Catholic Journalists in Africa Pledge Support for Vatican Radio’s Africa Service @70

The journalists’ union President notes that in 1950 when Vatican Radio began its broadcasts to Africa, not a single state across the continent had attained political independence.

“This was indeed the peak of the fierce battle waged by indigenous African communities to regain self-rule from the colonial powers,” says the Kenyan-born UCAP President.

He adds, “Messages of hope and biblical teachings greatly inspired many who had been disillusioned under the yoke of the colonial oppression, hunger, diseases illiteracy among other challenges.”

And even after many countries on the continent attained independence in the 1960s, Vatican Radio continued to broadcast messages of hope, Christian teachings that helped charter the cause of many African nations to-date,” says Sunguh.

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Members of the union that is recognized by the Vatican, on Friday, July 17 joined their colleagues from other parts of the world to celebrate Vatican Radio’s 70 years of service to the Church in Africa.

To mark the celebration, SIGNIS Africa, the continental branch of the global Catholic Association for Communication in collaboration with the Vatican Radio held a virtual event to discuss the role of storytelling in managing the ills that affect the African society today and highlight the milestones of the radio in Africa.

“We are glad to note the special webinar organized to commemorate this day, by the Dicastery of Communication, SIGNIS and SECAM – bringing together English-speaking Catholic Communicators in Africa,” says the UCAP President in the communique dated July 16.

He adds, “I appeal to all UCAP members to rally behind today’s webinar and continue supporting Vatican Radio from their respective parishes.”

The union President says that the theme of the webinar, “Story-telling as a tool to manage racial and social tribulations in Africa,” was apt especially at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic that he says has nearly brought the entire world to its knees.

He notes that UCAP has equally held two successful webinars under the theme, “The Role of Media in Church Services During and after COVID-9,” in English and French languages.

“These webinars received a high number of subscriptions from across the continent and beyond,” he recalls, and adds, “We look forward to (having) many more webinar conferences for such webinars are the glue that binds our people together.”

The UCAP press statement was copied to Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Nigeria’s Oyo Diocese who is the President of the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) and Rome-based Fr. Janvier Yameogo who carries out his communication apostolate at the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communications.

“We wish the entire staff and management of Vatican Radio, all God’s blessings as you continue to serve humanity in this noble calling,” the leadership of UCAP says.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.