A Sheffield-based media organisation has launched their digital radio station this week.
African Voices Platform officially launched its community DAB radio station on 1 April.
To commemorate the launch, the team held a radio studio tour, joined by community leaders in Sheffield, providing a space for people to engage in creative discussions about the programmes.
Enoch Karimba, director of partnerships and community engagement at AVP, said: “Our primary goal is to foster community engagement and promote cultural exchange across the continent, as well as the diaspora.
“By focusing on local stories, social issues and cultural expression, we hope to empower our listeners and provide them with a space where their experiences and perspectives can be heard and valued.”
Since 2018, AVP has been covering a broad range of topics, including African creatives and political news affecting the diaspora, ensuring African narratives are shared directly by those within the community.
Previously, African Voices Platform worked with Sheffield Live! Radio, airing every Friday at 7pm.
Tchiyiwe Chihana, managing director and international business manager at AVP, said: “I really want this to grow so that it’s intergenerational, and also that it’s more purpose-built for the generation after us.
“It has to be future-focused, it has to be transformative. So, I want to see more young people actually start to own it.”
13 radio hosts have been selected and trained prior to the launch, including a 90-year-old woman from Botswana, who will be sharing stories, experiences and cultural practices from her native country.
Other shows focus on tech, food, sports, regional African music, women empowerment, and more.
75% of the content will be tailored towards the South Yorkshire community.
Ms Chihana said: “With the support of Sheffield City Council in more recent times, we have built ourselves up into a platform that can showcase more artists and creatives. That is something that is already setting us apart.”
The organisation has hosted creatives like Hip Hop artist Franz Von and poet Otis Mensah, and also regularly collaborates with Utopia Theatre, another group strengthening African communities in the UK.
African Voices Platform are calling for people to submit programme proposals for their radio, with a focus on culture, education, music and content tailored to young audiences.
For more information, visit their website here.