ABSTRACT
Africa has long been subject to the West’s single story about a dark continent, but for Adichie and many African writers before her, such as Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Chinua Achebe, story can also be a tool of revolution. This chapter addresses the distinction between podcasting and traditional radio, tracing podcasting’s evolution from radio on the continent before identifying the unique benefits offered by this digital medium. Media and communication tend to be studied from two primary perspectives: the transmission view and the ritual view of communication. The podcast is a digital iteration of radio, as reflected in its name, which combines references to the iPod, Apple’s original MP3 player, and the act of broadcasting. Despite the popularity of mobile technology in Africa, several obstacles exist that have slowed the progress of podcasts across the continent: data costs and the digital divide, language, and the limitations on profitability.
