MARCH 2004

Metro Detroit area, where the majority of Chaldeans in America
live, but the signal also reaches London, Ontario, and Toledo, Ohio.
“We wanted to reach more of the community as they expanded to
the east side, across Michigan and beyond,” recalled Konja.
Known personality Konja also serves as a producer of the weekly
talk show and works with a team of people who serve as producers,
writers, hosts, engineers and sound directors. The group
includes Saher Yaldo, Dhia Babbie, Intisar Yono, Mahar Kanona,
Janan Sinawi, Najib Konja, Salam Yaldko and Saher Haddad.
Many members of the team contribute between 20 and
30 hours of work per week to the weekly broadcast. The show is
written, produced and aired by dedicated
members of the community; not one
of them is paid for their services. They
volunteer their time and donate their
talents to a medium they admire - radio.
Often, they dip into their own pocketbooks
to pay for expenses, including
minidisks and CDs — needed equipment
to keep the program running.
They do all of this for the community.
This show, The Chaldean Voice, is
what keeps those people who are interested
abreast of timely issues. Whether
in the car, at the local coffee shop or sitting
in their family rooms, Chaldeans
across Metro Detroit tune in every week
to hear the latest news around town,
across the country and overseas. The
announcers broadcast death notices
and even take song dedications from
listeners. On any given Saturday, people can call in and dedicate
a song, often written by Konja, for a loved one getting married,
having a birthday or celebrating the birth of a child. Konja
is known to have written and produced more than a hundred
songs performed by different members of the community, which
are played on the air.
Just like the founders had envisioned, the show is primarily
in Aramaic with a splash of English, and the last part of every
show is in Arabic. Dhia Babbie spends more than 20 hours each
week producing the last half hour of the show called “Colors
and Branches.” He hosts the show in Arabic and said it is similar
to ABC’s Paul Harvey’s “Rest of the Story,” and syndicated
broadcaster Mort Crimm’s “Second Thoughts.”
“We do a commentary on news,” said Babbie. “We
search the Internet for stories. With help, I produce and host
my own commentary, and at the end of it I explain the moral to
the story.” He concludes the segment with music that ties into
the theme of his news and commentary.
His segment has made an impact on the world. One
Back row, from left to right: Fowzi Dalli, Intsar Yono, Saher Yaldo, Maher Kanona and Salam
Yaldiko. Front row, from left: Shoki Konja and Dhia Babbie
commentary resulted in former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
changing his policy on an important issue. “About two years
ago, Saddam Hussein ordered that no one in Iraq name their
children after Christian names and could only use Muslim
names,” recalled Babbie. “We talked about that on the air and
caused a huge reaction. Patriarch Delly, who was the bishop in
Iraq at the time, got involved and we called the Iraqi Embassy
AN ARAMAIC VOICE continued on page 24
PHOTOS BY WILSON SARKIS
Above, from
opposite page,
left to right:
Shoki Konja,
Maher Kanona,
Dhia Babbie,
Intsar Yono,
Saher Yaldo
and Dhia
Babbie in the
music library
MARCH 2004 CHALDEAN NEWS 23