Rediscovering Nigeria’s Radio Heritage

Nigerian radio dramas, like Abule Oloke Merin, were once powerful mediums for storytelling and cultural memory, yet many of these programmes have been lost due to poor archival practices. By drawing lessons from other African nations on preserving ephemeral media, Nigeria will be well equipped to preserve its auditory heritage.

Radio dramas have been pivotal in Nigeria, serving as mediums for storytelling, education, and social commentary. Notable productions like Safe Journey, Tree Grows in the Desert, and the BBC’s Story Story transcended linguistic and ethnic boundaries, fostering national dialogue and reinforcing cultural values. However, the preservation of these auditory treasures has been inadequate, leading to the loss of many significant programmes.  

Abule Oloke Merin was a prominent radio drama series broadcast in Yoruba and Pidgin English across government-owned radio stations in southwestern Nigeria during the 1990s. Produced by the Society for Family Health, it addressed pressing societal issues such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, gender inequality, and community resilience through engaging storytelling. Set in the fictional ‘Village of Four Corners’, the show balanced humour and drama to explore challenges like access to healthcare, corruption, and the tension between traditional values and modernity. Despite its cultural significance, Abule Oloke Merin has largely faded from public memory. In the last few months, for instance, all my efforts to locate recordings, scripts, or production materials have been unsuccessful, highlighting a broader systemic neglect of Nigeria’s auditory heritage. I sent emails and direct messages to the social media accounts of various organizations which I assumed should have access to these recordings but received no response. As a researcher, this loss impedes my ability to understand the evolution of Nigerian identity, especially as the country experiences significant diasporic expansion, and the multifarious political fractures that has plagued the country in recent years...