THE ROLE OF THE RADIO IN PROPAGATING CULTURE IN NIGERIA

THE ROLE OF THE RADIO IN PROPAGATING CULTURE IN NIGERIA

(A STUDY OF THE BENIN’S IN EDO STATE)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine the role of radio in propagating culture in Nigeria (A case study of the Benin’s in Edo State). It is believed that the radio does not propagate culture in Nigeria and as a result of this the researcher decided to embark on a research to find out why the radio does not propagate culture in Nigeria. Research question were constructed to guide in the study using survey method which was adopted ,and data was collected at the end of the study I was able to find out that radio does not propagate culture as was said and our culture also serve as hindrance to the propagation of culture. It is recommended that the radio should try to promote our culture and people should try to listen to cultural programme on radio and not promote that of the west.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

The media play an important role of shaping public image of the masses and in so doing pressure them to behave according to cultural norms of their country and this is achieved with communication which plays a vital role in development, bringing about behavior and lifestyle changes, (Oyekan, 2009). Any activity to be successfully accomplished requires communication, and effective communication will be achieved when a person is able to convey what he wants to say clearly and precisely and is able to understand correctly what the other person is saying. The cultural and lifestyle of citizens in a community is learned and passed from generation to generation and the culture of a particular society is dynamic, people learn and embrace new ideas, new ways of behaving and new and emerging trends, (Ubgaja, 2011). Every culture should be preserved for it is a society’s distinct way of life. Cultural education is done through communication channels like telecommunication and the mass media since everyone engage in intrapersonal, dyadic, small group, public, mass communication and computer-assisted or online communication (Gamble & Gamble, 2010:4). The mass media is an important factor in Nigeria. They have important roles to play in the area of cultural education and national development. The mass media support and enhance development programmes in the country. The media offers a learning ground for people, and are used to learn about what is happening around the world (Turow, 2009, p. 21). The masses learn from the media, and rely on the media for information getting educated in the process.

However, Radio programme as a medium of communication has contributed a lot in educating the society in all aspects of life. Since its inception in the colonial era, experimentation and learning with the medium was topmost in minds of initiators of the Radio station, (Ugbaja, 2011). Radio programme remains the principal communication medium for propagating cultural and creative expressions for people to appreciate culture in its fullness, (Semiu, 2009). Taylor (2009), defined culture as a complex whole, which includes knowledge, beliefs, morals, customs, and habits or any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. It is a pattern of human behaviour, which is learnt by the members and transmitted from one generation to another. Bow (2010) former Director General of UNESCO gives a more comprehensive description of culture and added various dimensions. He said: Culture as the end product of all that a society has created in the course of time and as the essential driving force for all that it continues to create, both materially and in the intellectual sphere – something which shapes the awareness and the collective imagination of it’s members, determining the way they are and the way they see the world. Containing the seeds of all that a community is capable of producing, it is quintessentially, the repository of its creative genius, the dynamic principles whereby society, drawing upon its past, feeding upon its own latent resources, while selectively assimilating such external inputs as may come it’s way, pursues the unending process of it’s own self-creation, (Gamble & Gamble, 2010:4).

Ndolo (2006) as cited in Okunna (1999) defined culture as the total way of life of a people while values which are intrinsic or unconscious, form the basis of all behavioural decisions they make. Culture provides people with symbols, myths, values and information about their society. Culture is a vast apparatus partly material, partly human and partly spiritual by which societies are organized into permanent and recognizable groups. It blends practical accomplishment, inspiring philosophies, oral traditions and abilities in man’s continuous effort for development (Chude, 2007). To Ahmed, (2013), for Nigerian cultural heritage to be sustained, media programme is a significant force in this respect. For example, American sociologists Gill Mikel refers to interrelation between culture and media as “mediated culture” meaning that media reflects and creates cultures, (Gill, 2012).

Among the various functions of mass media in the society is the promotion, and transmission of culturalheritage from one generation to another. In this perspective, radio programme arguably becomes the most appropriate channel and route to execute the function of promoting culture, (Ahmed, 2013).The Radio is believed to have the capacity which can cut through the barrier of illiteracy and is the overall development of the society. This perspective has been accepted by different authorities in mass communication, from the long standing traditional change, this suggest that Radio station is relevant in power distribution and watching over the extent at which the power is negatively or positively being impacted on the people.

The Radio transmits ideas information, to the targeted audience, this shows that they are responsible for most adjustments in the behavioural patterns of the people in the society. As a channel of mass media, Radio station recognizes their obligation to the society especially in the area of culture and promoting.

1.2     Statement of Problem

It has been observed that culture determines the developmental pace of a society because the traditional values of a people are related to the pace with which they accept or reject the demands of socio-economic development, (Oyekan, 2009). The culture of every nation is an important aspect of that nation and should be preserved especially by the media which exposes the masses to the activities happening around them. To this light, federal government commissions number of radio stations across the country for this purpose. But the socio-cultural impact of these radio-stations in the propagation of Nigeria cultural heritage has been subject of argument. In the light of the foregoing, this study seeks to examine the role of the radio in propagating culture in Nigeria with a particular interest in Benin, Edo State. 

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine the role of the radio in propagating culture in Nigeria with particular interest in Benin, Edo state.

The specific of objectives for this research include the following

1. To access the level at which the radio do propagate culture in Benin.
2. To know if the propagation of culture by radio affect the Benin people.
3. To know the impact of Radio in propagating culture in Benin Edo State.

1.4     Research Questions

In the course of this research work, the following questions were raised as it is relevant to the study.

1 To what extent does radio propagate culture in Benin?

2 How does the propagation of Radio affect the people of Benin?

3 How does Radio impact culture in their propagation on the people of Benin?

1.5     Scope of the Study

This study is centered on the role of Radio in propagating culture In Nigeria especially in Benin the capital city of Edo state.

1.6     Significance of the Study

This research work is expected to serve as an eye opener for all categories of people to learnabout their culture through radio programmes. The work is significant because it will explain indetails why people need to be conversant with their culture. In this research work, ways andmanners by which people can learn about their culture are identified and explained. Also the relevance of Radio will be examined as a medium through which cultural knowledgeand awareness can be acquired. A radio programme promotes cultural norms, values and ethicsjust as it serves as a means of acquiring cultural education which will aid and promote societaldecency. The research becomes significant because it is one of the ways of exposing

Radio as a means of promoting Nigerians cultural heritage among youths. The study is alsoexpected to benefit diverse sectors of the economy as follows:

• Media house: mass media organizations will benefit from this work because it will enable them to pay more attention to cultural preservation and promotion, aside serving as a veritable agent of socialisation.
• Citizens: Nigerians will through this study know the benefit of mass media in the area of socialization and teach their children what and when to watch television.
• Government: government at all levels will benefit from this study especially by partnering with community media to showcase and boost cultural values of the society.In the light of the above, this research draws attention to the need to assiduously harmonize the cultural elements of the Nigeria people, and in most specific terms examine the working of Radio state in the area of cultural promotion.

1.7     Definitions of Term

The researcher used operational definitions.

Role: The duty of radio station in promoting and spreading the culture of Benin.

Radio: The channel through which the culture of Benin is communicated through Radio programmes.

Propagating: Spreading and promoting the culture of Benin via Radio.

Culture: Culture is a word for people’s ‘way of life, meaning the way groups do things. Different groups of people may have different cultures. A culture is passed on to the next generation through learning,

Transformation: This connotes a complete change of something from one stage to the other.

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