What exactly Is African programs?
91.1 FM (Indian formatted Radio station)
Host: Mr.E. Ming
Caller- P.O.S: I noticed there is a trend of selecting a topic to conduct the program for the day. I want to know if it is possible, to devote one day to have informative discussions on the issue of having African programs on the state media, and in fact allow even a member of the management to perhaps make their input as to why there may be inaction on this issue, also to get responses from the public, so that maybe we could get to some understanding on the position on what is going on. I get the impression that whenever it is discussed, in some parts, hosts are coming in to some unfair treatment, and I think that maybe they are put in the firing line, when in fact the actual decisions and policies that are being made are beyond them. So I think it would be good if on one day, the program could be devoted to having discussions on this issue, and let us come to a clear understanding of what is going on.
Mr. Ming: But first, let me ask the question because I am not to certain in my mind what exactly Is African programs. What exactly are you all looking for?
P.O.S: Well, certainly information on issues concerning culture emanating from Africa, and other issues as well too. It seems as though other cultures are given prominence in the media, and I don't think enough of African culture is being allowed to be expressed O.K.
Mr. Ming: O.K, I hear you. Thank you very much.
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Read this one, and then tell me if you understand the size of the problem here in Trinidad.
August 25, 1999
Sound-Off Radio program.
Host: E. Ming and a caller from Maloney.
Maloney: I have been trying to get onto the program for a very long time now.
Ming: Yes, go ahead please.
Maloney: I have been listening to race talk, on and off, on and off, and I am not sure if people have been approaching it from the right direction. I have been hearing talk about, you know, certain people wanting to hear from their side of the fence, you know, if there is a fence.
Ming, interrupted-(agreeing emphatically):
Thank you so much! If there is a fence.
Maloney, continued: But the fact is it is necessary for people to know and hear their culture. You know. I am not sure if people are trying to suppress or neglect for fear of, you know…
Ming, interrupted: Now (laugh) I had to ask the question yesterday, and I'll ask it again today. What is African culture? In Trinidad and Tobago, what is African culture?
Maloney: Ok, can I ask you a question?
Ming: No you can't answer a question with a question.
Maloney: No, I want to ask you a simple question to make my point.
Ming: Ok, go-ahead then.
Maloney: What is East Indian culture in Trinidad and Tobago?
Ming: They have a particular niche that they have, they have maintained their culture over the years. In terms of African culture in Trinidad and Tobago, what is African culture?
Maloney: It is culture that we need to support, you know our Africaness.
Ming: Yeah but, in what way?
Maloney: Ok, I have been listening to BBC now and again, and they bring programs from Nigeria, they tell you about Lagos. They tell you the kind of entertainment they have, and I have been listening to some music from Senegal, it is actually music you can play on the radio and listen to, just as you have East Indian music. You hear East Indian music and you get the influence from Rap, Reggae, tying into the Indian music. I have seen on TV, these programs you have on a Saturday, it is amm... amm, help me out…
Ming: Now let me ask you. Are you not satisfied or are you perhaps dissatisfied with the programs that our sister station 100fm presents because we do the story of Emancipation. We present Orisa programs. We do a lot of African programming on radio 100. What exactly do you-all want to hear?
Maloney: How do you mean you-all?
Ming: Because African culture varies, Africa is a continent.
Maloney insists: What do you mean by you-all.
Ming: You understand!
Maloney: What do you mean by you-all? It's all of us here, not you-all in one sector. When I turn on the radio and I listen to an Indian program, I don't say they. It's us in a whole. It's not Indian there, and African there. As I said, if there is a fence, there is some separation, but that's just difference, but that makes us, Us. I can't say because that one is an Indian I won't listen to his program. I like it!
Ming: Now let me draw reference to something here. We say we want African culture on the air, and African programs. But let's take a look at the youth of our nation. We dress like Americans and we listen to Dub. Where is the Africaness in that?
Maloney: Ok, Dub is derived from Africa, That is part of African culture, but we need to go deeper into the culture. You listen to Chutney not so?
Ming: I listen to all type of music.
Maloney: That is Trinidad culture, derived from East Indian and African culture. We listen to singers from India, Shah Rukh Khan, I don't know if he is from India or Pakistan, he came down here. We listen to him. We heard him, although he made a little trip-up at the end, but every one is still alive. We need African culture to help. I only know about two sounds from Africa that I can say that an African person did. Maybe three, if I think about it. I know many sounds from India, and I am an African person who like Indian people. I have Indian family, Indian cousins and possibly a little Indian blood. Nothing is wrong with that, that is life. But we need African culture to say, I am from Africa. This is where I came from. This is what I see, because listening to BBC last night, I listen to this African Program, you hearing the drums and you really get into it.
Ming: And you would appreciate hearing a little more of that?
Maloney: I would love it. Every one would love it, because sometimes you get the perception that…
Ming: You just said everyone would love it.
Maloney: Yes, everyone will love it.
Ming: How can you now speak for everyone.
Maloney: If they don't love it something wrong with them. Didn't you say you listen to all kind of music?
Ming: I listen to all kind of music.
Maloney: Is something wrong with that?
Ming: That is my personal thing. We cannot speak for the general public.
Maloney: Sometimes you need to, If they don't like it let them turn off their radio.
Ming: This is one person's opinion. Thank you very much.
HOTEP: Finally after exposing the behaviour of hosts on our state owned media, my calls were once again accepted. I called in on the 26th, and gave my understanding of what is African culture.
I told the host that African culture is the history of the people that explains how the came to be who and where they are today. It explains how they derived their looks, hair type, etc. Culture also explains the evolution of people and their value systems together with the meaning of symbols, dance and myths. Culture cannot be relegated to simple song and dance without the people understanding the context and meaning.
Ming: "this is what he was trying to get at all along".
I did not believe him. He only said that because many other callers angrily took him up on his assertion, that the other stations were playing Calypso, Rap and Dub, and that is African culture. He previously asked, "what else do people want?"
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