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In Niger, the Sada Zumuntchi production team is composed of two experienced journalists,
PDEV staff members Ramatou Guero and Attaou Mouttari. Each of the producers came to PDEV after a
formative period at the National Radio and Television service of Niger (ORNTV) and several years
working as both radio and television producers and presenters. After writing a Sada Zumuntchi script,
the producers send the draft to a two-person review team for feedback and follow up this revision
process by sending the updated draft to local religious leaders for their input. The producers work
closely with staff at Radio Bonferey, an established and respected religious-oriented radio station that
provides the studio space and technical support for the production of the show. When I visited the
Bonferey radio station to observe a recording session of the show, producer Attaou Moutari explained
that Sada Zumuntchi is a show that has achieved many ―firsts.‖ He explained:
It is the first show on the radio to be co-presented by a Christian woman and a Muslim man and
it is the first show to include topics and issues related to both religions in the same program.
Sada Zumuntchi presenter Mairo Addo is the first Christian, non-veiled woman to enter the Radio
Bonferey building. A second year law student, she is the daughter of a radio journalist mother and a
father who is a professor at a local university, author of a book on the history of the Haoussa world,
and a member of the Elders Council of their church. A newcomer to radio, she is partnered with
seasoned journalist Abdou Mamane Amadou who studied the Haoussa language at university and is the
host of a weekly 2-hour politically-themed television show called Mahawara (debate, in Haoussa).
Despite his ten years of combined radio and television experience, Abdou said that Sada Zumuntchi is
the first time he has presented with a Christian: ―The program gives voice to Christians and gives voice
to Muslims. Mairo and I get along well—there is no conflict. We are building a culture of peace.‖ Given
his schedule as both a television host and a radio presenter, I asked Abdou if he gets much rest. ―I don‘t
really go on vacation,‖ he said. ―I‘m afraid I‘ll lose audience members.‖
Figure 8: Mairo and Abdou in the studio at Bonferey Radio
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