Guerrilla Radio and Political Consciousness: Examining the History and Dialectic of Radio Biafra in Nigeria as a Counter-Hegemonic Discourse

Abstract

This study analyses radio as a means of audience connection and participation, particularly through pirate radio channels and their links to political activities in Nigeria. It pays attention to Radio Biafra, a dissident radio station run by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from 2014 and 2024 to analyse the impact of pirate broadcasting on listeners. The study connected audiences in Lagos and Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, using a fusion of textual analysis and quantitative methods to assess audience impact. Of the 150 distributed questionnaires, 102 responses were analysed, indicating that IPOB’s broadcast reached a large segment of its audience. The result showed a social divide between licensed broadcasters and pirate radios, stressing the urgency for the government to close the gap. The findings’ implications are pertinent to government agencies and policymakers, thereby giving insights that could change their understanding of radio broadcasting. The study highlights the capacity of pirate radios to serve as a medium for anti-establishment dialogue and civic engagement, particularly in times of socio-political turmoil.