Regional Spotlight
- In the 20th century, Christianity became the religion of the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. In 1900, there were 8 million Christians; by 2000, there were 351 million.
- Despite improvements, each year an infant is 13 times more likely to die in Africa as in Europe or North America.
- Sub-Saharan Africa has by far the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS, just over 25 million.
- Poor health care, poverty and lack of education are escalating problems. Some 40 percent of African children do not attend school.
Sources: 2004 World Population Data Sheet of the Population Reference Bureau; Operation World, 21st Century Edition
Key Strategies
- Expand ministry to unreached groups in West and Central Africa by adding a new AM transmitting site in Benin
- Provide dramatized Scripture programs for Africa’s nonliterate population
- Produce and air HIV/AIDS broadcasts in seven additional languages
- Continue reaching children, youth and women by producing and airing programs in numerous additional languages
Technology
Broadcasts from TWR’s two shortwave locations on the African continent reach all of sub-Saharan Africa, with a potential audience of 700 million people
| Broadcast Site | Wave | Transmitter Power/Amt |
|---|---|---|
| Swaziland | AM | 50,000-watt/1 |
| SW | 100,000-watt/3 | |
| South Africa | SW | 500,000-watt/1 |
| SW | 250,000/1 |
TWR operates two nationwide FM networks in Malawi and Swaziland and partners with many independent FM radio stations on the continent. Programs are delivered to most of these radio stations via two satellite services from a playout center in Johannesburg, South Africa. The PAS 7 satellite service delivers English programs to Anglophone Africa, while the PAS 10 satellite service delivers programs to Francophone Africa and kiSwahili East Africa. These services also provide satellite radio directly to homes.
Programs & Initiatives
- Project Samuel uses radio drama to reach Africa’s children for Jesus
- Generation of Hope broadcasts to young people help them adopt a biblical world view, enabling them to face challenges and make the most of opportunities
- Africa Challenge, launched in 1986, focuses on topics like agriculture, HIV/AIDS and other relevant issues, ensuring spiritual and physical needs of Africans are met
Languages & Dialects
Afar, African English, African French, African Portuguese, Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Bambara, Bemba, Chewa, Chokwe, English, Ewe, Fiote, French, Fulani, German, Hadiyya, Hausa, Igbo, Kambaata, Kanuri, KiKongo, Kimbundu,Kimwani, KiRundi, Kunama, Kwanyama, Lingala, Lomwe, Luchazi, Lunyaneka, Luvale, Makhuwa, Malagasy, Moore, Ndau, Ndebele, Oromo, Portuguese, Pulaar, Sena, Shangaan, Shona, Sidamo, Siswati, Somali, Songai, Swahili, Tigre, Tigrinya, Tswa, Tswana, Umbundu, Xhosa, Yao, Yoruba, Zulu
Partners
Offices are located in Kenya, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Angola. Several cooperating studios also work with TWR in the region. TWR-Africa has partner organizations in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Listeners Respond
“I come from another religious background and my family hates Christianity. But my wife and I secretly read the Bible to our children each evening. We became Christians through your programs. Though times will be tough, we believe God will strengthen us.” –Tanzania
“My family has rejected me since they found out I am HIV-positive. I’m a Christian, yet my life has become a heavy cross to bear. But today something has changed—God is answering my anguish through your counseling and educational program. My hope is renewed.” –Africa
“I am 17, and I enjoy your program a lot. Not only does it encourage me to be confident and determined in Jesus, but it also helps me to trust in Him.” –Malawi