Radio Programming

Our Legacy

Creativity has been the driving force for the development of all our radio programs. We have always sought to answer contemporary issues while captivating our listeners. For example, our team used the wealth of African folk stories to create the radio show “Pull Stori” to highlight specific issues, and the moral lessons of these stories allowed us to make lasting, positive changes for our listeners.

Also echoing the issues of the time, the radio programs '“Bush Wahala” and “Land Policy Nar U Pockit” both addressed land conflicts. On air, we helped communities learn about their rights to make fair land deals and resolve disputes in a non-violent manner.

Continuing our efforts to improve the lives of the most vulnerable, we launched our “Wɛl bodi program”. This radio drama increased access to health care information, focusing on pregnant women, young mothers, and children. 

On TV, Talking Drum Studio merged the national appeal of football and television drama to create “The Team”. Using football as a unifying element, the series focused on the divisive issues that arose in the post-war environment. Team players addressed topics such as reconciliation, HIV/AIDS, and women's empowerment to transform social attitudes and reduce violent behavior.

Looking Towards the Future

Since its inception, Talking Drum Studio has produced more than 15 different radio programs, including the popular production “Atunda Ayenda,” which means "lost and found" in the Mandingo language. Still running, it is the first radio soap opera to be broadcast in Sierra Leone. With more than 4,300 episodes, we can proudly say that 90% of the country's radio listeners have listened to our soap opera.

The key to the success of “Atunda Ayenda” has been its cast of talented young people. By portraying characters from all walks of life, the actors won the hearts and minds of a vast national audience and showed people the path from war to peace. Beyond conflict resolution, the program gives a new direction to the lives of Sierra Leoneans, focusing on issues of democratic governance, active citizenship, natural resource management, and more. 

Talking Drum Studio is also at the forefront of producing woman-centered programming. Produced solely by women, “Uman 4 Uman” helps to make their voices heard and change the perception of the role women can play in society. The program creates a two-way communication space where women and girls from the most remote areas share their issues with the rest of the country. 

Finally, “Accountability Now”, dedicated to governance issues, promotes the liability and transparency of elected politicians. The 30-minute program provides an interactive platform for the opinions of voters on elected officials' performance.

Passing the Torch

Radio stations and other partners have long benefited from our constant support. For many years now, we have paid particular attention to building the capacity of radio journalists so that they can relay the voices of the most marginalized by designing radio programs adapted to the needs of communities.