MBC, private radios failing other languages

Media organisations and journalists are good at criticising others. However, they do not do an introspection to assess themselves.

When one listens to private and public radio; and television stations, the impression is that Malawi has one vernacular language, Chichewa. Other languages such as Yao, Tumbuka, Tonga, Lomwe and Sena are not recognised. The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has relegated these languages to adverts or news bulletins that last no more than five to six minutes. They are given very limited time compared to Chichewa.

The elevation of Chichewa as the main language of communication on radios is a creation of the one-party regime which was carried over in the democratic dispensation. It was believed that by speaking one language, national unity and oneness would be achieved. But there is overwhelming evidence from cultural and political studies that suggest people want to preserve their own language and cultural identity; and there is a natural tendency to defend their space when they feel threatened. Suppression of other languages leads to the polarisation of society and creates an element of distrust.

Unfortunately, successive governments after 1994 have paid little attention to language policy which would have ensured that Malawian languages are treated equally and promoted on the State-owned media. And, so, the practice of suppressing other languages in radio broadcasting, including minority languages, has continued unabated.

Private radio stations have followed suit. They broadcast in one local language, Chichewa, despite the fact several of them have a national coverage. Different language groups access their programmes in all the regions. Demographically, people in different parts of Malawi speak different languages. For example, in the Southern Region, there are several groups such as Yao, Lomwe and Sena. Chewa is mainly spoken in the Central Region while there is no Chewa tribe in the north which is inhabited by Ngonis, Tumbukas, Tongas, Lambias and Nkhondes. How many language groups from the north are broadcast on MBC or private radio stations? We are not talking about adverts or news bulletins, but fully-fledged programmes whereby one language group is given hours to broadcast in their own language. By broadcasting in one Malawian vernacular, radio stations are killing other people’s languages and cultures. Media should play an important role in preserving people’s languages and cultures, whether they are a minority or not.

It is unfair and lack of appreciation for other cultures to broadcast in one vernacular when there are several languages spoken by millions of people. Radio stations need to promote Malawian languages by ensuring they are also given air time to broadcast in their own language. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has been championing a pluralistic and diverse media within the SADC region. Malawi has struggled to have a pluralistic and diverse media because of the parochial understanding of the concept entails. It is not just a question of having several radio and TV stations. It is also about representation.

Accommodating other language groups is one issue private radio and TV stations should seriously consider introducing. They should be mindful of the fact that Malawi is a multicultural and multilingual society. They should broadcast in other vernacular languages and not just one language as if everyone belongs to the same cultural group. This is justifiable for community radio stations which serve specific language groups.

True oneness and unity is achieved by respecting and promoting other language groups. This will also enrich the content which is lacking both on MBC and private TV stations.

Malawians have not enjoyed broadcasting on public media and commercial radio stations because of exclusion of other language groups.