USAID/Sierra Leone: Radio Moa: Real Time Information Prevents Panic in Kailahun

JUNE 9, 2004

Radio Moa: Real Time Information Prevents Panic in Kailahun

USAID, through the West Africa Regional Program, announces the opening of Radio Moa, a community radio station which serves Kailahun, an area in eastern Sierra Leone near the Guinean and Liberian border traumatized by a decade-long rebel occupation during the civil war. The station is part of a USAID-funded consortium project called "Na Wi Pot" ("It's Our Pot" or "it belongs to all of us" in the local Krio language) which addresses the particular psychosocial needs of the population in the Forest Region. The radio station is relevant and successful because it airs uncensored public opinion, gives out good information and news, and was built and is managed by the local community.

Since Radio Moa started broadcasting in December, 2003, locals have rigged up their old radios or have purchased new ones (small radios can be purchased in the region for the equivalent of $5.00) to be able to listen to local radio station's news and announcements in Krio, Kissi and Mende, round-table discussions, emissions such as the ever-popular USAID-sponsored soap opera Atunda Ayenda, punctuated by regular BBC broadcasts and lively popular music.

This man in rural Kailahun says he often listens to Radio Moa. He especially likes the programs broadcast in Mende, one of the local languages.

Information about upcoming elections, as well as decisions made by Sierra Leone's special UN court are broadcast regularly, as are discussions about quality education, health, women and children's issues. Societal problems are also hit head-on during the programming; topics such as corruption, land disputes, smuggling, HIV/AIDS, and reintegration of ex-combatants are common subjects of discussion on the regular program features.

A pertinent human rights program developed by the Center for Victims of Torture and sponsored by the West Africa Regional Program also defines and discusses gender-based violence. A new weekly program called "Where can I find You?" is also helping locate family members and loved ones who fled in all directions during the war.

The radio station has remained true to its goal of serving the local public, even in spite of initial efforts to pack the station's board of directors with local paramount chiefs in order to control editorial content. The local community, with indispensable support from civil society, demanded and in the end received a diverse board of directors for the station, which represented a wide range of both people and institutions.

Golden Kids--young journalists--singing during the opening of Radio Moa. Photo courtesy of Talking Drum Studios Sierra Leone.

Young journalists who are members of the 'Golden Kids Network' sing to celebrate the opening of Radio Moa in Kailahun.

The Radio Moa station was built by community members, who wanted to be better-informed about local and national events. Local landowners in the area gave the land and donated construction material, community members donated their labor as well as local construction materials like sand, sticks and stones, and imported materials such as roofing sheets, cement and nails were provided by the USAID Na Wi Pot project.

The station has received technical support and equipment through USAID-sponsored NGO Search For Common Ground (SFCG). In addition to transmitters and other basic studio equipment, community volunteer journalists in the area have been provided bicycles and tape recorders to conduct interviews and gather information.

Ironically, Radio Moa's first broadcast was live coverage of a peace carnival, a local event sponsored by USAID which included a football gala and live music, with messages promoting peace and social unity. One week later, the station was to play a critical role in keeping the peace after a serious shooting incident erupted on the outskirts of Kailahun Town.

On the evening of 13 December 2003, two hours of heavy gunfire near Kailahun's army barracks created panic among town residents, who are still recovering from the trauma of having lived through years of civil war. As they had for years, people rushed to gather belongings and flee into the bush. Within hours, Radio Moa launched a live investigation into the incident that included interviews with the barrack's commander, the police, and local government officials.

This radio message to be read in Mende reads, "[It's] me, Mr. Mohamed Seriff, Tikonko village... Kailahun District. Jemeh Sheriff has gone to look for her daughter Musukala Sheriff at Monrovia, Liberia. Since she left, we haven't [gotten] any information about her. We are worried about her so much. We really want her to come and give us [some news]. We are waiting to hear from her or to see her. We hope that both of them are [alive]. Thanks."

Later the next day, Radio Moa joined representatives of UNAMSIL, traditional rulers, and town residents at the shooting sites. Constant broadcasting of real time news and the message that this was an isolated incident and that it was safe to stay in the area prevented mass flight. Radio Moa stuck with the story until the end, when it was finally revealed that the fighting was not due to rebel invasion but intra-army bickering.

Radio Moa helped again in March 2004 when helicopters doing a geological survey circled continuously overhead, causing more panic once again. The local broadcasters put people at ease by going on-air to explain the purpose of the mission, reassuring local residents that nothing drastic was happening.

Kailahun District, Kailahun is also the farthest District from the capital, Freetown, and has long been neglected with regard to development such as social services and employment opportunities. Because of its geographical location -- at the border crossroads of both Guinea and Liberia, and an area that stands between the Liberian border and the Sierra Leone diamond mines of Kono -- Kailahun is said to be the district most adversely affected by events that occurred during the war.

Mohamed Kanyako, a volunteer at community radio station RAdio Moa in Kailahun

Mohamed Kanyako, a volunteer receipt agent at the station says that for the eauivalent of $1.25, the station will read a public notice, and for 50 cents will play and dedicate your favorite song.

The area, which once received virtually no news at all now broadcasts news and announcements over a 60-70 km range that reaches into both Guinea and Liberia. Within Sierra Leone, news from the Kailahun station also travels much faster. Says Blama Sandama Kallon, a voluntary staff member, "Rather than writing papers for someone to deliver by hand, we can get messages by radio as far as Kenema and Bo" -- two large towns in south-central Sierra Leone.

Nyuma Amara Samson, Kissy News Reader for Radio Moa says there's another bonus to making public announcements on the air: "People come to meetings and they come on time because they've heard the notice on the radio. This is helping us to be better organized."

Radio Moa is also making a positive contribution to the goal of promoting peace and stability in the subregion. In February, A round table discussion was held on issues concerning similarities across borders in the Forest Region'a cross-border region at the junction of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The discussion was facilitated by Foday Sajuma, Director of Radio Moa as well as a former Civil Defense Militia member from Kailahun and broadcast from Radio Moa in three different languages -- French, Liberian English, and Krio -- to ensure that the messages went past country borders as well.

Through something as simple as interviews of local leaders or real time event coverage, local communities like Kailahun are empowered to act in a place where there is still a void in nationwide news coverage. By giving a voice to traditionally marginalized rural populations, USAID's development assistance is helping convey good information to people in a timely manner, and, in one case, even prevented a potential disaster.

Radio Moa and other community stations given sponsorship by USAID are projects that local people manage well, and are becoming a deserved source of pride for rural Sierra Leoneans.

Story and photo by Laura Lartigue