Downpour at home..

  but then I am not at home at the moment. A couple of weeks break at Nidri on the Greek island of Lefkas 

Running on Empty

 
Empty space in Schiphol's airport.... 

Running on Empty

 
Schiphol airport and one of the local media companies have signed a deal with the idea that travellers going through Amsterdam's airport can fill their MP3 players with stuff to listen to. Great idea, which isn't quite ready for prime time. First thing is that its for everything except the iPod and second, the shop is open during the day but not in the very early morning hours when thousands of tourists are wandering around looking for something to take on holiday. All the shops in Schiphol are open, except for this one. May be they saw the handbaggage rules coming before everyone else did. 

Telephone Bridge

  One of the biggest challenges for small stations is putting phone calls on the air, and balancing the voice in the studio with the voice on the phone. This is the way they do it Porto Novo....mike next to the speakerphone. 

AMARC Africa Suspends Activities

 

Learned today that AMARC Africa (the umbrella organisation for community radio) has run out of cash and will close its two offices on the continent. Sounds to me like money mismanagement, because community radio in many parts of the continent is doing great. 

Advertising Rates for July

Advertising Rates for July
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

This rural station in Tanguieta operates in 11 languages. It costs 3200 CFA (4.80 Euro) a week to advertise in the local language of Byali, and just 100 CFA (0.15) a week to advertise in between programmes in French.

Near Tanguieta, Northern Benin

Near Tanguieta, Northern Benin
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

Beautiful, lush countryside in the Northern part of Benin. Very green at the moment as the rainy season has just finished.

Radio Rural Locale, Tanguieta, Benin

Radio Rural Locale, Tanguieta, Benin
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

This is one of the oldest and most successful community radio stations in Benin, located in the north-west of the country at the edge of a huge wild-life park.

Deeman Radio

Deeman Radio
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

This station is broadcasting deep into Nigeria from Parakou, one of the cities in the North of Benin. That's because the diaspora supply a lot of the finance to keep this cultural station going. Of course the borders of Nigeria and Benin were put their by Europeans....says nothing about the cultural threats which run horizontally across this part of West Africa.

Deforestation Benin

Deforestation Benin
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

Towards the central part of Benin is a lot of evidence of deforestation, with the teak and shea trees being cleared to grow corn instead. In areas where they grew cotton, the land is quickly made useless and has to lie fallow for 5 years in order to recover.

Benin Railway

Benin Railway
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

Saw thye railway track several times as we criss-crossed through Northern and Central Benin. Never saw a train. Not in use for passenger traffic I believe. The roads across most of the country are superb, so it took away the business.

Benin's National Drink?

Benin's National Drink
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

It is petrol, brought across the border with Nigeria, usually in boats. Sold about 100 CFA cheaper than the state petrol stations.

Soule Issiaka, Manager BARN, Cotonou

Soule Issiaka, Manager BARN, Cotonou
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

It is my pleasure and privilege to have Soule Issiaka as my guide on the radio tour of Benin. This man has done more to change the face of broadcasting in West & Central Africa than anyone I know on the planet. True passion for his people - and a great sense of humour.

Mobile Phone Deal, Benin

Mobile Phone Deal, Benin
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

There's a mobile phone shop on every corner, and you can upgrade your account by as little as O.75 cents. Many people buy a big card and sell on micro-credit to others, making themselves salespeople for the phone company. Clever

Door of No Return, Ouidah, Benin

Door of No Return, Ouidah, Benin
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

This UNESCO monument on the site of a Portuguese fort used to ship slaves off to other colonies. Moving experience

Man with Python

Man with Python
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

Yes, fell for a tourist trap shot in Ouidah, on the coast near Cotonou. Got the 8 minute tour of the Python temple where I was told the locals worship the Python. These have had their fangs removed. They don't feed them in the temple, so the snakes make their way into town looking for food (like maize). Locals bring them back. They don't bite...feels cold cause they're cold blooded.

Deeman Radio

Deeman Radio
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

Broadcasting deep into Nigeria from Parakou, one of the cities in the North of Benin

ORTB TV & FM Antenna

ORTB TV & FM Antenna
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

Radio is far more important than TV in Benin. This mast carries the national TV channel, plus the FM antennas for the national radio and foreign broadcaster, Radio France Internationale. FM goes a hell of a long way in a flat country like Benin - we could hear RFI more than 120 kms North of this antenna.

Jonathan with the RN Afrique team

Jonathan with the RN Afrique team
Originally uploaded by Jonathan Marks.

These guys are brilliant - Soule Issiaka runs a tight ship. These people have done more for broadcasting in West Africa than a lot of European stations put together. They are working with local broadcasters, not in competition to them.

Donald in town

 
Great to see Professor Donald Brown, who's a noted specialist on broadcasting in the Arab world. Was a regular guest in the days of Media Network. We chatted for a couple of hours on the status of radio in various parts of the world. Seems he'd been taken to the same restaurant by his previous guest the same day, so the Colonie on the road to Weesp is becoming a regular haunt for media types. And yes, he knows he looks like Steve Martin.