Radio And French Colonial Power: Challenges In The Production Of Algerian Cultural Programmes
Keywords:
Algeria, arabic and Kabyle channels, French colonialism, culture, radio broadcastsAbstract
The genesis of Algerian cultural radio programmes can be traced back to the 1940s, when the French administration initiated Arabic and Kabyle language broadcasts. In the context of radio propaganda warfare linked to the Algerian war of national liberation, discursive objectivity was relative. The mechanisms of work organisation within this radio station had a tendency to reinforce the French vision of Algeria’s future. In addition, the presenters recognised the challenge of broadcasting this multidimensional issue, including the cultural aspect, in their programmes. The present contribution is thus concerned with the following questions: 1-How were the presenters of these programmes recruited? 2- What motivated them to get involved professionally? 3- Were there any cultural identity struggles in these programmes?. In order to address these questions, a qualitative study was conducted. The study is founded on the basis of interviews with approximately twenty presenters from these programmes, and it draws on both sound and bibliographic archives relating to the issue. The results of the data analysis demonstrated that firstly, networking constituted the primary factor in the recruitment of presenters; secondly, the presenters’ passion for their culture was a key factor in their professional involvement; thirdly, the production of these programmes was marked by a struggle for identity, highlighting Algerian cultural heritage in a context of war. This research, which falls within the field of general sociology of cultural media production, contributes to the reflection on this type of production during the colonial period. Furthermore, it extends an invitation to researchers to explore this perspective in greater depth.
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