From January 14 to 18, more than 100 people involved in evangelical radio stations in French-speaking Africa attended a training seminar in Lomé. During the event, participants signed a declaration aimed at promoting relations among evangelical radio stations. This includes the immediate creation of a Facebook page and discussions regarding the establishment of an evangelical news agency and a Federation of Evangelical Media in French-speaking Africa.
Reprint of the article by Serge Carrel published on January 21, 2019, on lafree.info
On Friday, January 18, in Lomé, journalists, hosts, producers, and technicians from more than thirty evangelical radio stations in French-speaking Africa signed a document titled “The Lomé Declaration.”
A Facebook group to encourage collaboration
This document establishes an online group to encourage personal and professional exchanges among participants in the Training Seminar for Evangelical Radio Stations in French-speaking Africa, which was held January 14–18 in Lomé at the initiative of Radio Réveil (Switzerland). This declaration also raises the possibility of creating, in the future, a website for sharing radio content and an African, evangelical, and French-speaking news agency. Finally, the Lomé Declaration proposes the creation of a Federation of Evangelical Media in French-speaking Africa.
For Alphonse Teyabe of Cameroon, author of a doctoral dissertation on “The Church and the Media: The Contribution of Evangelical Radio Stations to Mission” and a key speaker at the training session, “this statement aims above all to encourage the various radio stations to come together and work as a team. It is imperative that we work together to overcome the various obstacles before us: a lack of professionalism and the difficulty of promoting holistic radio programs or those characterized by integral mission.” The founder of several radio stations in northern Cameroon also welcomed the idea of establishing a federation of evangelical media in French-speaking Africa, a proposal accepted unanimously by the participants.
Encouraging a New Approach Among Radio Stations
“This meeting helped break down competitive barriers among evangelical radio stations,” adds Emmanuel Ziehli, director of Radio Réveil and the driving force behind the gathering. “Another concern of ours is the generational gap—between people born in the ’60s and ’70s and young people who don’t see themselves reflected in older leaders. Our goal is to encourage the emergence of new leaders who can communicate the faith to the younger generation.”
Emmanuel Ziehli is planning to organize a second edition of this seminar. It could take place next January in Lomé. “With the population of French-speaking Africa doubling every 25 years, the time has come to pass the torch,” concludes Emmanuel Ziehli. “It is no longer up to the ‘little Swiss’ or the French to produce programs for Africa, but up to Africans to take on this challenge. Radio Réveil hopes to contribute by promoting training on the ground.”
Radio stations from 9 countries
From January 14 to 18, Radio Réveil—a producer of evangelical radio programs for the entire French-speaking world based in Bevaix, Switzerland—organized a training seminar for Christian radio stations in French-speaking Africa in Lomé, Togo, to mark its 70th anniversary. This seminar was organized in partnership with the International Christian Center for Study, Research, and Information (CICERI) in Lomé and Radios Ebène et Développement in France. More than a hundred people actively involved in or interested in radio production—from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Niger, Senegal, and Togo—participated in the event.
Serge Carrel
Download “The Lomé Declaration,” published on the occasion of the Training Seminar for Christian Radio Stations in French-speaking Africa.
#lomé2, here we go!
French-speaking AfricaThe Radio Réveil Association, in partnership with the International Christian Center for Study, Research, and Information (CICERI) and Radios Ebène and Développement, is pleased to announce the second edition of the Training Seminar for Christian Radio Stations in French-speaking Africa, which will take place November 25–29, 2019, in Lomé, Togo.
Emmanuel Ziehli, director of Radio Réveil, was in Lomé (Togo), as well as in Cotonou and Porto-Novo (Benin), in early June to organize this second seminar focused on the strategic and operational aspects of the effective operation of Christian radio stations.
A Full-Featured Radio
Following the first seminar in January, which focused primarily on operational matters, it became clear that there was an urgent need to also engage with radio station leaders (pastors and founders) in order, among other things, to work with them to develop a vision for programming centered on the incarnate Gospel rather than the preached Gospel: a form of holistic radio that cares for the body, soul, and spirit.
The strategic vision will take the form of think tanks (integral radio, epidemic prevention, counseling, practical information, etc.), workshops on financial management based on biblical principles, and discussions regarding the creation of a Federation of Francophone Christian Media in Africa. The operational track will offer workshops dedicated to web radio/IP radio, journalism, audio, studio technology, marketing, and many other topics.
Distinguished Speakers
During his various meetings, Emmanuel announced the names of several of the expected speakers:
Dr. Alphonse Teyabe of Radio Salaaman in Cameroon,
Dr. Paul Zagré of JEMED in Niger,
Dr. Paolo Jean Bedogni of Radios Ebène Développement,
Pastor Franck Jeanneret and journalist Serge Carrel from Switzerland.
The director of Radio Réveil also met with participants at the first seminar to gather their feedback. Listen to Clément from Radio Providence in Lomé:
and Samuel Atitsio, pastor and director of Radio La Grâce in Lomé:
Announcement of “Lomé 2” on the air with Didier Amen of Radio Hosanna (Protestant Methodist) in Porto-Novo, Benin:
In collaboration with theTogolese High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication.
Togolese authorities welcome the radio training initiative
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaIn Lomé, the seminar made headlines in several media outlets, with representatives of the relevant Togolese authorities praising the initiative behind this training program.
For a week, Emmanuel Ziehli, director of Radio Réveil; Serge Carrel, journalist and trainer; Andrea Luzi, technician; Christian Gaspoz of Radio Ébène et Développement; and Professor Alphonse Teyabe shared their knowledge with a discerning and passionate audience. Each day, workshops focused on the practical aspects of radio and the journalism profession alternated with plenary sessions that sparked debate on issues such as the contribution of evangelical radio stations to mission work and journalistic ethics.
Organized to mark the 70th anniversary of the Radio Réveil association, the event was put together in partnership with the International Christian Center for Study, Research, and Information (CICERI) in Lomé and the Radio Ébène et Développement association in France.
On TVT (Togolese Television) in Lomé
A Closer Look at Evangelical Radio Stations in French-Speaking Africa
French-speaking AfricaSince 2000, about 100 evangelical radio stations have been launched in French-speaking Africa. Alphonse Teyabe advocates for the proclamation of the full Gospel.
Alphonse Teyabe's remarks were featured on the morning show on RADIO R, the French-speaking Swiss station operated by the Radio Réveil association.
Read Serge Carrel's article published on lafree.info
For Alphonse Teyabe, “30 percent of Jesus” on evangelical radio stations in French-speaking Africa is enough!
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaWhat Role Does Evangelical Journalism Play in the Public Sphere?
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaA project in Togo to train journalists from evangelical radio stations in French-speaking Africa, combined with the 20th anniversary of the program *Hautes Fréquences* on RTS La Première, provides Serge Carrel with an opportunity to demonstrate that, in both contexts, evangelical journalism requires boldness and professionalism.
Reprint of Serge Carrel's "Opinion" piece published on January 25, 2019, onlafree.info
In our daily lives, there are moments when our experiences collide, prompting us to reflect on our work. Last week, I was one of the facilitators at the Training Seminar for Evangelical Radio Stations in French-speaking Africa, held in Lomé, Togo—a gathering of more than a hundred people organized by Radio Réveil in Bevaix (NE). It was an opportunity to meet journalists, hosts, and technicians from the roughly 100 radio stations that identify as evangelical in French-speaking Africa. Last Sunday evening at 7 p.m., RTS Religion marked the 20th anniversary of *Hautes Fréquences*—the flagship program of the public radio station’s religious programming team—on the airwaves of *La Première*.
In French-speaking Africa as well as in Switzerland, what is the level of presence?
In both situations, this provides an opportunity to reflect on the presence of evangelical journalists in the public sphere. In French-speaking Africa, evangelical religious radio stations are on the rise. Their programming places a strong emphasis on preaching the Gospel, reports on churches, and Christian music. They play an important role not only within the church or churches but also in the public sphere, encouraging the emergence of a shared identity and collective reflection on the major issues of the day. In French-speaking Switzerland, due to the ecumenical and interfaith commitment of the religious programming team and the erosion of the Christian voice’s legitimacy within society, RTS Religion’s approach leans more toward the sociology of religion than toward a Christian perspective on society. This is evidenced by the appearance on Sunday evening of a sociologist, Philippe Gonzalez—a specialist in media and religion—rather than a Christian theologian particularly well-versed in how to position the Christian faith within a pluralistic context.
Professionalism and boldness are more important than ever
In this clash of diametrically opposed experiences lies a convergence. On one hand, African evangelical radio stations are seeking to develop a public discourse that allows them to move beyond an “all-church” focus and reach as many listeners as possible—notably by limiting “Jesus” to 30 percent of programming and giving significant space to development issues and a holistic and integral Gospel (see the Lomé Declaration and the interview with Alphonse Teyabe). On the Swiss side, churches promote—since journalists are employed by the churches and production costs are covered by RTS—a discourse that analyzes religious phenomena from Christian perspectives and values, a discourse legitimized by the history of French-speaking Switzerland and by a society that seeks to understand religion without aligning itself with any particular denomination.
In these two very different contexts, evangelical journalism has its place. In French-speaking Africa as well as in Switzerland, it requires professionalism and boldness. It involves stepping outside the well-trodden paths of vague and unarticulated convictions to seek out and express a perspective on the world shaped by the values and hope that Christ brings to life in the heart of our lives. In both cases: a real “challenge,” as we say today!
Serge Carrel
Senior journalist at lafree.info
Former journalist at Radio Réveil and on the RTS Religion program *Hautes Fréquences*
French-speaking Africa: About 100 representatives from evangelical radio stations sign the Lomé Declaration
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaFrom January 14 to 18, more than 100 people involved in evangelical radio stations in French-speaking Africa attended a training seminar in Lomé. During the event, participants signed a declaration aimed at promoting relations among evangelical radio stations. This includes the immediate creation of a Facebook page and discussions regarding the establishment of an evangelical news agency and a Federation of Evangelical Media in French-speaking Africa.
Reprint of the article by Serge Carrel published on January 21, 2019, on lafree.info
On Friday, January 18, in Lomé, journalists, hosts, producers, and technicians from more than thirty evangelical radio stations in French-speaking Africa signed a document titled “The Lomé Declaration.”
A Facebook group to encourage collaboration
This document establishes an online group to encourage personal and professional exchanges among participants in the Training Seminar for Evangelical Radio Stations in French-speaking Africa, which was held January 14–18 in Lomé at the initiative of Radio Réveil (Switzerland). This declaration also raises the possibility of creating, in the future, a website for sharing radio content and an African, evangelical, and French-speaking news agency. Finally, the Lomé Declaration proposes the creation of a Federation of Evangelical Media in French-speaking Africa.
For Alphonse Teyabe of Cameroon, author of a doctoral dissertation on “The Church and the Media: The Contribution of Evangelical Radio Stations to Mission” and a key speaker at the training session, “this statement aims above all to encourage the various radio stations to come together and work as a team. It is imperative that we work together to overcome the various obstacles before us: a lack of professionalism and the difficulty of promoting holistic radio programs or those characterized by integral mission.” The founder of several radio stations in northern Cameroon also welcomed the idea of establishing a federation of evangelical media in French-speaking Africa, a proposal accepted unanimously by the participants.
Encouraging a New Approach Among Radio Stations
“This meeting helped break down competitive barriers among evangelical radio stations,” adds Emmanuel Ziehli, director of Radio Réveil and the driving force behind the gathering. “Another concern of ours is the generational gap—between people born in the ’60s and ’70s and young people who don’t see themselves reflected in older leaders. Our goal is to encourage the emergence of new leaders who can communicate the faith to the younger generation.”
Emmanuel Ziehli is planning to organize a second edition of this seminar. It could take place next January in Lomé. “With the population of French-speaking Africa doubling every 25 years, the time has come to pass the torch,” concludes Emmanuel Ziehli. “It is no longer up to the ‘little Swiss’ or the French to produce programs for Africa, but up to Africans to take on this challenge. Radio Réveil hopes to contribute by promoting training on the ground.”
Radio stations from 9 countries
From January 14 to 18, Radio Réveil—a producer of evangelical radio programs for the entire French-speaking world based in Bevaix, Switzerland—organized a training seminar for Christian radio stations in French-speaking Africa in Lomé, Togo, to mark its 70th anniversary. This seminar was organized in partnership with the International Christian Center for Study, Research, and Information (CICERI) in Lomé and Radios Ebène et Développement in France. More than a hundred people actively involved in or interested in radio production—from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Niger, Senegal, and Togo—participated in the event.
Serge Carrel
Download “The Lomé Declaration,” published on the occasion of the Training Seminar for Christian Radio Stations in French-speaking Africa.
More than 100 participants attended the seminar organized by Radio Réveil in Lomé
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaFrom January 14 to 18, 2019, Radio Réveil is organizing a training seminar for Christian radio stations in French-speaking Africa in Lomé, Togo.
From January 14 to 18, Serge Carrel, Alphonse Teyabé, Andrea Luzi, and Emmanuel Ziehli from Radio Réveil, along with Christian Gaspoz from Radio Ebène et Développement, are sharing their expertise in radio techniques, journalism, and electronic media with about 100 participants from ten West African countries. This is a great opportunity for Radio Réveil to forge new ties with its partner radio stations and to meet new ones.
Read the article from January 14, 2019, published in TOGO BREAKING NEWS
A few pictures
A Voice from the Gospel
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaChatty and full of life, Nina Guiaba is one of the hosts on the radio station Voix de l’Évangile in Bangui, Central African Republic. A testimony from a “radio enthusiast”!
In an interview with our reporter, Nina Guiabarecounts the journey that led her to become involved with Radio Voix de l’Évangile in Bangui, as well as with the Network of Journalists for Human Rights in the Central African Republic. Listen.
Alain Auderset is back in the spotlight once again with his latest book
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaComic book artist, comedian, and musician Alain Auderset is a guest on the editorial team’s show at Radio RéveilPHARE FM Romandie. Speaking with Sophie, he talks about his third book, *Rendez-vous dans la forêt*, which has just hit the shelves.
Cartoonist Alain Auderset has a daily encounter with God, especially in the forest. “In this third volume,” he explains, “I let Him speak for Himself. My friendship with God takes precedence over everything else. I see Him at work more and more; as I continue to draw from His Source, things happen more naturally.”
Alain Auderset will be signing copies of his new book on November 3 at the La Belle Porte library in Geneveys-sur-Coffrane. More info
Everything You Need to Know About the Book
Listen to the interview
Radio Training Seminar in Lomé
Christian Media in French-Speaking AfricaFrom January 14 to 18, 2019, Radio Réveil is organizing a training seminar for Christian radio stations in French-speaking Africa in Lomé, Togo.
With support from various foundations, the Radio Réveil association is organizing a week-long event focused on sharing and exchanging technical, journalistic, and marketing knowledge with representatives from its partner radio stations and other interested stations.
More info