ENCOUNTER: JOURNAL OF AFRICAN LIFE AND RELIGION

Since 1992, when the broadcast industry in Nigeria was deregulated by the administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the Nigerian broadcast industry has witnessed tremendous growth in religious and cultural programming. DAAR Communications Plc, owners of Raypower 100.5 Fm, Africa Independent Television (AIT), and Faaji Fm {DAAR Media Services}, has made religious and cultural programs a core part of its programming through the constant broadcast of live and delayed church programs, especially content relating to the Catholic church and documentaries on African cultures and values. AIT through its owned Affiliate stations is structured to transmit local contents which are woven around the cultural values and politics of the people of the host Communities. Generally, DAAR media services are constantly deplored to the transmission of African documentaries, movies, African politics, and various religions of the African people. The Nigeria broadcasting industry’s regulatory body, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) provides a rigorous regulatory regime for the control of the various outputs from the broadcast media institutions in Nigeria, including DAAR media services. Observations have revealed that a considerable percentage of DAAR media services airtime is allocated to Year-round Christian programmes, especially during the Lenten seasons and other Christian celebrations. The question still unanswered is whether the airtime allocated to Church and cultural programs is having any positive effects on African culture and religion generally. Also, to what extent is the traditional media as well as the social media influencing the growth of religion and African cultural values? To answer these questions, the broadcast schedules and transmission logs of DAAR media services together with its social media handles were reviewed alongside other key media institutions in Nigeria. Key findings suggest that the airtime allocated for religious programs is within 10 percent threshold allowed by the current regulatory regime. Other findings are quite interesting too. Therefore, it may seem that while AIT continues to align with the regulatory regime in its broadcast of religious and African cultural programs, together with regular boost by the social media and the activities of big players in the traditional media, religious and African cultural content have continued to receive positive impact, which in turn is beginning to reflect in the lifestyle and attitude of Nigerians, and the African people in General.

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