Radio Biafra

Radio Biafra

Broadcast area	Worldwide
Programming
Language(s)	English, Igbo
Ownership
Owner	Republic of Biafra
History
Former frequencies	97.6 MHz^[when?]^[where?]
Links
Website	radiobiafra.co

Radio Biafra, also known as Voice of Biafra, is a radio station and a trademark^[1] that was founded by the defunct Republic of Biafra. It was operated by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader and Alphonsus Uche Okafor-Mefor who served as the deputy director.^[2][3] It is believed to have its first transmission before the Nigeria-Biafra war,^[4] the radio station was instrumental in the broadcast of speeches and propaganda by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to the people of the Republic of Biafra.^[5]

Transmission

Now based in the United Kingdom, Radio Biafra transmits via the internet and shortwave broadcast targeted to the Eastern Nigeria, with their contents broadcast in English and Igbo.^[6] Radio Biafra claims to be broadcasting the ideology of Biafra –"Freedom of the Biafran people".^[7]

Controversy

Radio Biafra has been met with mixed reactions. While some critics have criticized the station for "inciting war" through its programmes and "preaching hate messages" against Nigeria which it refers to as a “zoo”,^[8] an editor for Sahara Reporters wrote in defence of the radio station after he compared Radio Biafra with the British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa service.^[9]

On 14 July 2015, it was reported in the media that the radio station had been jammed because it did not have a broadcast licence from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission.^[10] However, the radio station in a swift reaction labelled such claims as "lies" and went on to release its new frequency details to the public.^[11][12]

References

1. "Intellectual property: Trade marks". GOV.UK. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
2. Ikenna Asomba,Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu. "Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu reportedly arrested". vanguardngr.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
3. Ayodele Oluwagbemi,Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu (24 September 2017). "IPOB claims ownership of Radio Biafra". punchng.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
4. Tony Adibe (15 March 2015). "My role in Radio Biafra - Pete Edochie". DailyTrust. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
5. Barnaby Phillips (29 January 2000). "Biafran leader looks back". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
6. "Reactions Trail The Growing Popularity Of Radio Biafra". 25 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
7. Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu (18 July 2015). "Finally, Radio Biafra is off the airwaves". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
8. Premium Times (15 July 2015). "Radio Biafra lying against me — Buhari". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
9. Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije (20 July 2015). "In Defence Of Radio Biafra By Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije". Sahara Reporters. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
10. "Nigerian Govt. lied, Radio Biafra still broadcasting". Premium Times. 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
11. P.M News (14 July 2015). "FG full of lies, we are still broadcasting, says Radio Biafra". P.M. News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
12. "Radio Biafra mocks FG, releases frequency details". News Express. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2015.