In March 2021, Theatre for a Change and Africa Check were awarded funding from the Google News Initiative to implement projects in Nigeria and Senegal focused on combatting COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, especially among offline and illiterate communities. TfaC’s unique Interactive Radio Drama (IRD) methodology was chosen for its ability to reach these communities in participatory and impactful ways.

In July-August 2021, TfaC delivered four weeks of intensive online IRD training to a group of radio performers, presenters and producers in Lagos, Nigeria. The group learned how to produce live IRD programmes that give audiences the chance to develop knowledge, attitudes and skills that are need to fact-check vaccine misinformation, and to educate their families and friends about the vaccine and the virus.

 

Rehearsing a scene for an upcoming broadcast.

 

Pre-recording the drama.

 

The TfaC-trained radio team celebrating the end of a live broadcast.

 

The live weekly broadcasts began on 25th August 2021 on Radio One 103.5 FM Lagos, one of Nigeria’s largest and most popular radio stations, with an estimated listenership of 20 million people. The broadcasts will run through April 2022. All broadcasts are being produced in Pidgin, the local language.

We are excited to move into this new thematic area of work, recognising how important fact-checking vaccine misinformation is to improving the health and rights of marginalised and vulnerable women and girls.

 

Artwork advertising the live IRD broadcasts in Nigeria.

 

Listen to a sample episode here:

Photo and video credit Valor Pictures

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