Mobilizing rural and community radio in Africa

Modern-day Africa, like the rest of the developing world, faces increasing social, economic, political, and cultural development challenges, addressing which relies on strategies that have included the use of media and communications toward actively engaging communities in policy formulation and implementation. Radio has borne a huge share of this responsibility, because the medium is pervasive, local, extensive, flexible, available, readily understood, personal, portable, speedy, and efficient. This article discusses the challenges of using radio as an instrument of mobilizing and engaging with communities on the African continen