Soul Beat Africa is co-sponsored by Soul City Institute and the Communication Initiative

SOUL BEAT : Community Radio

Where community radio is central to Africa's social and economic development


Women's Rights Programmes

Country

South Africa

Programme Summary

ABC Ulwazi and the Foundation for Human Rights implemented a project with the goal of putting women's issues on top of the broadcast agenda by translating existing women's rights radio programmes ("Fight Against the Fist" and "Talking Man, Talking Woman") into other South African languages. These programmes were initially produced in English only, but were made more accessible by being made understandable to a greater number of South Africans.

Communication Strategies

The project made pre-existing material about women abuse and domestic violence available to more South Africans by translating it into many of South Africa's official languages. In this way, the messages can be better received and understood by listeners. "Characters are easier to identify with when they are speaking in your language and have names and idiosyncrasies that are relevant to your culture and situation. Drama itself is an excellent format to convey abstract or difficult themes to a wide listenership."

"Fight against the Fist" is a 6-part radio drama series about domestic violence that covers issues such as what constitutes domestic violence, the effect of domestic violence on children, police involvement, and getting an interim order. "Talking Man, Talking Woman" is a radio series of dramatised plays that address gender equality from a different perspective - in a subtle but (hopefully) persuasive way.

Both series were translated into Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sotho and Tswana and redistributed to a network of 50 community radio stations around South Africa.

Development Issues

Domestic Violence, Women, Rights, Gender.

Partners

ABC Ulwazi and the Foundation for Human Rights.

Contact

ABC Ulwazi

49 Jorissen Street
Devonshire House
13th Floor
Braamfontein 2001
P.O. Box 32402

Braamfontein
2017
South Africa
Tel: + (011) 339 2277
Fax: + (011) 403 4017

Source

Letter sent from Tammy Baldwin to Soul Beat Africa on February 11 2004.


Placed on the Soul Beat Africa site April 05 2004
Last Updated February 19 2009



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Community Radio and Gender

Community radio can play an important role in addressing gender imbalances in Africa. Of the key ways that this can be achieved, where is the most significant progress being made? (you may choose more than one option)