The African Union of Broadcasting’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Grégoire NDJAKA led an important delegation to the 54th General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), which held from October 30th to November 4th 2017, in Chengdu, China on the theme:” Media in times of uncertainty”. The delegation consisted of Mrs. Evelyne T. FAYE, Head of AUB’s Marketing and Communication Department, Mr. George LOMOTEY, Head of Radio Station at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and Mr. Hezron NGOZA, employee of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), and artist-composer.
For six days, the Union’s representatives carried the voice of the African media in different panels linked to Contents in the future television, rebroadcast rights of sporting events, Gender and Programming.
Super panel Host of the Prime Minister of the Sichuan County, Mr. Grégoire Ndjaka was given the opportunity to face the Super Panel which brought together audiovisual experts from across the world to share their experience of the use of digital technology in the future television. AUB’s CEO dwelled on the thorny issue of content in the public service media for various targets and the development of nations in the context of digital revolution that has redefined the rules of the game. It should be recalled that during the Forum organized by the African Union of Broadcasting, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary in February 2017, in Dakar, programmers, academics and African audiovisual media leaders emphasized the necessity to work on TV programming in Africa, particularly with a focus on authentically African contents.
Media and Gender
Invited to the 6th High Level Forum entitled “Women with the wave”, Mrs. Evelyne FAYE, Head of the AUB’s Marketing and Communication Department presented the progress made and the overall results obtained in terms of gender and diversity in the society and the media. To the representatives of the World Organizations and Regional Media and Broadcasting Associations, the Forum organizers reiterated the need to stress on strategies and policies aimed at achieving gender equality in newsrooms in particular and the media in general. Participants agreed on the organization of an upcoming Forum with focus on Gender Equality with the effective support of the Global Alliance on Media and Gender (GAMAG).
Hezron Ngoza
The most famous gospel artist in Zambia who, along with his brothers and sisters, brought Zambian gospel music to higher heights, Hezron Ngoza represented the African Union of Broadcasting at the 6th edition of the ABU TV Song Festival which registered for the first time, an African participation. Accustomed to the stage, Herzron has already toured the world competing with great Gospel singers from the United Kingdom, the United States and the sub-region. With two albums to his credit, he distills sweet melodies in the hearts of listeners during his performances on Zambian National Radio where he works as Radio Host. The talented young artist was rewarded by the Sichuan authorities.
Sports Rights and Financing
In his capacity as head of the Sport Department at the African Union of Broadcasting, Mr. George LOMOTEY presented Africa’s vision during the two-day panel devoted to funding and rebroadcasts rights of sporting events that have become a constant concern for those responsible for the African audiovisual sector in the light of the changes that have occurred in recent years.
Before taking leave of the Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, Mr. Javad Mottaghi and the 600 participants present at the ABU’s 54th General Assembly, the AUB delegation agreed with its ABU pairs to co-ordinate common media actions on climate change.
Irène Gaouda #Anglais
