Radio Okapi Research Paper

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a massive country in the central of Africa. It is about the same size as Western Europe. The DRC is very rich in natural resources, to where it is considered to be among the richest reserves in natural resources in the world. Sadly, due to mismanagement of the economy and the on-going conflict, it is not profiting from its resources. According to the UN human development index “only 30% of the population is illiterate and 54% have no access to clean drinking water”. Radio Okapi was set up to serve the people of DRC who have suffered years of military conflict and economic decline.
The name Okapi derives from a four legged mammal which lives primarily in The DRC. It is very loved by the Congolese people.

MONUC’s chief of information David Smith said in an interview with Radio Netherlands; “There is no single voice that unites all the Congolese people. This radio project will allow people in rebel held territories to speak to people in government-controlled territories for the first time since the war broke out. A big role of the radio will be to convince people that it’s in their interest to lay down their arms, and either be repatriated to their home country, if they come from somewhere else, or to find ways to join civil society and leave the war

Okapi Radio is a model for social development in DRC, its focus on health, education, human rights culture and music reduces the stress on those affected by it. In its 3 years as a radio station, they believe that some changes have come as a result of Radio Okapi. Nine regional stations are now operational.
Radio stations like Radio Okapi, play a keen role in the social development of a country that is in turmoil. We have seen that many of journalists are under strict orders to deliver the news as the government sees fit. The people of The DRC need to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! The conflict which has divided the country has left many Congolese to seek asylum elsewhere. Radio Okapi allows the Congolese diaspora to voice their civic views to the DRC citizens living in the country. History has shown that radio can and have been used as a form to turn a country against itself and destroy the basic foundation that it stands on. Through Radio Okapi as well as Radio Bar-kulan we see that Radio can have impactful change on society. DRC is clouded by corruption, war and suffering but that doesn’t mean that change can’t come into play. Programs on Radio Okapi teach rebel fighters from Burundi, Rwanda, Namibia as well as other rebel groups to lay down their