RADIO: EVERY MAN’S EVERY DAY COMPANION
Often times we fail to recognise the importance of the little pleasures we enjoy every single day until a date on the calendar is set aside for the recognition of one of such things. Even then, the pressures and pleasures of life hardly afford us a chance to truly appreciate these gifts. This is the case of the radio.
The radio has a rich history and is the result of a combination of scientific breakthroughs. It might interest you to know that it took the cumulative efforts of Heinrich Hertz, Alexander Popov, Guglielmo Marconi, Reginald Fessenden, and Edwin Armstrong to figure out how electromagnetic waves could transmit sound signals over distances. We have them to thank for their independent discoveries over decades that finally resulted in the invention of what we now call the radio. Anyway, I have no intention of boring you so I won’t go into the individual contributions of these geniuses.
As a medium of mass communication, the radio has been with us for about a century. Over the years, those boxes have provided company for many, with programming that appeals to both music and sports lovers alike, not forgetting those who just must have a daily dose of current affairs discussions.
In the case of Nigeria, the radio has been with us for decades since the advent of the colonialists. It all started with big boxes that seemed to speak without allowing for feedback. As a result, they earned the name Asoromagbesi from Yoruba speaking Nigerians in the western region. It can be literally translated in English as “He who speaks but does not expect a reply”; a fitting name for those contraptions that brought them information about colonial activities but never allowed for feedback.
The radio has since evolved and now provides an extensive assortment of programmes. In previous years, it was only used to broadcast news; public service announcements; educational, sports, and current affairs programmes; as well as the occasional announcement of important national events, a perfect example is the attempted coup of 1976 where the daily broadcast was interrupted by the following announcement:
“Good morning, fellow Nigerians. This is Lt. Col B. Dimka of the Nigerian Army calling… Murtala Mohammed’s deficiency has been detected. His government is now overthrown by the young revolutionaries… Curfew is imposed from 6am to 6pm. Thank you.”
Now, Nigerians are treated to talk shows, music countdowns, dramas, discussions, and lots more. Broadcast belts are made more engaging with early morning, midday, and drive time shows. The radio basically accompanies listeners throughout the day and serves them some sort of entertainment with from dusk till dawn. Perhaps it is as a result of its versatility and relevance that the radio has withstood the passage of time, with a digital version now made available to listeners.
One of the intrinsic qualities of radio broadcasting that makes it so special is its accessibility. Listeners can access information and entertainment wherever and whenever just by tuning in; be they in the farthest of villages or late into the night and even in times of emergency as expounded by the United Nations while commemorating the World Radio Day in 2017. The radio also allows for passive and active listening and that is why it has become a favorite companion as anyone can listen while carrying out other tasks; be they in the office, in their cars driving home, at home doing chores, and so on.
Personally, the radio wields the power to draw me out of the dreariest of moods as it has done several times in the past. For me, the magic was once delivered through the waves by the duo of Freeze and N6. Others such as Jones Usen, Dan Foster, Olisa, Femi Obong Daniels, IK, Toolz, Emmanuel Etim, Toke Makinwa, Mazino, Yaw, Shola Thompson, Folu Storms, and many others have become household names by delivering awesome radio experiences to numerous Nigerian listeners over the years.
It is as a result of these qualities and abilities that I can say without mincing words that the radio is a powerful tool for communication. It has provided and continues to provide education, information, entertainment, and company for all – young or old, rich or poor, educated or not. The radio is one of the greatest inventions of all time and we must be grateful for its birth.
The importance of the radio cannot be over emphasized in the face of globalization and its attendant effects. There is an indispensable need to have information on global issues at all times and at all places as global awareness is impossible where information is unavailable or access to it is impeded, it is the starting point for taking guided steps towards a sustainable global future.
If you are reading this and are in any doubt, a simple scan through the frequencies on our band will
provide you an interesting array of channels that satisfy whatever listening desire you have. And if you are already an ardent listener, isn’t it time for your daily dose of radio? On a day such as this, when we recognise the numerous contributions of radio to our civilization, why don’t you take a break, sit back, and have yourself a listening treat. Allow me to welcome you to the remarkable experience that is Radio. You’ll thank me later. ;)
This post was written in commemoration of the World Radio Day 2018.
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