Thursday, May 17, 2007
Bush Radio...The Mother Of All Community Radio
Bush Radio A to Z
Cape Town’s Bush Radio: An
Cape Town’s Bush Radio: An
Austin Airwaves Assessment
“Cape Town’s Bush Radio is not just one of the best radio stations in Africa,
“Cape Town’s Bush Radio is not just one of the best radio stations in Africa,
it is one of the best radio stations in the world,”
Austin Airwaves’ Jim Ellinger
I was very impressed by my visit to Bush Radio in Cape Town in February 2007. I have visited scores of community media groups around the world (100+ cities in 40+ countries/territories since 9/11), and few compare with the great resource provided by Bush Radio to the Cape Town community.
Programming in three local languages, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English, with half of the programmers women, the station reflects and promotes the best of the city. It also covers the myriad of social and political issues still facing post-apartheid South Africa with newscasts 20+ a day.
The station has a strong radio theater/drama department kept active with passion and enthusiasm by large number of volunteers. It is radio theatre that first brought “the theatre of the mind” to millions of radio listeners. And while it is just a memory to much of the modern world, it is alive and well at Bush Radio.
(My last assignment in southern Africa was to teach radio theatre in Chimoio, Mozambique, with great success.)
If A is for Africa, then Z is for Zane!
Zane Ibrahim, the Main Mentor of Bush Radio, has seemingly ascended to a lofty position somewhere between cook and bottle washer, beloved grandfather, philosopher...and troublemaker. His occasional visits to the station mean that everyone gets a ribbing, shares a story and a laugh…but nothing gets done until he leaves. With the day-to-day operation of the station well in hand by the great staff, Zane focuses his considerable energy and worldwide connections on keeping the station well funded and highly regarded.
I am proud to add my name to the list of friends and supporters of Bush Radio.
Austin Airwaves’ Jim Ellinger
I was very impressed by my visit to Bush Radio in Cape Town in February 2007. I have visited scores of community media groups around the world (100+ cities in 40+ countries/territories since 9/11), and few compare with the great resource provided by Bush Radio to the Cape Town community.
Programming in three local languages, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English, with half of the programmers women, the station reflects and promotes the best of the city. It also covers the myriad of social and political issues still facing post-apartheid South Africa with newscasts 20+ a day.
The station has a strong radio theater/drama department kept active with passion and enthusiasm by large number of volunteers. It is radio theatre that first brought “the theatre of the mind” to millions of radio listeners. And while it is just a memory to much of the modern world, it is alive and well at Bush Radio.
(My last assignment in southern Africa was to teach radio theatre in Chimoio, Mozambique, with great success.)
If A is for Africa, then Z is for Zane!
Zane Ibrahim, the Main Mentor of Bush Radio, has seemingly ascended to a lofty position somewhere between cook and bottle washer, beloved grandfather, philosopher...and troublemaker. His occasional visits to the station mean that everyone gets a ribbing, shares a story and a laugh…but nothing gets done until he leaves. With the day-to-day operation of the station well in hand by the great staff, Zane focuses his considerable energy and worldwide connections on keeping the station well funded and highly regarded.
I am proud to add my name to the list of friends and supporters of Bush Radio.
Their internship program for radio practitioners is highly recommended. Plus, the fact that Cape Town is one of the most beautiful big cities in the world doesn't hurt either!
