Wednesday, July 03, 2024

Focus on clandestine radio - Voice of Fano

 

Uploaded June 30th to YouTube by SWL, Andre from South Africa, 29 minutes 32:

Clandestine radio stations operate underground for various reasons. They often target countries with high degrees of censorship, are used by political movements or during times of conflict by opposing sides. But how do these stations operate, and why are they founded? You can find answers to these questions in this video, in my interview with a presenter and producer from Voice of Fano.

There are a number of clandestine or underground stations targeting Ethiopia, because of the ongoing conflict situation between various ethnic groups there. I caught Voice of Fano on 15215 kHz some time ago. It is a rare station, only transmits twice a week. You can watch my first video here (Introduction and recording of station May 1st, 6 minutes 46) 

I had the opportunity to interview one of the presenters and producers, who told me the story of the station, how it operates, how programming is produced, who listens to them and more. He also provided context about the current situation in Ethiopia and the conflict against the Amhara people. There is a genocide going on in Ethiopia and very few people pay any attention. This is a rare look behind the scenes of a clandestine radio station during this time of conflict.

Voice of Fano can be heard on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 17:00 to 18:15 UTC, on 15215 kHz. It transmits from Issoudun. This station is not listed anywhere, except in the World Radio and TV Handbook. But the time in the WRTH is incorrect, the station now transmits for 75 minutes, not 30 minutes as listed in the WRTH. 
(Mike Barraclough/BDXC)