In celebration of Africa month, the Mahikeng Campus radio station of the North-West University (NWU), NWU FM, made history by hosting a groundbreaking multi-nation Africa Day simulcast that connected student voices from across the African continent.
The historic broadcast, held on 25 May 2026 in commemoration of Africa Day, brought together campus radio stations from six African countries in a shared conversation about identity, unity, aspirations and the future of Africa.
Participating stations included:
· UB Radio from the University of Botswana
· UNAM Radio from the University of Namibia
· VU Radio from Victoria University in Uganda
· UNESWA FM from the University of Eswatini
· UNCRadioKE from the University of Nairobi in Kenya
· NWU FM from South Africa
The initiative was spearheaded by the NWU FM station manager, Kamo Ledwaba-Maodi, together with the NWU FM presenter Batsiba, as part of a broader celebration of the power of radio by the station during 2026.
Reflecting on the success of the simulcast, Kamo said the vision was inspired by the desire to expand Africa Day celebrations beyond borders and create meaningful conversations among African students.
“In 2026, NWU FM has been celebrating the power of radio. For Africa Day, we wanted to expand this trend by reaching out to campus radio stations across the continent,” he said.
“Batsiba and I reached out to five campus radio stations who enthusiastically agreed to join us for this historic simulcast.”
According to Kamo, the objective of the initiative was to create a platform where students across Africa could share their perspectives on the significance of Africa Day and openly discuss their hopes, fears, dreams and aspirations for the continent.
“The objective was to hear from students across Africa about what this day means to them, what their hopes, fears and aspirations are. We learned that while we have many differences, we have even more in common,” he added.
The simulcast not only fostered intercultural dialogue, but also laid the foundation for lasting relationships between the participating stations.
“NWU FM now has relationships with campus radio stations from different parts of Africa. Our WhatsApp group is quite active, and we are excited to visit each other and continue learning from one another,” said Kamo.
The broadcast was officially opened by Dr Joe Molete, NWU deputy vice-chancellor for student life, transformation, people and culture with the assigned function of the Mahikeng Campus, who applauded the organisers for conceptualising and successfully executing the continental collaboration.
Dr Molete emphasised the unique role radio continues to play in connecting students and communities beyond geographical borders.
“Radio has the power to connect students even beyond borders,” he said.
He encouraged participating students to engage in meaningful dialogue and use the platform to contribute solutions to some of the challenges currently affecting African societies.
“The students are the ones who can come up with ideas on how best to handle the recent challenges the country is facing, including xenophobic unrest.”
Dr Molete further wished all participating stations and students fruitful and impactful discussions throughout the simulcast.
Kamo expressed gratitude for the support received from the university leadership in making the ambitious initiative possible.
“My team and I would like to thank Dr Molete for opening our broadcast with his heartfelt speech and for supporting this wild idea of ours, which somehow turned into reality,” he said.
The simulcast served as a powerful demonstration of how campus radio can transcend geographical boundaries and amplify authentic African voices while promoting collaboration, cultural exchange and continental solidarity.
As the NWU continues to strengthen its footprint across Africa, initiatives such as the Africa Day simulcast reaffirm the commitment of the university to innovation, student engagement and meaningful partnerships across the continent.
From left are Batsiba Rasekanye, Mandy Mphela, Pabalo Molise and Lerato Keebine.
