In the 1960s the South African Broadcasting Corporation launched Radio Bantu as a fully-fledged station for African listeners in their different languages. Zulu was the first language used on the radio station. It was soon followed by the other vernacular languages. Intended to operate as the apartheid state’s propaganda channel, vernacular radio came to find resonance among millions of African listeners.
On January 1, 1962, the SABC introduced a high frequency modulation system, a breakthrough that marked the birth of FM radio and 12-hour mass-based broadcasting that involved 12 languages -Zulu, Xhosa, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga and Venda. Thanks to the wireless’s immediacy, accessibility, affordability and portability, almost overnight Radio Bantu became the mainstay of black popular culture.
That was the beginning of Radio Sesotho (1/1/1962) (now Lesedi FM 1996), Radio Zulu (1/1/1962) (Ukhozi FM), Radio Setswana (1/6/1962)
(Motsweding FM), Radio Lebowa (1/6/1962) (Thobela FM), Radio Tsonga (1/2/1965) (Munghana Lonene), Radio Venda (1/2/1965) (Phala Phala FM), Radio Swazi (1982) (Ligwalagwala FM), Radio Ndebele (16/3/1983) (lkwekwezi FM) and Radio Xhosa (1966) (Umhlobo Wenene). All the radio stations changed to their current status in 1996.
The current regional radio stations have its foundations in Radio Bantu. Very little of Radio Bantu content has been preserved. The SABC Radio Archives holds approximately 40 Radio Bantu programs, of which the earliest dates to somewhere in 1960, and which are mainly radio dramas. A concerted effort is being made to get the collection back into the SABC. The regional archivists will try to source and search for this material.
Radio Bantu 2024: 2024/04/06 – 2024/05/03
(Schedule Times are GMT: +2 hours)
#ForThePeople
Time Show Name
00:00 SABC Transcription Music
06:00 K.E Masinga interview by Taylor Bentley
06:30 Various old radio personalities Documentary– Motsweding FM
07:00 Lenakha la Motheo thapelo ya basotho
07:30 How King Mukhese and Mpaphuli became enemies
08:00 King Vele Dimbanyika
08:30 Khutsana e e sweng - Motsweding FM
09:00 Direto by Lesiba Mahapa - radio Lebowa 1976
09:30 How King Thoyandou built Dzata in Venda
10:00 Moshoeshoe (1986-11-03)
10:30 Ta Mindyangu - Radio Tsonga
11:07 Black Broadcasting - first broadcast to natives from SABC
11:30 Legends of Lotus FM – Radio Lotus (Part 1)
12:00 Indlu Ka Maswaphela – IKwekwezi FM drama (Epsode 1-5)
13:30 Mopheme – Radio Sesotho drama (Episode 1-5)
15:00 The first eight hours of broadcast = Radio Lotus
16:05 The opening of the State Theatre
17:00 Thlakisetso (1986-04-08) Mochoc
17:16 `Actuality SABC transmitting station (1949-10-22)
17:30 Tsonga Kraal Documentary – Radio Tsonga
18:00 Motsweding Tenth anniversary –Motsweding FM
18:30 Short Story – Radio Sesotho
19:00 Umona Usuka Esweni - Ligwalagwala FM drama (Episode 1-5)
20:15 Imilando Yabadala - Ikwekwezi FM (1984-04-15)
20:30 SABC Jazz Transcription music Mix
21:30 SABC Vocal and Choral Transcription music Mix
22:00 Shift – Ukozi FM
22:07 DR Samual Henri Pellissier
22:12 SABC Transcription Music ... See MoreSee Less
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Starting at 12 am. A new stream repeating each day
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Celebrating the heart and soul of our diverse nation! Join SABC in honoring the tapestry of voices that make South Africa truly extraordinary. Share your linguistic pride with #LinquisticDiversity. ... See MoreSee Less
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SABC celebrating World Radio Day with 19 radio stations and streaming 2 nostalgic radio stations, RadioBantu Springbok Radio Revisited
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