Most indigenous languages have gone into extinction in post-colonial Africa, yet the media seem to be inept in ensuring the preservation of African languages, especially those labelled “minority languages”. To conceptualise multilingualism on African radio, this chapter seeks to demonstrate the co-existence of indigenous languages on Radio Lagos, which broadcasts to a multilingual audience. The specific objectives of the study are to ascertain the level of acceptance of Radio Lagos among radio listeners in Lagos State, to assess dominant languages and to investigate the possibility and level of language exclusion. The study adopts focus group discussions in two local government areas, and in-depth interviews (IDI) with the director of programmes at Radio Lagos FM. The results reveal that Yoruba is the most dominant language of radio broadcasts. Secondly, as a major indigenous language, Yoruba attracts many listeners. Informed by cultural proximity theory, this chapter argues that radio should endeavour to accommodate all indigenous languages in its proximity. Radio Lagos, as a public broadcaster, should not perpetuate language hegemony but promote multilingualism through its programming, and the government should facilitate policies that support and promote the inclusion of other indigenous languages.

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Analysing Multilingualism on Lagos FM in Nigeria: A Cultural Proximity Perspective

  • Funke Omole,
  • Babatunde Adeyeye,
  • Benjamin Ogundeji

摘要

Most indigenous languages have gone into extinction in post-colonial Africa, yet the media seem to be inept in ensuring the preservation of African languages, especially those labelled “minority languages”. To conceptualise multilingualism on African radio, this chapter seeks to demonstrate the co-existence of indigenous languages on Radio Lagos, which broadcasts to a multilingual audience. The specific objectives of the study are to ascertain the level of acceptance of Radio Lagos among radio listeners in Lagos State, to assess dominant languages and to investigate the possibility and level of language exclusion. The study adopts focus group discussions in two local government areas, and in-depth interviews (IDI) with the director of programmes at Radio Lagos FM. The results reveal that Yoruba is the most dominant language of radio broadcasts. Secondly, as a major indigenous language, Yoruba attracts many listeners. Informed by cultural proximity theory, this chapter argues that radio should endeavour to accommodate all indigenous languages in its proximity. Radio Lagos, as a public broadcaster, should not perpetuate language hegemony but promote multilingualism through its programming, and the government should facilitate policies that support and promote the inclusion of other indigenous languages.