Radio Listening Clubs in Malawi and How they Contribute to Expanding Ordinary People’s Capabilities

This article examines how radio listening clubs (RLCs) established by community radio stations in Malawi help to expand ordinary people’s capabilities. The RLCs provide a platform for ordinary people to assemble to listen to a designated radio programme, discuss the content for its merit and then decide how best to use the information to improve their livelihoods. The programmes are produced in such a way that they raise pertinent issues faced in the community and offer listeners suggested solutions to overcome those problems. The findings discussed in the paper are based on data collected through focus group discussion with members of RLCs of Nkhotakota community radio, semi-structured interviews with its deputy station manager and other key informants, and participant observation of what goes on in the radio station. The article argues that the RLC has potential to expand the capabilities of ordinary people because the information they receive, share and discuss empowers them to make informed decisions and to be knowledgeable. By providing a forum for the discussion of issues affecting ordinary people, this article concludes that RLCs can help to raise people’s awareness to existing problems and influencing them to do something about their situation. In this way, RLCs can help expand ordinary people’s capabilities to achieve a life that they value.

Keywords: capabilities, community radio, human development, ordinary people, radio listening clubs.