/ 1 September 2006

African spice

Inspired by President Thabo Mbeki's vision for the African renaissance, Metro FM has decided to celebrate its 20th birthday by adding pan-African spice to its programming mix. Maria McCloy reports.

Tuning into urban station Metro FM you usually hear a heavy dose of imported R&B, hip-hop and house as well as a significant selection of local sounds. But, inspired by President Thabo Mbeki’s vision for the African renaissance, the station has decided to celebrate its 20th birthday by adding pan-African spice to its programming mix. For 20 days in September the station will broadcast from 12 African countries.

The tour starts on Friday at the Kruger National Park, after which breakfast DJ Azania Ndoro and drive-time veteran Glen Lewis will take chartered flights to Zambia, Gabon, Nigeria, Benin and Mozambique among others. At one point, 10 Metro FM competition winners will travel to Zanzibar for a day of partying — and to find out who has won the million bucks that Metro is giving away.

“There are a couple of objectives for us,” says station manager Mathona Ntshona. “The first is to promote the African renaissance as the president sees it as well as his Nepad [New Partnership for Africa’s Development] vision of getting Africans to work together. There is also an educational element where we will be educating our listeners about the rest of our continent,” she explains.

Ntshona believes the broadcasts will give insights into other cultures and ways of life. “We will also be promoting South Africa,” she adds.

Programming manager Leo Manne says the shows will be “a travelogue of sorts. We’ve been in touch with different governments, linked up with radio stations … and players in the music and film industries — we want to show a positive experience of what the continent has to offer.”