Press Releases
Wahapahapa weekly radio serial drama hits RFA airwaves next month
November 26, 2007
A new exciting and entertaining radio serial drama hits the airwaves on Radio Free Africa on Saturday December 1 2007 at 6:30 p.m.. This new radio series brings the power and passion of the current Tanzanian music scene together with key social issues- unemployment, relationships, women’s and youth’s hopes, dreams and roles in today’s Tanzanian society where HIV touches all of us.
The radio series is made possible through the support from the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the United States Agency for International Development through the US President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief.
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Centre for Communication Programs (CCP) has produced similar radio serial dramas in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda and other parts of Africa. This Tanzanian radio series, has been developed and produced under the Strategic Radio Communication for Development (STRADCOM) Project, working with Media for Development International.
The Wahapahapa producers have worked very closely with the Government of Tanzania and US Government supported partners. They have also brought together the best Tanzanian, writers, producers, actors and musicians to produce an entertaining, powerful and dramatic story of living in Tanzania.
The programme explores the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people through the lives of the band members, their family and friends. Wahapahapa tells their story passionately, in the live connections between friends, families and communities.
Wahapahapa also reflects the actualities of the current musical scene in Tanzania. And so the producers came up with a radio-deejay character Ray, whose show Mwale wa Jua, showcases real-life musicians and bands. Banana Zorro is one of the first musicians to be featured on Wahapahapa.
Art is combined with the latest communication theories on behavior change. A number of stories lines in the drama deal with everyday issues such as stigma, testing for HIV, disclosure, cross generational communication, HIV and AIDS treatment and care. Positive and instructive modeling of positive behaviors in regards to HIV and AIDS are carefully integrated into the story lines.
Be a part of Wahapahapa- tune in to Radio Free Africa Saturday December 1st, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. for the first episode. There will be a new episode every week at the same time and on the same station.