Radio Bakhita 91.0 FM – the Voice of the Church – is a media house owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, South Sudan.[1] It was established in 2006 and officially opened in Juba on 8 February 2007, the day the Church there celebrates the country's first saint, Josephine Bakhita.[2][3] It was established with the aim of "creating a platform to promote evangelization, communication for peace and good governance, as well as the general public's active participation in the life of the country."[3]
| Programming | |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | English, Juba Arabic |
| History | |
First air date | February 8, 2007 |
| Technical information | |
Transmitter coordinates | 4°51′N 31°36′E / 4.850°N 31.600°E |
It is the main station of the South Sudan Catholic Radio Network, covering an area of around 300 km2, with a claimed potential audience of 1,000,000.[4] The station transmits daily from 6:00 AM through to 9:00 PM in two languages, catering to speakers of both Juba Arabic and English.
Programming
editRadio Bakhita 91.0 broadcasts call-in discussion shows, community news, and short segments on health, education, peacebuilding, youth religious life, and women's rights.[5] Particular broadcasts are designed for people traumatized by civil war.[6][7] Radio Bakhita 91.0 also broadcasts programmes for specific skills, such as Terbia A and Terbia B, which consist of four series of 60 half-hour English language lessons that range from beginner to advanced levels.[8]
State censorship
editLike other radio and print news sources in South Sudan, Radio Bakhita 91.0 has been periodically shut down by the country's security services for allowing live phone calls and open debates, and for broadcasting clips of opponents of the government of South Sudan.[9] In August 2014, Security Services shut down the station and arrested several journalists.[10][11][12][13][14]
References
edit- ^ "Radio_Bakhita_juba". www.bakhitaradio.org. Retrieved 4 Jan 2018.
- ^ "BAKHITA RADIO Official Opening (Bakhita Radio Newsroom press release)". comboni.org. February 8, 2007.
- ^ a b "Bakhita Radio - Juba". Catholic Radio Network. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "BAKHITA RADIO Official Opening". WWW.comboni.org.
- ^ Fuchs, Richard A. (May 5, 2016). "South Sudan: Still broadcasting loud and clear". Deutsche Welle (DW). Berlin, Germany. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Kruchem, Thomas (2011). "A Radio Station for Peace". Qantara.de. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Catholic News Service (December 16, 2010). "Catholic radio gives citizens voice on democracy in Southern Sudan". The Catholic Sentinel. Juba, Southern Sudan. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (SSIRI), Quarterly Report, July - September 2007 (PDF) (Report). USAID & Education Development Center. October 29, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Modi, Roger Alfred Yoron (May 5, 2017). "Then they came for Al Jazeera: South Sudan press freedoms further deteriorate". African Arguments. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Adinda, Pamela (September 12, 2014). "SOUTH SUDAN: Radio Bakhita Sets to Resume its Operations on Sunday". amecea.blogspot.com. Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa blog. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Aleu, Philip; Biajo, Nabeel (August 19, 2014). "South Sudan Journalist Released, Bakhita Radio Still Silent". Voice of America.
- ^ Dolan, Theo (May 14, 2015). "Radio Days in South Sudan". Foreign Policy.
- ^ "South Sudan's authorities threaten Catholic community radio". Reporters Without Borders. October 1, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Salcido, Sr Cecilia Sierra (March 3, 2010). "Bakhita Radio Closed Down: Summoned By The Police". Gurtong. Retrieved January 30, 2018.