilisha. Requires username and password (free) to see multi media features. Lists events in the U.S. Based in Florida. [KF] http://www.wakilisha.com

San Francisco Bay Area Programs

KALW, 91.7 FM Radio - Thursday, 9 pm features "Kumpo Beat" ("For three hours every week, Henri-Pierre Koubaka hosts a program of African music, philosophy, and folk culture.") Listen to live broadcasts. http://www.sfusd.edu/programs/kalw/kalw.htm
KKUP 91.5 FM Radio - Emmanuel Nado's "Echoes of Africa", Mondays, 3 - 6 pm and Vince Gbenga's "Afro-Spirit", 2nd and 4th Fridays, 9 pm - midnight. Listen to past Afro-Spirit programs in Real Audio. http://www.kkup.com/nado.html
KPFA 94.1 FM Radio - Africa Today with Walter Turner, Mondays 7pm - 8 pm. "A weekly half hour news program providing information and analysis about Africa and the African Diaspora. Africa Today seeks to update listeners on contemporary developments in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and the United States. The program utilizes an interview and discussion format to explore political, social, economic, and cultural themes relative to the African experience." http://www.kpfa.org/1pro_bio/1b_afric.htm

 

Print Sources

Friedman, Thomas L. "Low-Tech Democracy" in the New York Times, May 1, 2001, page A27

On the influence of FM radio in the Ghana presidential election. Advocates making aid / debt relief conditional on African governments' permitting free FM radio stations.