Studio Tamani is a daily three-and-a-half-hour radio programme designed to inform and encourage dialogue between “All the voices of Mali”. Since August 2013, it has offered newscasts in 5 languages (French, Bambara, Peulh, Tamasheq, Songhai), a major talk show, news and features on specific issues.
All content is produced by a team of 43 Malian journalists and technicians based in Bamako, and a network of 45 correspondents throughout the country. Productions are broadcast by a network of 85 radio stations and 3 television partners across Mali. The content is also published on the Tamani’s website and social networks, and can be listened to free of charge via a telephone service.
Financial Volume 2023
1,944,114 CHF
Sources of funding
- Switzerland (SDC – Core contribution)
- United Kingdom (FCDO-CSSF)
- Switzerland (SDC – Project contribution)
- UNICEF
- Sweden (SIDA)
- Czech Republic (MOFA)
- Income generated
- Fondation d’Aide à l’Enfance et au Tiers-Monde
- Fondation Madeleine
- Spain (Embassy)
- Denmark (FAMOC)
Our key figures for 2023
225,000 followers on social media
3.4 million weekly listeners
327 media professionals trained
85 radio and 3
television
partners
5 broadcast languages
1,108 hours of broadcasting per year
Context
In 2023, Mali adopted a new constitution, inaugurating its Fourth Republic, but the transition initiated in 2020 by the military continues without clarity on the electoral timetable: in April 2024, the activities of political parties were suspended until July 2024. The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma) has withdrawn from the country. Insecurity and the high cost of living persist. Self-censorship is widespread in the media, for fear of reprisals in the form of arrests and bans on broadcasting. In July 2024, Mali joined the Alliance of Sahel States, following the signing of the treaty creating the Confederation of the Sahel, alongside Niger and Burkina Faso, in order to strengthen their cooperation.
Independent radio close to the people, for cohesion in Mali
In this difficult context, where disinformation and misinformation are widespread, Studio Tamani remains the only independent media with national coverage, taking into account the country’s cultural and societal diversity. In 2024, Studio Tamani will be giving more space to culture, information on climate change and sport in its programmes. The fact-checking desk is also being strengthened, with a focus on media literacy.
The studio’s programmes are broadcast beyond its network of 85 radio and television partners. Studio Tamani’s programmes on culture, peace and living together are also widely followed on social networks and the studio’s website. Across the Sahel, the coproductions produced in synergy between Fondation Hirondelle’s three studios – Studio Tamani, Studio Kalangou and Studio Yafa – are broadcast in 12 languages by 202 radio stations and 12 television channels, reaching 7 million listeners.
Studio Tamani, like all other Fondation Hirondelle media, is evaluating its offering and its digital presence. Its new digital strategy is currently being developed, with the possibility of broadcasting programmes on WhatsApp and offering podcasts on various platforms.
Priorities
- Developing a digital strategy
Activities
- Production of a daily 3.5-hour radio programme, as well as multimedia content on social networks and the website
- Training for local media and journalism students
- Training and refresher courses for the editorial team and correspondents
Studio Tamani broadens its internal capacity development by also organizing activities to support local media through editorial, technical and managerial training. It organizes immersion sessions for journalists and journalism students, notably through partnerships with local universities.
Our impact
A steadily growing audience: the latest audience survey carried out in March 2023 by Immar shows that Studio Tamani’s programmes are regularly followed by over 3.4 million people, 47% of whom are women and 43% young people. They enjoy a high trust rate of 86%.
Testimonial
“Studio Tamani is really the best in terms of broadcasting good information. I started listening to you in Banamba in 2019. I am now a loyal listener. I listen to all your programmes morning and evening wherever I am, as well as your Grand Dialogue debate. Long may you continue!”
Fofana Cheickné, writing on social networks.