[comradio-l] "Hideously diverse Britain: the Voice of Africa is closer than you think", Hugh Muir, The Guardian 21/05/10

[CMA-L]

Space Clottey, the founder of the Voice of Africa radio station, is
reaching Africans around the world from his east London studios

You can walk straight past the giant bright red gates without an
inkling of what's going on inside. I did just that. A short white boy
on his way to school, put me right. "You looking for the Voice of
Africa, mate?" he said. He pointed to the buzzer. "Press there."

But then there's little surprise that locals have a sense that
something notable happens here. Seems mad to set up an international
communications hub for all things African and run it from a backstreet
in Plaistow, east London, half a mile from West Ham football club?
Well, it works.

Space Clottey founded the Voice of Africa 10 years ago, initially as a
pirate radio station, but six years ago it got a licence and went
legit. He is running late so I am met by a stocky, smiling figure in a
check jacket and cherry red T-shirt. I suspect he is a volunteer. In
fact, Peerless Joe, or PJ, is presenting the breakfast show. No wonder
he dashes back to his chair.

Torn for one morning from John Humphrys and Today, I hear the news as
read by PJ and it's very different: a hot story in Ghana about the
sale of an airline. In Liberia, concern about sexual violence. In
Nigeria, a new vice-president has been approved. In Uganda, political
manoeuvring regarding the president. And in Somalia, the talk is about
the arrest of pirates.

The stabbing of local MP Stephen Timms is also exciting listeners and
they give their own perspectives. "If this had happened in Africa,
there would have been instant justice," says caller Abdul. "I don't
think the attacker would have survived."

Clottey, smiling and bespectacled, arrives just before 9am to host a
debate show, The People's Parliament, and for an hour he takes calls
and jousts with a telephone guest, the legal director of the BNP. The
far-right activist talks about immigration, miscegenation – and here's
a novelty: he gets to take the high ground discussing the iniquities
of Robert Mugabe. Interestingly, some of the African callers agree
with him.

They listen in the UK on FM; in Nigeria, Ghana or South Africa it's
via the web, and Clottey says he never knows what positions will
emerge. Africans are always keen to talk. Who knew the sound would
carry from here?

Hugh Muir, Thursday 20 May 2010 23.00 BST

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/may/20/hideously-diverse-britain-voice-of-africa

\\\

Community Media Association
-- 
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media
http://photo365.commedia.org.uk
Facebook Fans: http://bit.ly/cog8n5

[Voice of Africa Radio is proudly webcast by]

Canstream Internet Radio
http://www.canstream.co.uk/