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African development action with informed and engaged societies
Soul Beat Africa
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Tuonane Sokoni Radio Drama

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Launched in December 2010 by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Tuonane Sokoni ("See You at the Market" in Kiswahili) is a serial radio drama designed to raise awareness and foster discussion on corruption and illegal smuggling. According to SFCG, such practices increase bribes and sexual exploitation, strain relationships between border officials and traders, and have an overall negative impact on traders' livelihoods. The series is being broadcast on four radio stations in border areas between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.

Communication Strategies

Tuonane Sokoni depicts the daily struggles of three women: Noella and Bintu, two small-scale traders, and Sylla, a customs official. The storyline is designed to provide information about new initiatives to improve cross-border trade, while also addressing stereotypes and attitudes that serve to hinder regional cooperation and coexistence. Key broadcast areas are the border points in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, namely the cities of Uvira-Gatumba (Burundi); Bukavu-Cyangugu (Rwanda); and Goma-Gisenyi (Rwanda).

Tuonane Sokoni is a component of SFCG’s Supporting Trading for Peace project funded by USAID, which works to help secure trade routes between Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) so that regional economic activities can develop. The overall project focuses on information and dialogue, with the media sector playing an important role in ensuring that petty traders and officials understand the rights and responsibilities of cross-border traders. Other project activities include monthly radio roundtable discussion programmes, trainings for petty traders and border officials, community forums, and a trade festival.

Click here to listen to episodes online.

Development Issues

Democracy and Governance, Economic Development

Key Points

SFCG implements regional programming in the Great Lakes that complements and leverages its national programmes presence in Burundi (since 1995), DRC (since 2001), and Rwanda (since 2008). The regional strategy focuses on four key issues: Human security and displacement; access to information/freedom of expression; resource management; and identity. Projects implemented that support the strategy include extensive work on refugee repatriation and reintegration, training and exchanges for media professionals as well as theatre artists, regional radio programming for youth, and the Supporting Trading for Peace initiative. More information about these projects and their results are available on SFCG’s website on the national programme pages as well as the Evaluations page.

Sources

Common Ground blog and Radio for Peacebuilding Africa website on April 18 2011.