admin | February 14, 2025
Farm Radio International is thrilled to celebrate excellence in African radio broadcasting through the annual Farm Radio Awards. This year, we continue to honour the exceptional accomplishments of the recipients of the George Atkins Communication Award and the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio. These outstanding individuals and programs showcase the transformative power of radio in improving the lives of their listeners. We applaud their inspiring work and look forward to their ongoing contributions.
On Feb. 13, 2025—World Radio Day—we hosted a special bilingual event (English and French) to recognize our winners and runners-up. If you missed it, you can watch the recording below. Don’t forget to scroll down to learn more about these incredible broadcasters and their impactful programs.
Stay tuned for detailed profiles of the award winners and their programs, which will be available on farmradio.org and wire.farmradio.fm.
The George Atkins Communication Award
The George Atkins Communication Award annually honours individual radio broadcasters for their exceptional dedication and impactful work in promoting food security and reducing poverty. This award is granted to those broadcasters who show a high level of excellence in meeting the needs of small-scale farmers and who have a solid partnership with Farm Radio International. Named in honour of George Atkins, the founder of Farm Radio International, this award celebrates his legacy and commitment to the field.
This year’s winners are:
Mavis Muchiya
Mavis Muchiya is a dedicated Zambian broadcaster passionate about amplifying marginalized voices, a commitment rooted in her childhood experiences in a village where women were often silenced. Since starting her career in 2013 at Mazabuka Community Radio Station, she has used radio as a powerful tool for advocacy, producing and presenting programs in English and local languages that empower rural communities. Through shows like Your Voice and Community Issues, she addresses critical topics such as accessing government resources, agriculture, and gender equality, offering practical solutions and hope to her audience. A collaborator with Farm Radio International since 2022, Mrs. Muchiya has enhanced her programming with storytelling techniques and tools that have further deepened her connection with rural listeners. Her unwavering dedication to rural development and women’s empowerment continues to transform lives and inspire change.
Martin Amayiko Kigongo
Martin Amayiko Kigongo is an award-winning Ugandan journalist dedicated to amplifying the voices of small-scale farmers. Growing up in a farming family, he was inspired to use journalism to address the challenges farmers face. Over his decade-long career, Mr. Kigongo has earned accolades like the 2024 Agriculture Reporting Award and the 2023 Best Radio Environment Reporter title for his impactful storytelling and focus on issues like climate change, market access, and gender equality. Through his work at Radio Simba, he highlights farmers’ successes, innovative practices, and struggles, providing vital information and advocating for policy support to empower rural communities.
Lalla Keita
Lalla Keita has been a radio host at Radio Communautaire Bèlèkan in Mali’s Koulikoro region since 2013, using her platform to address health, nutrition, and agricultural challenges faced by rural communities. Inspired by the impact of malnutrition on women and children she witnessed in Kati, Mrs. Keita produces interactive programs that engage listeners through accessible language, debates, and expert insights. Her dedication to community needs is evident in the listening clubs she established, which provide feedback to tailor her shows. A member of Farm Radio’s network, Mrs. Keita has enhanced her skills through training, empowering rural women and improving lives across her region.
Fidelis Dauri
Fidelis Dauri, a broadcaster at Jirapa FM in Ghana’s Upper West region, has spent over a decade bridging information gaps in rural communities. Growing up in a farming community, he was inspired to use radio to share vital agricultural, health, and social information with underserved populations. Mr. Dauri hosts popular programs like the Farm Radio Green Leaf Program, which boosts rural resilience through practical advice, and a peacebuilding show addressing conflicts. Broadcasting in multiple local languages, he ensures inclusivity and cultural relevance. Partnering with Farm Radio International since 2014, Mr. Dauri continues to empower communities with impactful storytelling and solutions-focused programming.
The Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio
The Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio recognizes exceptional radio programs that serve women listeners. These distinguished programs are celebrated for advancing gender equality, whether through presenting women’s experiences and views, tackling subjects important to women, or emphasizing the contribution of men in gender equality. This award is a tribute to the collaborative work of the team behind these influential programs.
Winner: Voice of Kono’s Woman Talk (Tok)
Voice of Kono, based in Sierra Leone’s Kono district, is committed to amplifying women’s voices and promoting gender equality through its award-winning program, Woman Talk (Tok). Winner of the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, the program tackles challenges like unequal access to resources, cultural practices that perpetuate inequality, and gender-based discrimination. By including both men and women in its discussions, Woman Talk (Tok) fosters collaboration for fair treatment and equality. Featuring diverse voices—from experts to everyday community members—the program educates, inspires action, and creates lasting change, empowering women and challenging traditional gender norms.
Runner-up: Radio Jamana’s Kodon Yiriba
Radio Jamana’s Kodon Yiriba program, runner-up for the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, tackles gender equality and social issues in Mali’s Koutiala region. Co-hosted by Ibrahim Dembele and Maïmouna Ouattara, this 60-minute weekly show addresses sensitive topics like sexual harassment, rape, and gender rights, empowering listeners to take action and fostering community-wide awareness. With segments like “Her Voice” and the use of Farm Radio International’s Uliza poll, the program ensures women’s perspectives are heard. Despite challenges in addressing taboo subjects, Kodon Yiriba continues to break cultural barriers and inspire positive change.
Watch the announcement: