Summary
Vatican Radio, established on February 12, 1931 by Pope Pius XI under the guidance of inventor Guglielmo Marconi, began with radio broadcasts aimed at proclaiming the Gospel. Six years later, in 1937, the English Language Programme was launched to reach English-speaking audiences globally. In 1950, the first broadcast to Africa commenced, coinciding with a period of resurgence and decolonization across the continent. The establishment of the English Africa Service as an independent entity occurred in 1979, reflecting evolving social and ecclesial dynamics. The service introduced daily broadcasts of Gospel readings in Ki-Swahili in 1993, further expanding its reach to include Hausa language broadcasts in 2002. Currently, the English Africa Service broadcasts a half-hour daily format since 1995, informed by exhortations from Pope John Paul II and guidelines from Pope Benedict XVI. The service reaches approximately 23 African countries where English is an official language, primarily through cooperative arrangements with partner diocesan radio stations in Africa and the Radio Maria Africa network.
Key Topics
Vatican Radio, Africa, Pan-Africanism
