It is now amazing to me how though slowly Malawians are utilizing the Internet for radio. It was only last year in August that the first internet radio ran by a Malawian started broadcasting. Radio Yako made news and still is considered the pioneer. Another internet radio Kwacha FM has just started doing a similar thing. I hope no one will raise questions at the names! I am just wondering a bit about the "fm" extension! I would say to both kongilachuleshoni!
I talked in passing about Radio Yako in one of my posts on media situation in Malawi last year. But I never really had thought through.There are some similarities as well as differences between the two internet radio stations. Both are in the US. Radio Yako is the brainchild of Chimwemwe Nchozana in Florida, a Malawian in Florida.
In my view view he deserves praise for taking the initiative to introduce an internet radio featuring programming that is very Malawian and nolstagic-something that most of us in the diaspora appreciate. Your team with the Yado, Mtuwa and Phiri, you do a commendable job.I understand that some Malawians in the US and UK are behind Kwachafm (KFM). I have listened to its introductory broadcasts and sounds great with sounds from near and far from Malawi. Its website has an abundance of items and links, promising lots. However I should confess that Kwachafm being new, there is not much I can say out of the monitoring I have done to form a fair opinion. I am yet to deduce who the target audience is or indeed know why the station is on now.
Radio Yako has been runing daily providing about two hours of a variety of menu which has so far included music (Malawian and international), some regards, news, Gospel, counselling, life stories and much more.I am happy that there is growing Malawi radio presence on the internet now. I am sure the two stations will go a long way to serve the Malawians particularly those in the diaspora. I am certain that with more developed bandwidth in Malawi, there will be more listeners too at home.
I think both stations might be more relevant to Malawians if they tend to feature more Malawian voices, sounds and effects. I am sure that is what will make a difference to the international electronic media that is associated with Malawi. I am hoping also that professionalism will be upheld in broadcasting. I am jealous about my profession and I would be one of the first people to feel offended on account of someone failing to do a proper job at the Internet radio station.
This is the first time Malawians are enjoying Internet radio with Malawian voices and programming. Knowing that Internet radio has its challenges and conventions, I hope that the stations will be for the benefit for the wider community. Being in radio myself, I know how exciting it is at the beginning but the reality of facing feedback and satisfying the audience can be too demanding to give one any more enthusiasm.
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