Many Depend on Radio Broadcasts across Africa
2023-04-03
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1In much of Africa, traditional radio sets are widely used.
2Radios are more popular than smartphones and computers because internet service is not always available in many places in Africa.
3The United Nations children's agency studied school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
4The agency said African countries south of the Sahara Desert had the highest percentage of schoolchildren who lacked internet during that time.
5Many students depended on solar-powered radio sets at home for their lessons.
6Afrobarometer is a research group based in Accra, Ghana.
7It found that more than 80 percent of people in Africa own a mobile phone with access to a mobile phone network.
8But "fewer than half" have mobile phones with internet access.
9When asked, 28 percent of people in 34 African countries said they had access to a computer at home.
10Afrobarometer said increasing information and communications technologies is important for "most African countries, and for the continent as a whole."
11The research group found radio is "overwhelmingly" the most common way of getting news in Africa.
12About 68 percent of respondents said they listened at least a few times a week, compared to about 40 percent who use social media and the internet.
13Traditional radio sets are easier and less costly to use in comparison to internet service.
14Many small radio sets now come with solar panels that permit people to listen to broadcasts even when they do not have electricity.
15Radios with a mobile phone charger and a light are popular.
16That kind of radio is very useful because electricity outages happen often in many parts of Africa and areas with internet can be far apart.
17John Masuku has been a radio broadcaster for 50 years.
18He said many people trust information from their radio sets over other sources.
19"There is a lot of disinformation and misinformation, so people still want to check...if it is not said on radio then it is not fact.
20That is why radio is popular and celebrated in Africa," he said.
21Broadcasts in local languages also get many radio listeners.
22Zimbabwe's state radio and many community stations offer broadcasts in Shona, Ndebele and 12 other local languages, he said.
23However, the way many people in Africa listen to the radio is changing as internet service improves.
24The number of people getting news at least "a few times a week" from social media, the internet, or both has almost doubled from 24 percent to 43 percent over the past 10 years, Afrobarometer found.
25Stanley Tsarwe works in journalism studies at the University of Zimbabwe.
26He said the falling prices of mobile phones that can access radio stations is also changing how people listen to radio in Africa.
27"There is an ongoing convergence between radio and digital mobile technologies, especially the mobile phone," he said.
28"Radio is integrating more rapidly with the mobile phone because it is much more accessible in Africa. The mobile phone is the future of radio in Africa," Tsarwe said.
29I'm Gregory Stachel.
1In much of Africa, traditional radio sets are widely used. Radios are more popular than smartphones and computers because internet service is not always available in many places in Africa. 2The United Nations children's agency studied school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency said African countries south of the Sahara Desert had the highest percentage of schoolchildren who lacked internet during that time. Many students depended on solar-powered radio sets at home for their lessons. 3Afrobarometer is a research group based in Accra, Ghana. It found that more than 80 percent of people in Africa own a mobile phone with access to a mobile phone network. But "fewer than half" have mobile phones with internet access. When asked, 28 percent of people in 34 African countries said they had access to a computer at home. 4Afrobarometer said increasing information and communications technologies is important for "most African countries, and for the continent as a whole." 5The research group found radio is "overwhelmingly" the most common way of getting news in Africa. About 68 percent of respondents said they listened at least a few times a week, compared to about 40 percent who use social media and the internet. 6Traditional radio sets are easier and less costly to use in comparison to internet service. 7Many small radio sets now come with solar panels that permit people to listen to broadcasts even when they do not have electricity. Radios with a mobile phone charger and a light are popular. That kind of radio is very useful because electricity outages happen often in many parts of Africa and areas with internet can be far apart. 8John Masuku has been a radio broadcaster for 50 years. He said many people trust information from their radio sets over other sources. 9"There is a lot of disinformation and misinformation, so people still want to check...if it is not said on radio then it is not fact. That is why radio is popular and celebrated in Africa," he said. 10Broadcasts in local languages also get many radio listeners. Zimbabwe's state radio and many community stations offer broadcasts in Shona, Ndebele and 12 other local languages, he said. 11However, the way many people in Africa listen to the radio is changing as internet service improves. The number of people getting news at least "a few times a week" from social media, the internet, or both has almost doubled from 24 percent to 43 percent over the past 10 years, Afrobarometer found. 12Stanley Tsarwe works in journalism studies at the University of Zimbabwe. He said the falling prices of mobile phones that can access radio stations is also changing how people listen to radio in Africa. 13"There is an ongoing convergence between radio and digital mobile technologies, especially the mobile phone," he said. "Radio is integrating more rapidly with the mobile phone because it is much more accessible in Africa. The mobile phone is the future of radio in Africa," Tsarwe said. 14I'm Gregory Stachel. 15Farai Mutsaka reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 16_________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18mobile - adj. able to move from one place to another 19digital - adj. using or characterized by computer technology 20overwhelming - adj. very great in number, effect, or force 21solar panel - n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity 22charger -n. a device that provides electricity for computer, cell phones and other electronic equipment 23converge - v. to come together and meet 24integrate - v. to combine (two or more things) to form or create something 25rapid - adj. happening in a short amount of time 26_________________________________________________________________ 27What do you think of this story? 28We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 29Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.