Guerrilla Radios in Southern Africa: Broadcasters, Technology, Propaganda Wars, and the Armed Struggle

Guerrilla Radios in Southern Africa is a collection of essays that explores the histories of the different radios of the liberation movements in the region during the era of the armed struggle. It provided a platform to address followers, propagate ideologies, and counter propaganda, and shaped the nature of resistance campaigns.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Guerrilla Radios in Southern Africa is a comprehensive collection of essays that delves into the rich histories of the diverse radios that played pivotal roles in the liberation movements across the region during the era of armed struggle. Spanning from Angola and Mozambique to Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, the advent of radio technology provided these exiled liberation movements with a powerful platform to connect with their supporters back home, disseminate their ideologies, and challenge the propaganda disseminated by the oppressive white minority regimes. Recognizing the affordability and directness of radio as a medium, guerrilla radios transcended the boundaries imposed by the settler regimes and gained widespread popularity, albeit operating in a legal gray area.

This transnational approach to the study explores the intricate workings of these radios from their broadcasting locations in exile to the international solidarity they received, as well as their reception at home, where listeners would gather around their receivers to listen to the messages from the liberation movements, often defying the scrutiny of the state. The impact of guerrilla radios was profound, shaping the nature of resistance campaigns undertaken by these movements in various countries within the region.

Through detailed accounts and analysis, Guerrilla Radios in Southern Africa sheds light on the significant role that these radios played in the struggle for liberation and democracy in Southern Africa. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of political resistance and the power of communication in shaping historical narratives.

Weight: 458g
Dimension: 220 x 154 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538148440