One of Ms Hackett's major concerns, and the focus of her recent work, is the rise of religious media in Africa. In the early 80s, during the rise of Pentecostal movements, she witnessed how religious groups started embracing the media to get their message out. In the mid-1990s, in the wake of increasing media deregulation and privatisation, the state lost its control over access to the airwaves to those who had money to buy airtime. "It means that in some parts of Africa, the newer generation churches are now dominating the airwaves, because they have money or support from overseas."
| "I worry that in some countries there is not enough public debate about the proper place of religion, not only in the media but in the wider society. They don't seem to realise that this can cause resentment or that some of the messages can incite people to violence or conflict. As an academic, I can't influence policy, but I'd like to get people thinking about the power of the media and the role of religion in Africa's rapidly changing media landscape." |
This has created resentment in some religious groups, particularly traditional worshippers and practitioners who feel that the airwaves are dominated by sometimes extremely aggressive radio or televangelists. In the urban context, many religious groups have embraced the free market philosophy and are also using the media to "sell" their products by putting down their competitors. The resentment that this generates, Ms Hackett fears, can give rise to violent reactions.
Return of the pendulum
In Ms Hackett's view this trend could be stopped with tighter government controls on access to airwaves, similar to those implemented in post-apartheid South Africa where "they carefully negotiated how much airtime each group would have as not to create resentment."
The media, private or public, should provide space for people to discuss issues of religious intolerance.
Community radio
Public interest radio, Ms Hackett feels, can help counter rising intolerance.
"As programming becomes more and more commercialised in Africa, there is a loss of public interest programming. I've seen this happen in Nigeria, where programmes with public debates on the different religious positions and ethical issues are falling by the wayside. This is why I'm happy to hear that Radio Netherlands Worldwide provides this sort of opportunity support to community radio".
Community radio, in her view, can provide a forum where people can discuss and debate these issues and even also stimulate balanced public debates on ethical issues.
Fair debates
These debates should be fair, and it should be the role of broadcasting commissions to make sure that they are. This is not always the case, notes Ms Hackett, who has "a lot of evidence from around Africa where broadcasting commissions are very biased against minority religious groups."
Some of these groups - recently in Nigeria and South Africa - are now speaking out more and criticising the so-called government monitoring of the airwaves. Average listeners should also have their say: they should be able to report offensive language or programme content to independent monitoring bodies. In short, the discussion on religion and airwaves should involve many actors: listeners, media professionals, policy makers and religious leaders. "We all have a role to play here".
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Click to listen to the interview |
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The interview with Rosalind Hackett will be included in an upcoming edition of Africa in Progress, a programme produced by Radio Netherlands Worldwide and distributed on CDs to partner community stations in Africa.
Tags: Africa, media, radio, religion, Rosalind Hackett