Sierra Leone

Radio Programs

Talking Drum Studio - Sierra Leone (TDS-SL) programs air on all eleven stations in Sierra Leone. The formats for these programs vary and target different audiences, but their messages all have the same goal: to promote peace and reconciliation.

Golden Kids News

TDS-SL has developed a children's news program called Golden Kids News. This is a news and issues program that is partially developed, reported, and produced by children. It is truly a show for kids by kids.

This show engages children of mixed backgrounds who serve as producers, reporters and actors. They also identify issues of particular interest to children and advocate on their behalf.

This show creates a forum for children to discuss their hopes and fears, advocate their issues and present events important to them. This program also gives children a positive perspective and portrayal of Sierra Leone. This show airs three times a week for fifteen minutes on eighteen stations throughout Sierra Leone.

Common Ground Feature

This is a news series in a magazine style featuring stories depicting interests and issues that are shared by conflicting groups. TDS-SL staff conduct interviews on a wide-range of topics, recording opinions from the different groups involved in order to clarify positions and assist in the process of peace building, reconciliation, and reconstruction. This series has a signature tune written and sung by Jimmy B, who is very popular and has become closely identified with the show. This series creates a public forum where issues can be delved into that normally would not be. This show airs twice a week for thirty minutes on eighteen stations.

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home is a program focused on targeting information for returnees and refugees. This program is formatted in a soap-opera style, with information intertwined with the dialogue to provide not only an entertaining drama, but also a series that informs and educates refugees about the issues they must face and overcome in returning home.

Atunda Ayenda / Lost and Found

TDS-SL launched Atunda Ayenda in December 2001, and it has grown to be the studio's most popular program. This serial drama is divided into a number of phases, with appropriate storylines for each stage that match the current environment in Sierra Leone. After first addressing the disarmament and demobilization process, the programme later focused on the reintegration of ex-combatants, and now has shifted attention to democratisation and good governance. Before writing the script for each phase, the scriptwriters travel to upcountry regions to meet with a variety of people in the communities to better inform the story.

Atunda Ayenda is usually produced in the Krio language. Talking Drum Studio and the BBC World Service have co-produced a special English language version of the show. Listen to this programme now in WinMedia or RealMedia

Wi Yone Salone

This program aims to provide information about current issues affecting Sierra Leoneans. The first twelve episodes featured material on the various districts of Sierra Leone, what was happening there before, during, and after the war in terms of livelihoods, economic activities, health, education, governance etc. TDS-SL has now moved to a format of addressing large issues in multi-part series, covering topics ranging from the state of education to conflict diamonds.

Salone Uman

This program is about key issues affecting women in post conflict Sierra Leone. In collaboration with local human rights groups issues that affect the status of women and require exposure and reflection are identified. SFCG's production team then collects actualities from women around Sierra Leone vis-a-vis the issue identified. Two fifteen-minute programs highlighting the predicament of women are produced per week and air on twelve stations.

Watch audience reactions to Salone: Salone Wins With Women

Leh Wi Mek Salone (formerly Troway Di Gun)

As disarmament has completed and peace is solidifying, TDS-SL has adjusted its program targeting ex-combatants. It now focuses on current issues facing this volatile population. The program is co-hosted by two ex-combatants, namely a retired colonel of the RUF and a senior trainer of the Civil Defence Forces. They have both disarmed and have gone through their own reintegration process. This program seeks to inform ex-combatants about the reintegration process, both in the short and the long term.

Luk wi Pipul

Luk wi Pipul provides news and information geared towards the needs of the Sierra Leonean refugees presently residing in Liberia and Guinea. Thirty-minute episodes are aired every weekday morning by one station. The program seeks to provide a broad spectrum of information for the refugees to help them make informed decisions about their lives. The information is presented in a magazine style programme that includes peace messages, Guinean and Sierra Leonean music and some family messages, too.

Talking Drum Studio website is now available. Click here to listen to radio broadcasts