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Faces of Tanzania - a gender transformative photo series

2022-12-06T17:06:49+00:00

“My secrets to success are knowing yourself, following your dreams and never giving up!”

These are the words of Meena Ally, a former �� MA presenter and know a well-known media personality across the country. She is just one of the many inspirational voices our Niambie! (Tell me!) programme highlights. We produced this simple yet powerful advice to be shared with our online audience of over 400,000, but even me, the individual sitting behind the camera, cannot help but take her advice on board.

My name is Joseph Minde. I am Tanzanian by birth, but an African citizen by nurture. I grew up in Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and now I am settled and working in Tanzania. I have always thought of myself as a storyteller and to me the world is full of stories! Be it the people we meet or the things we see, these stories are not just meant to be told; they are meant to be felt. It is this “feeling” I strive for in all my work, as nothing is more powerful than a story.

I joined �� Media Action as a digital media producer in late 2020, excited to be a part of something bigger than me. And that is exactly what Niambie is! It is a multimedia show which targets youth between the ages of 18-35. Niambie uses multimedia and outreach events to create an equal Tanzania where girls can claim their political, social and economic rights.

Tanzania is very much a beautiful country but still an unequal one when it comes to matters of gender equality. This is why Niambie’s work, and the Faces of Tanzania series is so important: to not only show girls that they can achieve their dreams but to tell them that they have a right to!

Elizabeth and Rehema in Shinyanga, Tanzania by Joseph Minde for Niambie/�� Media Action (2022).

“A message to the girl and boy child! Have ambition, know your goals, and don’t let anyone pressure you!”

The words of Elizabeth (left). Elizabeth and Rehema are friends who had their dreams snatched away from them after they got excluded from their respective schools because of getting pregnant.

“My dad did not even want to talk to me after he found out and our relationship completely broke down,” Rehama says. She blames bad company and peer pressure for influencing her decisions.

However, Elizabeth and Rehema now have reason to smile, after a change in the laws here have allowed teenage mothers to return to school. Rehema is now reunited with her parents and hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Elizabeth hopes to pursue a career in arts and crafts.

Aisha in Zanzibar, Tanzania by Joseph Minde for Niambie/�� Media Action.

Meet Aisha or as she is popularly known ‘Hijab DJ’ - the first woman DJ in Zanzibar. She fought stigma from her community and even her own family to become one of the most popular DJs in Zanzibar.

“The community needs to understand that the world is changing. People have different dreams, not everyone is going to be a doctor or a teacher. Some DJs will be born, some musicians will be born…”

Amina in Mtwara, Tanzania by Joseph Minde for Niambie/�� Media Action

“How can a woman change a tyre?”

This is one of the many statements that have been thrown at Amina. She doesn’t let it affect her.

“If you tell yourself you can’t do it, then that’s how it will play out. If you go in with confidence, then others will automatically respect you.”

Amina is a mechanic in Mtwara. It was her dream to become a mechanic ever since she was a child - a dream she has since fulfilled.

Judy in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania by Joseph Minde for Niambie/�� Media Action (2021).

Judy is a tour guide based in Moshi, Kilimanjaro. In a short space of time, she has moved from being a porter to being a tour guide for clients looking to scale Mount Kilimanjaro.

Despite her success, some of her colleagues are still hesitant to fully accept her. Her goals remain clear: continue working hard, be the boss of her life and eventually open her own tourism company.

“Just because I’m a girl, it doesn’t mean I have to work in a bar as a waitress or do household chores as others may expect. I am young and I have a thirst for success!”

Want to know more about these stories? Check out the full interviews on Niambie Tanzania’s social media platforms.

Niambie’s work and Tanzania’s story is still ongoing, but we hope that with each story we tell and with each voice we give a platform, we are building a more equal Tanzania. Be sure to follow the SBCC Summit in Marrakech this December as we look to tell Niambie’s story to the world!

You can also see my Instagram takeover of the �� Media Action account here – it includes some male champions striving for gender equality too.

Thanks for reading.

World Press Freedom Day 2019: Our youth delegates take Addis Ababa by storm!

2019-05-23T15:37:42+00:00

Bwale Mutanuka and Kefa Hussein at WPFD2019

For 20 years, �� Media Action has been supporting media freedom and providing training and mentoring to journalists in developing countries to produce free, independent journalism that provides space for constructive public debate.

For the recent UNESCO World Press Freedom Day conference (WPFD2019) in Ethiopia, we sponsored two youth delegates – Bwale Mutanuka from Zambia and Kefa Hussein from Tanzania – to take part in the Youth Newsroom initiative, which gives young journalists from around the world the chance to report on the conference and improve their journalism skills.

Bwale (left), from Zambia, is currently Chief Producer of a youth-focussed radio show called Ishiwi, supported by �� Media Action. Kefa (right) is a Film and Television student from Tanzania who works as a ‘Young Professional’ for our vibrant youth radio programme, Niambie. They both kindly spoke to me about their experiences in Addis, what they learned whilst there, and why media freedom is important to them. Read on to find out more!

So, when did you both first know that you wanted to be journalists?

Bwale: For me, I’ve known since I was very young – maybe since fourth grade in school. I always thought I should be on TV reading the news or reporting from the field! I used to go around my school pretending to interview students, and took part in both press and debate club. My dad actually wanted me to study something completely different, but my mum and I convinced him that journalism was the course for me.

Kefa: My dream started when I was around 11 years old watching a Tanzanian kids’ news show on Independent TV – I wanted to be just like the young presenters! I auditioned for the show but sadly didn’t get through – however it sparked a passion in me and I took on every presenting opportunity I could find at school until I chose to study film and TV at university.

Bwale recording segments for youth radio show Ishiwi with Kokoliko FM, Zambia

What’s the best story you’ve reported on?

Bwale: Where I’m based in Chingola, we’re right in the middle of the Zambian copperbelt – so I find that I cover a lot of stories about the mining sector. Recently we had some peaceful demos by citizens who felt their water was becoming polluted due to mining activity, and some of their houses were getting cracks. The government had promised to support these communities – so it was interesting reporting on both sides to see how the citizens’ concerns were being handled by their leaders.

Kefa: My best story was when I shared the experience of a young girl living just outside of Dar Es Salaam and the difficult journey she faces every day to get to school. We followed her from the moment she wakes up (at 4am) and gets ready, through to her dangerous journey walking to school all alone along a very dark and busy road. The road is full of drunkards and ‘fataki’ (sugar daddies) who try to talk to the girls. There is a bus, but the conductors often refuse to let too many students board as they have to charge a lower fare. We also interviewed her teacher, and the piece really opened my eyes to the extra challenges girls in my country face just to get to school.

Kefa recording content for radio show, Niambie, in Tanzania

How did you get involved with �� Media Action?

Bwale: I first heard about Media Action when I worked for Radio Icengelo, as the charity had previously helped the station run some audience debate shows. Then I started at Kokoliko FM and heard that we were starting a partnership with Media Action – I was really happy! Now I’m the Chief Producer of a youth radio show called Ishiwi, supported by the charity, which broadcasts every Saturday. I work with fellow young people to discuss and debate the important governance issues affecting young Zambians so they can know what’s going on and hold leaders to account. Media Action’s mentor, Vanessa, travels out to us from Lusaka to deliver all kinds of training – from editorial and production through to responsible social media usage, to make sure we’re properly verifying all our sources. She’s really helped me when it comes to objectivity, impartiality and transparency – and has helped me ensure I’m striking a good balance between female and male voices on the show.

Kefa: Well firstly, I was aware of �� News and World Service. �� Swahili is very popular here in Tanzania. I remember one day in my first year of studies, a friend ran up to me with an advert for Niambie he’d seen on Instagram. I’d never heard of the charity before but was curious to learn more, so did some research and applied! I was quite nervous at first that my English wouldn’t be good enough, as it’s my second language, but I got accepted! I started as a ‘Young Professional’ with Niambie in July 2017. My job is to help gather content from the field to include on the show, including creating some digital content for Niambie’s social media channels. When I started with Niambie I had no editing skills, but they’ve really grown a lot from working on the show. I enjoy it very much – more than university! When it comes to Niambie, this is the reality of what I want to do, you know? Meet real people, tell real stories, put my training into action.

Kefa arriving at the conference in Addis Ababa (can you tell he was excited?)

Tell us about your experiences at World Press Freedom Day!

Bwale: There was so much! I was so grateful and humbled to be there. I learned a lot about development and the media reform process Ethiopia is currently going through – it made me think a lot about the state of media reforms in my own country. A big theme of the conference was ‘elections in times of disinformation’ – and with Zambia’s elections coming up in 2021, it reinforced how important it is for me to report in a responsible manner. Zambia has been a beacon of peace in Africa since its independence, and I want this to continue. So I need to report factually and recognise, and be sensitive to, the potential influence I have over my listeners. I also learned a lot from Kefa and really enjoyed hearing about his work with youth radio in Tanzania and the political situation there.

Kefa: Going to Addis was my first ever international visit! I have to say I initially found little things very confusing – such as the currency and the language – but the trip really exposed me to new people and new cultures. My favourite session was with the organisation Cartooning for Peace who produce satirical cartoons with political messages. It’s rare to find this kind of cartoon in Tanzania – not many people have the courage to draw cartoons that go beyond making people laugh to help people learn or address sensitive issues. I also really enjoyed the session on how to spot real versus fake news, and learnt useful techniques such as checking the author’s background and finding alternative sources. I learnt a lot of things for sure, and it was great to meet Bwale and discover the work she is doing with Media Action in Zambia.

When the tables were turned! Kefa being interviewed about the importance of media freedom

Why do you both think media freedom is important?

Bwale: For me, media freedom is important because it means I can dig into a story without any interference from the government. I have no fear – I know I have the freedom to report and write what is right. I was really inspired at the conference by the journalists from Myanmar who won the Press Freedom prize – they encouraged me to be fearless in my reporting.

Kefa: I think media freedom is important in Tanzania so that people can consume news from lots of different sources and in lots of different ways – be it newspapers, radio or social media. We’re heading towards an election next year, and I think media freedom plays an important role in informing people and helping them to figure out for themselves which candidate is right for them. As a developing country, free media is also something we really need to be an informed society – media plays an important role in the development of my country.

What did you learn at the conference that will help you in your career? And what is your dream job in media?

Bwale: This whole experience has really encouraged me to have confidence in my ability as a journalist and to persevere in my career, even in the face of challenges. I always have more to learn! And my dream? I would love to be a news anchor on TV – I’m confident that if I continue working as a reporter I will get there one day!

Kefa: Well, I really now want to encourage all of my friends studying graphics and design to try including important messages into their cartoons! My dream? I want to be an influential person in my country – in fact, just like Salim Kikeke from �� Swahili! He’s one of the most influential people in Tanzania and young people really appreciate what he is doing – the way he presents the show, his social media activity. He stands out from other journalists. And I want to keep supporting young people to participate in society through media. Young people make up almost 60% of Tanzania’s population. If you exclude them, you have no nation.

Bwale and Kefa posing up a storm at WPFD2019 (in coordinated colours, no less!)

To find out more about our work supporting media freedom and strengthening the capacity of journalists like Bwale and Kefa around the world, check out the media development section of our website.

Sexploitation in Tanzania – how a radio show is helping young people

2016-07-14T11:26:26+00:00

A group of young people with the Niambie team outside a youth development charity in Kahama, Tanzania.

We arrived in Kahama in north-western Tanzania on a cool Thursday afternoon. The town is home to one of the country’s largest gold mines but unemployment here is high. Many people struggle to make ends meet in spite of the riches that lie hidden below the ground.

Our radio show Niambie (Tell Me) aims to give young people a voice. We had travelled to Kahama to make a show about how corruption affects them and ways in which the community can tackle the problem together. As a national corruption chief told us during our visit, ‘corruption is rife and rampant here.’

In preparation for the show we interviewed young people at the offices of local youth development charity Kahama Heroes. Young people spoke openly.

They knew and trusted the Niambie presenters and wanted to talk. Many spoke about their experience of petty corruption but we found that one of the most common, and shocking complaints related to sexual exploitation, or ‘sexploitation’ – the abuse of power for sexual advantage.

Sexploitation

“My rent was way overdue, and the landlord kept reminding me,” said Malaika, a young, unemployed woman. “One day he knocked on my door and told me he was going to throw my stuff out into the street if I didn’t pay. I told him I didn’t have the money and needed two weeks so he suggested that I pay in other ways.”

Aisha, another woman told us about her struggle to find employment. After applying for a job, a man invited her to discuss the vacancy at a nearby hotel. On arrival, she was greeted with a proposal that she said horrified her, “He told me that if I wanted a job, I would have to sleep with him” she said. “I had to trick him by [saying I was] going to the bathroom…so I could escape.”

The experience of sexploitation isn’t confined to women. One male member of the group, an aspiring musician, spoke of having a “sugar mommy” who promised him wealth and connections to the music world in return for sex.

Economic vulnerability can often lead to abuse of power – and if young people don’t speak up, nothing will ever be done about it.

During the radio programme, the audience learned more about their rights from the Niambie radio presenters and senior police officials – who urged young people to challenge and report cases when they came across them.

Sexploitation has become part and parcel of young people’s lives in Kahama. Through our radio programme I hope many more young people in Tanzania will recognise the menace of sexploitation when they see it, understand their rights – and that communities can take action as a whole to combat the practice.

Related links

Find out more about our work in Tanzania
Follow Niambie on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the �� Media Action website

Using radio to tackle stigma and pain

2016-05-19T09:30:51+00:00

Heavily pregnant, experiencing difficulties and far from any medical professionals, Adelina, a farmer from Kobunshwi in north-west Tanzania, wasn’t able to get the help she needed.

Complications during childbirth led to the death of her baby and left her with obstetric fistula, which is a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum. This serious injury is usually the result of prolonged, obstructed (often unattended) labour.

Adelina lived with discomfort caused by chronic incontinence and the stigma associated with the condition for five years.

Until one day Alfred her uncle, an avid radio listener, heard something that caught his attention.

A reporter on Haba na Haba (Little by Little) our discussion show, was telling listeners about free medical treatment to repair obstetric fistula. It was this crucial information that led to Adelina seeking treatment.

“I’m so happy I listened,” Alfred told me, “through this my relative was able to get treatment for free.”

As part of the research team one of our responsibilities is to talk to listeners and find out how they are using the information broadcast on Haba na Haba. My team met Alfred during a focus group and he explained how grateful he was to the programme.

As a result of the Haba na Haba and Alfred’s action, Adelina got treatment and can now go about her daily farming activities without pain or embarrassment.

Radio is one of the most accessible forms of media for people in Tanzania, especially rural communities like the village of Kobunshi. This is why Haba na Haba is so valuable as a source of information. Alfred and Adelina’s story showed me that, male or female, anyone with the right information can help share and act on potentially life-changing advice.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), fistula is a daily reality for over 2 million young women in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet uncomplicated fistula is relatively simple to fix. This blog was written for International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, 23 May.

Making Waves in Tanzania: Meena

2016-03-03T11:03:08+00:00

For International Women’s Day 2016, Meena tells us how she hosted a debate show with an audience of 100 women and an all-female production crew.

I present a radio programme called Niambie which means Talk to Me. It mixes politics with the latest entertainment to engage young Tanzanians both on air and online.

“Can women do what men do?” was the talking point for one episode. We invited female mechanics onto the show to inspire female listeners to believe in themselves and encourage discussion around gender stereotypes. It got some pretty heated debates on the go!

In the past year I hosted our first special recording without Noel my male co-host. It was a debate programme for the ��’s 100 Women season.To add to the challenge we had an all-female crew – a first for Tanzania.

I was pretty nervous to go it alone, but you know what, I did it. And I did it standing side by side with some pretty inspirational women - from our production manager, to the second woman in Tanzanian history to run for the presidency, to a regular 22-year-old in the audience like myself.

It was good to watch them speak up without fear, to ask their questions and to make their voices heard. There was so much power going on in that room. For the women who were listening at home I hope they learnt that, you know what, there were 100 women out there, representing me.

The media plays a big role in opening women’s eyes about political processes. It’s exciting for Niambie to play a part; our research shows young women listeners have an increased understanding of how to play a role in wider society and the importance of choosing a leader.

Women in my country need to be active in the media to be more informed and to inspire others. Young women have said I inspire them, and that they would like to be like me. To have anyone look at your work and see you as an inspiration is humbling and it spurs me on to portray more strength to my listeners.

Girl, my message to you is this - we’ll take this world on, side by side.

Read more inspiring stories of how women are using media to make waves.

Making Waves in Nepal: Bidhya’s story
Making Waves in Somalia: Yasmin's story
Making Waves in Sierra Leone: Olabisi's story
Making Waves in Cambodia: YoKi’s story
Making Waves in South Sudan: Winnie's story
Making Waves in Kenya: Stellah's story
Making Waves in Libya: Libya's story

Radio show 'hatches' a plan

2016-01-14T16:45:34+00:00

Listening to radio programme Nyakati Zinabadilika (Times are Changing) inspired three young unemployed men to approach the district veterinary officer, helping them to start a chicken farm in Tanzania.

A tiny chick cocked his head, flapped its fluffy wings and looked up at me from its box. It was time for feeding.

I’m visiting a chicken farm to meet Ramadhan Boli and his two friends. Until recently, the three young men were unemployed and passed their time sitting idly in the streets hanging out with friends. Ramadhan, known to his friends as Rama, told me, “I wanted to do better in life, but didn’t know where to start.”

One evening, Rama was at home with his family listening to Nyakati Zinabadilika (Times are Changing), a programme produced by local radio station Ulanga FM. The show helps listeners become more resilient to changing weather patterns by exploring "climate-smart" farming and livestock practices – like drought-resistant crops, honey production and terracing. This particular episode focused on keeping chickens as an alternative source of income.

Rama had listened to a number of Nyakati Zinabadilika programmes in the past but this one inspired him because the person featured had managed to make money without investing too much to begin with. He also heard the district veterinary officer, Juma Kapilima, answering listeners’ questions about keeping chickens and thought it didn’t seem too difficult, maybe even he could start a business too!

The next day, Rama spoke to his friends about the programme and they went to visit Juma Kapilima, who answered questions about where they could buy chickens, how to take care of eggs, vaccinate and feed chickens. Juma also gave the boys a brochure on how to identify chicken diseases. Within a few days the three boys had found someone who was willing to invest in their business idea and they purchased 14 chickens and built a chicken coop in Naloukou village, near to Mahenge.

Rama explains how Juma, who he calls “the farm doctor”, comes to visit their chicken farm regularly and arranged for the district to grant them a small egg incubator in recognition of their hard work. Rama said, “Though we’re now selling some eggs, we’re focusing on rearing more chickens. We have huge ambitions and want to start selling chickens when we reach 1,000 - and hope to sell them in [the capital] Dar Es Salaam.”

Radio not only helped ‘hatch’ an idea in Rama’s head – but also helped connect him with the people who could help his business grow. I’m certain his story will inspire many more to follow in his footsteps.

Tanzania’s all-female production crew

2015-12-04T09:30:02+00:00

Jo Casserly describes the day when an all-female production crew managed four live radio shows in Tanzania - with a lively audience of 100 women.

“There's one thing I felt today and it was sisterhood and I've never felt that before during a production.”

Meena, our presenter for the day, was summing up her thoughts on Tanzania’s contribution to the ��’s #100Women season – a global collection of thought-provoking debates about what it means to be a woman. �� Media Action was taking part in Tanzania through four debates – all with a live audience of 100 women, delivered by an all-female production team.

The day started with a Haba na Haba (Little by Little) special, �� Media Action’s debate programme, where a panel of female political figures came together with a live audience to talk about women in politics. As Tanzania’s new president set about appointing his cabinet (and appointed a woman as vice-president), they asked why it matters for ordinary citizens to have women in government and how society views female politicians.

Who decides who is beautiful?

Doris Cornelius, a candidate in the recent election, rebuffed the suggestion that female politicians would be soft on corruption: “Where there are female leaders we are not soft, we are committed to hard work from the family to politics”.

Next up in was Niambie (Tell Me), a multimedia programme which mixes music and humour to engage with young audiences. The programme kicked off with a game of musical chairs and a dance off between Ave Maria SemaKafu, co-ordinator of the Cross-Party Women’s Platform and Meena, the presenter. With everyone up on their feet dancing, it got off to an energetic start. Then the conversation turned to beauty: who decides what it is and why should it matter? Throughout the debate, women of all ages were questioning, challenging and redefining beauty.

“Since I was a child, where I'm from, I was raised to know that men decide who is beautiful”, said one participant. “Who decides who is beautiful and why should it matter?” asked another.

This external content is available at its source: https://twitter.com/bbcmediaaction/status/671687259876401152

Here at �� Media Action, our work aims to empower women to voice their opinions and get involved in their communities. And sometimes it’s also useful to turn the camera round on ourselves and the way we work. In Tanzania, as in many other parts of the world, men still tend to hold positions of power in media organisations. But seeing women calling the shots during our production turned the status-quo on its head.

It’s easy to dismiss initiatives like our all-female team as gimmicks: what difference does one production make if men are back on top tomorrow? But from my experience, and I think most people would agree, sometimes you just need that push. You need your first experience of taking the lead to make you trust in your own judgement and abilities.

This external content is available at its source: https://twitter.com/JoCasserly/status/671658031042666496

Female role models

If I could pick out three key lessons from 100 Women in Tanzania they would be, firstly, that sometimes it takes men stepping down to allow women to step up. And the men in the Tanzanian team did this beautifully, offering support and encouragement but never taking over. Secondly, it’s not a trade-off between having more women in leadership positions and programme quality. When these women were given the opportunity to run the show, they grabbed it with both hands and exceeded all expectations. And finally, by having female editors, producers and presenters we’re creating such important role models for our audience.

As Tulanana, a producer from the �� Swahili Service put it: “Whatever role you are playing, these women in the audience can see you and hear you. You have such a great impact by them seeing you working together with men supporting in the background.”

Related links

More on our work in Tanzania
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Go back to the �� Media Action website

Inspiring a new generation of voters in Tanzania

2015-10-22T09:42:10+00:00

Our content producer in Dar es Salaam, Gaure Mdee, reveals how an interactive radio show has been informing young people ahead of the upcoming elections.

With only three days to go before my country goes to the polls, the atmosphere in our office in Dar es Salaam is one of expectation, excitement and anxiety all wrapped into one.

For the past year, our team has been travelling the length and breadth of the country to produce Niambie ('Tell me' in Kiswahili). It's an interactive radio show that gives young people in Tanzania the information they need to take part in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

We know that young people like us are going to play a key part in what's going to be pivotal moment in our nation's history. According to the latest Tanzanian census figures, over 65% of people in Tanzania are aged between 15 and 35. So our votes are going to play a crucial part in Sunday's elections.

'Tell me'

�� Media Action research conducted before we began production on Niambie found that young Tanzanians are quite keen to play a role in society but lacked confidence and knowledge about political issues and processes.

So this is where Niambie comes in. After taking advice from youth-focused UK stations like �� Radio 1 and 1Xtra and their news service Newsbeat, we use music, celebrities and entertainment to engage our audiences on air and online.

Each week, we invite two celebrities to join us in the radio studio who spread our message on their own social media accounts. And each week, we also pose a question or topic to our audiences, posting it on Facebook and in a radio promo aired on our partner network Clouds FM. Past questions we've asked have included "How important is the constitution to you?" and "What is the importance of voting?"

Listeners have told us that such topic on Niambie have inspired them to act. One teenage male listener who spoke to our research colleagues said, "When I listened to the topic on the importance of voting, I immediately went and became a registered member of a political party and got myself a membership card."

Celebrity guests

Big stars who have appeared on the programme recently include Tanzanian rapper Nick wa Pili who talked about how to pick a good leader and how it’s always good to ask yourself whether leaders' promises are realistic.

The response from the listeners was great: one listener told us, "I listened to the topic of an ideal leader last week with my friends and in the process of discussing it, I got to learn a thing or two from my friends. We discussed about our district and what kind of leaders we have…"

Another celebrity who has joined us is film actress Lulu. She picked one of our videos from our Facebook page and shared it on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube which resulted in more than 170,000 views.

Our partner network Clouds FM has described the impact of Niambie as – in their words –"humongous" and have taken some of our topics, such as how to register to vote, and discussed them in their other programmes. They’ve even started adopting the style of our weekly promos in their output!

Turning point

While the result of the polls is far from certain, what’s clear is that audiences have been telling us they have learned a lot from Niambie in the run-up to election. Our latest research shows that young people think our programme is giving them courage, raising their confidence and motivating them to take actions on issues affecting their lives.

One young female listener, for example, told us "Through Niambie, I learned how to interact in the whole political process and it has motivated me to do something. This will be my first time to vote so I have learned that I have to attend campaigns and also [I've learned] that I have to vote so as to exercise my voting right as a Tanzanian."

Follow Niambie on Twitter

Like Niambie on Facebook

Go back to the �� Media Action website

World Radio Day 2015

2015-02-13T07:30:00+00:00

Today (Friday 13th February) is World Radio Day and its theme is ‘youth’. Tom Baker explains how �� Media Action is using the unique power of radio to inform, connect and empower young people around the world.

There are so many development days in the calendar, why does World Radio Day stand out for �� Media Action?

We’re celebrating World Radio Day because radio plays such an important role in helping young people have a voice around the world - whether it’s to share their opinions or concerns, debate issues that matter to them or even to hold those in power to account.

Give us a flavour of the type of youth radio shows �� Media Action is producing in Africa…

In Somalia we’re reaching younger audiences through a weekly radio drama called Maalmo Dhaama Manta (Better Days than Today). Essentially it’s a soap opera following young characters as they go through life’s ups and downs.

Most excitingly, every four weeks we give listeners the opportunity to vote on the outcome of the drama and the direction the characters will take.

In Tanzania we have a national radio show called Niambie (Tell Me) which is all about giving young people the information they need ahead of the local parliamentary and presidential election.

There’s a whole generation voting for the first time. They will be voting for a new government and possibly even a new constitution so it’s really important that they get reliable and clear information.

In Nigeria we’ve also been doing a lot ahead of elections. �� Media Action’s Nigeria team are working on a really diverse set of entertaining clips that are broadcast all across the country to really capture the imagination of young people in Nigeria.

In a world full of new technology, why is radio still relevant?

What’s special about radio is its enduring popularity and that reaches more people in more places than any other medium.

More importantly it allows us to reach people in rural communities which we just wouldn’t be able to do with things like the internet.

See all �� Media Action World Radio Day social media activity

Support �� Media Action’s life-changing work using radio

Visit the �� Media Action website

Follow �� Media Action on Twitter and Facebook

This external content is available at its source: Twitter - World Radio Day 2015

Sharing is caring: top �� radio advice for Tanzanian youth project

2015-01-06T16:34:34+00:00

Niambie Team

Last summer, as we started the mammoth task of building a national youth radio show in Tanzania from scratch, a few of us (myself included) set off on a fact-finding mission to �� Radio 1 and �� Radio 1Xtra’s London studios.

We wanted to find out “what works” at one of the UK’s most popular youth radio stations and how we could adopt – and adapt – some of their best ideas.

Household-name presenters and award-winning producers were more than willing to share tips on anything from production planning and finding the right guests, to the best way to engage listeners both on – and off-air.

We’re now putting this advice into practice in making Niambie, which means “tell me” in Kiswahili. It’s a national radio show that gives young people in Tanzania the information they need to take part in the local and national decision-making processes that affect their lives.

What’s more, it’s a really good listen.

Make it fun

During our London visit Trevor Nelson, a veteran �� Radio 1 and �� Radio 1Xtra presenter stressed the need for shows to be entertaining. "Make it a fun experience for the listener,” he said. He told us how he had invited Eminem to contribute to a slot on his show, encouraging younger people to vote in the run-up to the UK general election.

We’ve since used similar tactics by inviting Tanzanian celebrities such as the reality TV star Idris Sultan and the actress Elizabeth Michael to help reach wider audiences and bring to life important topics such as the upcoming 2015 elections in Tanzania.

Another highlight of the London visit was meeting Andy Taylor, a �� Radio 1 producer, who shared a story he was working on about youth unemployment in Britain. Tanzania faces this issue too, and we later used a similar approach to Andy’s to produce our own report. Pleasingly, we were able to return the favour by sharing insights from Niambie’s extensive audience research showing how listener reach and engagement can be improved through “edutainment” techniques such as using popular music and social media to get across important information.

Newsbeat’s reporter Jim Taylor left us with a lasting message - don’t constantly reinvent the wheel. “If the format works” he said, “use it again!” This is exactly what our trip was for, to evolve best practice from �� Radio 1 and �� Radio 1Xtra into a workable format for youth audiences in Tanzania. And work it did!

Our audience figures and social media following are soaring with each weekly episode, helping us encourage even more young people to engage in the decisions which will shape both their lives and their country’s future.

A man's world?

2014-01-28T14:31:47+00:00

One of the most surprising figures to come out of last week's World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos wasn't to do with economics. It was, in fact, the number of female delegates taking part in the event itself: a paltry 15%.

Headlines have since asked ‘Where were the women in Davos?’. But is this microcosm of the political and economic elite representative of women's participation in politics more widely? Let's examine the evidence.

Mind the gap

The WEF's Gender Gap Report on 135 countries shows that women are consistently under-represented in parliaments around the world – although Cuba and Sweden come closest to parliamentary parity.

Perhaps surprisingly, the report also shows that developing countries can teach Western countries a thing or two about fairer representation. For example in Tanzania, 36% of parliamentary representatives are women. In Nepal, it’s 33%. In the UK? Only 23%.

Grassroots

But the Gender Gap Report only looks at women's participation in national politics. �� Media Action's survey data from the countries in which we work gives a unique insight into how ordinary women participate in politics at a local level.

In Tanzania, for example, female representation in parliament appears to be underpinned by women’s active engagement in grassroots politics.

Women participated consistently more than men: they are more likely to take part in an effort to solve a problem in their communities, more likely to attend a local council meeting and more likely to contact officials and traditional leaders.

But in other countries where we have similar data, the outlook is a little less positive.

In Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma and the Palestinian Territories, women tend to participate less than men. But even with this disparity, in certain countries the figures are encouraging.

In Sierra Leone, where promoting women's participation in politics has been at the top of the agenda as part of the post-conflict reconciliation process, our research found 60% of women had taken part in an effort to solve a problem in their communities, compared to 68% of men.

However, in Bangladesh and Nepal, despite relatively high levels of female representation in parliament (20% and 33% respectively), women's grassroots participation is quite low.

In Nepal, 24% of women have contacted an official or traditional leader, as opposed to 61% of men. And in Bangladesh only 6% of women have taken part in efforts to solve a problem in their communities, versus 33% of men.

Giving a voice

Countless barriers, from economic deprivation to violence against women and domestic duties, mean that it is often more difficult for women to participate in politics than men. But in spite of these challenges, our data shows that women are playing an active role in their communities.

A recording of �� Media Action's radio debate show, Tok Bot Salone (Talk About Sierra Leone).

�� Media Action's governance TV and radio programmes seek to ensure these women’s voices are more audible, give them a platform to question their leaders and equip them with the confidence to participate in politics and in their communities. We do this by covering issues which address the needs of women and girls and by always ensuring women are fairly represented on the shows’ panels and audiences.

So while the Davos delegate list shows there’s still some way to go for parity on the global political stage, look deeper and the picture is both more complex and more encouraging.

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Telling the deeper story

2012-04-30T12:56:51+00:00

Haba na Haba, the Tanzanian radio show that aims to narrow the gap between people and politicians.

Just over a month ago, on Friday 23 March, here in Dar es Salam we launched Haba na Haba ('Little by Little') on the ��'s Swahili Service. It was a small gathering, and at 7pm as the programme went live, we celebrated the birth of a groundbreaking new show. Haba na Haba provides a space where, little by little, ordinary Tanzanians and their leaders will come together and talk about the issues which matter the most.

I've been in Tanzania for more than six months now, having previously headed up the �� Media Action office in Sierra Leone. And what a change it has been. Tanzania is a beautiful, peaceful and stable country - full of warm faces and a thoughtful, polite and united people. I felt thoroughly welcome and at home from the minute I stepped off the plane. Having come from a country still troubled by inter-tribal violence, it is striking to hear Tanzanians talking about their country before their tribe when you ask them "Who are you?"

But there's another side to this story and one that I've gradually begun to understand more and more as I talk to colleagues, friends and other journalists.

This sense of loyalty has led to a reticence among journalists. A nervousness about asking too many questions - about probing too deeply. All too often it's easier to tell the story which you are being told, rather than searching for the story which lies beneath the surface. And I think that this has done immense damage to public discourse in Tanzania. And to the accountability and transparency mechanisms which operate in the country.

We know that many journalists in Tanzania lack skills and need training, we know that brown paper envelopes change hands in exchange for stories, we know that high editorial standards and ethics are not always followed. And we also know that it's difficult to do good journalism in Tanzania.

Last month I met a journalist from a rural radio station in the East of the country. She told me about how she wants to get stories on air, to tell the stories of how government services are failing local people - of children dying needlessly and of dirty water. But her manager wouldn't let her. He said they couldn't broadcast those kinds of programmes. If they did, there would be consequences.

But things are changing.

Among the journalists we work with, in the blogs of the youth-led 'Jami' forums, in the voices on the radio and on TV, a wind of change is blowing.

Throughout 2010, we carried out intensive training and mentoring support to the Tanzanian Broadcasting Company (TBC) during the election period. TBC was judged by the European Commission independent election observers as the most impartial and equal coverage of any broadcaster in Tanzania - something for which the journalists should take credit and pride.

More recently, have been working with community and local stations to provide long term training and mentoring across the station - from journalists, to producers, editors and managers. It is these stations who provide local voices for Haba na Haba.

Tanzanians are ready to talk to their leaders, to find out what changes are happening, to voice their concerns - to begin a national conversation. And we know that leaders are ready to talk too. The opening edition of Haba Na Haba includes an interview with the Minister of Good Governance. He says that the government is committed to greater transparency and openness. We hope that, little by little, that commitment will grow.

Changing tracks: why a DJ became a reporter

2012-02-27T09:52:32+00:00

Welcome to the new �� Media Action website and to our new blog. In the coming weeks I’ll be blogging on the stories behind the 'My Media Action' films you can see on our website. They are all made by members of the �� Media Action team and illustrate the positive impact of our work.

Today it's Josephat Mwanzi and his film about journalism training in Tanzania.

For all but the most closed of states a robust and diverse media plays a critical role in both providing useful information and mediating between leaders and the people. In many places where we work journalists are undervalued, underpaid and undertrained. A partisan or under-powered fourth estate may suit some leaders but ill-serves the people. We work with local partners to foster objective, independent reporting and to strengthen the media.

I met Josephat last December when we worked together on ideas for how he would tell his story – he has a passion for his work and there were so many tales he wanted to share. To help build a full picture of what the work means to him and why it matters, freelance cameraman Chris Morgan and I travelled with Josephat to meet some of the people he had trained at local radio stations.

Journalism training in the abstract can sound a little dry: 'raising editorial standards' and 'teaching production techniques', but when you meet the people involved and see and hear the impact it all comes very much to life.

One of the journalists we met was Saouda, who works for Hits FM on Zanzibar. Saouda used to be a radio music DJ, but through the training she has received from Josephat she has started to shift her ambitions.

She told me that while out on assignment she had met a young girl in serious trouble, a victim of sexual abuse. Saouda not only helped tell her story, but gave the girl the support and courage she needed to get help and to tell the authorities what had happened. You’ll be able to see Saouda’s story soon, as we’ll be adding more stories of 'media action' - in film, audio, photos and blogs - across the coming months.

What impressed me most about Josephat and his journalism training was the warm mentoring support he provides, and the serious dedication and professionalism he brings to his work.

Our mentoring approach to journalism training is because we have learnt that short-term training, endless workshops and seminars don’t provide the kind of hands-on practical support that journalists need. With the mentoring model Josephat works intensively with a station like Hits FM for weeks and months at a time supporting staff across the organisation – not just the presenters, but technical and managerial staff too. Josephat is in turn mentored by an experienced �� producer. And Josephat provides a link with the �� World Service too. Through his support, Hits FM is now making radio pieces that are broadcast on �� World Service, giving the �� a new opportunity to capture the voices and issues of Tanzanians.

After we had recorded the films and I was about to leave Tanzania Josephat told me that he had just heard that Saouda had turned down the offer of a better paid job as a music DJ because she now felt part of something more important, for herself and for her community.

Josephat also added "everyone remembers a good teacher" and he is right, whether it is those who have taught and mentored him, or the knowledge and skills he now passes on to his trainees. And journalism training is so important.

So welcome to our new website. Our work is all about sharing spaces where people can raise their voices, share concerns, access information and shape their lives. Eliette Mendes' blog on Angola, and the role that drama can play too, builds this theme.

We also want to know what you think. What do you call a positive 'media action' in your life and work? We are looking for feedback, ideas and stories about ways that media can and has transformed lives. You can find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or post a comment on this blog.

My next blog will tell you a bit more about Diana and her 'My Media Action' film based on work in Somalia.

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