Celebrating International Radio Day: A Personal Reflection on 14 Years in Media
On this International Radio Day, I take a moment to reflect on the journey that began 14 years ago, in 2011, during my second year at the University of Juba in Khartoum. At the time, I was pursuing a diploma in Communication and Public Relations, with hopes of soon concluding my studies and embarking on a career as a journalist. However, I was confronted with an unexpected and challenging reality: the closure of the university, triggered by South Sudan’s decision to secede and hold its referendum. As a result, all South Sudanese students were required to return home, as we were now considered foreigners in Sudan.
For me, this marked the beginning of a new chapter. I relocated to South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State, specifically to Yambio, where I started working at Yambio FM. There, I began my career as a morning show presenter and Arabic news anchor in the afternoon. The experience was exhilarating, and I found great joy in my work. Yambio FM not only kept me engaged but also nurtured my growth, both professionally and personally. My proficiency in Pazande, a local language, improved significantly, and I gained valuable experience, including retailing the Advertiser newspaper, which involved selling copies from one office to another.
During this time, I also had the opportunity to contribute to Gurtong.org, one of the country’s leading news websites, for nine months. This experience not only deepened my understanding of media but also opened new doors for me. By 2012, I had raised funds to further my studies, which led me to Kenya, where I upgraded my qualifications from a diploma in Sudan to a degree in Communications with a specialization in Electronic Media (Radio and TV).
Radio has always been an integral part of my life. Growing up, I vividly remember my father waking up early every morning to listen to BBC News, which was our only source of information and hope as refugees living in the suburbs of Jebel Aulia. This routine sparked my curiosity and desire to understand how radio worked — how a voice could travel through airwaves and be heard by others. It ignited a dream in me to become a journalist and to amplify the voices of the voiceless.
To this day, radio remains South Sudan’s primary source of information due to its affordability and accessibility across various platforms, including mobile phones, cars, and the internet. Radio continues to be a vital medium for connecting people and sharing knowledge. As we celebrate this special day, I encourage you to support the medium by gifting a radio to someone in need.