Nairobi, 26 September, 2019 / 10:18 pm (ACI Africa).
Celebrated as a key form of free expression globally and ranked by UNESCO as Africa’s most influential information outlet, radio stations in Africa have an impact on audiences and a network of Catholic radios is particularly contributing to peace on the continent, a media practitioner overseeing some 23 radio stations across Africa has testified to ACI Africa.
"In terms of peace, the radios have dedicated a generous amount of programs to promoting peace across the continent," the Coordinator of Radio Maria Africa, Paolo Taffuri told ACI Africa Wednesday, referring to deliberate efforts made to use the network of Catholic radios in Africa as an instrument of peace.
“During elections (2018) in DR Congo, Radio Maria in Kinshasa ... dedicated a lot of programs to educate people to maintain peace and experience that moment with a lot of peace and positive attitude,” the Coordinator of Radio Maria Africa, Paolo Taffuri told ACI Africa in an exclusive interview Wednesday.
“We have been recognized by some local authorities informally for the contribution the radio gave,” he added, underscoring the significant role the network of Catholic radios he coordinates plays on the African continent.
In Rwanda where reconciliation efforts are still ongoing 25 years after the genocide that saw an estimated one million people die and others displaced, Radio Maria Rwanda, which “is the second in terms of listenership after the national radio” contributes in maintaining “peace not just in peace keeping but in peacebuilding.”
