| Broadcast area | Gambia :FM |
|---|---|
| Frequency | FM: |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English,Senegambian |
| Format | Contemporary Hit Radio,News,Speech |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Gambian government |
| GRTS (Television) | |
| History | |
First air date | 1962 |
| Links | |
| Website | [2] |
Radio Gambia is the nationalradiobroadcaster of theWest African state ofthe Gambia. Established in 1962, it became the first radio station in the Gambia.[1]
Radio Gambia was the first mediabroadcaster ofthe Gambia following its establishment in 1962.[1] Since its establishment, its historical base has always beenBakau.
"The programme Chossanie Senegambia... has a higher audience in the Gambia and Senegal than any other programme broadcast by ORTS and Radio Gambia. It is the only programme that goes into the people's own culture and tell them about the history of their ancestors."
Established during thecolonial era with the assistance of advisors fromBritain,[3] almost all its programmes in its early years were rebroadcast of programmes in other parts ofAfrica andEngland.[3] That strategy continued right after independence in 1965. Although it created its own news, educational shows and music programmes, Radio Gambia initially depended heavily on theBBC for programming.[3]
On 4 October 1973 theOffice de Radiodiffusion Télévision du Sénégal (ORTS) (theSenegalese radio station) who was in talks with Radio Gambia about producing a joint radio programme based onSenegambian history and broadcast inthe local languages came to an agreement, and the first ever recording of the programmeChossani Senegambia (the history ofSenegambia) was made.[4] Chossani Senegambia was the first of its kind in Senegambian broadcasting history and was a success. In the Gambia, the programme was spearheaded byAlhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof (the veteran historian, former Director of Programmes and Head of Local Languages at Radio Gambia), Alhaji Assan Njie (Presenter of Radio Gambia), Alhaji Mansour Njie (historian and Presenter of Radio Gambia) and Alhaji Ousman Secka.[5][6] Following a decree by theGambian government in December 1995, Radio Gambia merged with the first national television station of the country and becameThe Gambia Radio & Television Service (GRTS).[7]
