BBC Media Action: A producer’s epic journey to broadcast a radio show in South Sudan

“At last!” smiled Abraham Malual as he grabbed hold of the CD. Abraham had every right to be happy, the radio editor from Rumbek FM in South Sudan’s Lakes State had just finished a two day trek to reach our offices in Juba. Poor internet connections and a non-existent postal service meant that he had finally resorted to collecting it in person. And now he had it - the latest episode of Life in Lulu, a BBC Media Action radio drama focused on peace-building in war ravaged South Sudan.

Set in a fictional village, Life in Lulu storylines focus on solutions to everyday problems – from domestic violence, disagreements over the use of plots of land for crops, and care for communal areas. Addressing these issues is more important than ever as war has displaced millions of people in South Sudan, exacerbating tensions in many communities.

Despite a peace deal in August 2015, fighting between warring factions in South Sudan continues across the country. Some roads are also affected by bandits, who stop and loot cars in search of food, money, and electronics. Delivering Life in Lulu each week to some of our more remote radio stations remains a challenge, relying on a host of transport methods and a touch of luck.

The first attempt to get the latest episode of Life in Lulu to Rumbek FM happened in December. When it was sent by email, downloading proved impossible due to the destruction of the area’s main mobile and data control centre. A back-up was sent with a producer who happened to be travelling half-way to the tiny harbour town of Minkaman. From there, he was able to get the CD to a passenger heading to Rumbek using a UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flight – though it was lost on arrival. So close – yet frustratingly – so far!

Fortunately most of the Life in Lulu episodes do eventually reach our 13 partner stations. Our friends at the UN and World Food Programme even allow some of our CDs to hitch a ride on their flights, while most episodes are safely emailed through, albeit at times, extremely slowly.

As Abraham readies himself for his epic return journey, I think of the many reasons why the broadcast of our programmes can be so challenging. In addition to poor transport and a lack of internet connectivity, many radio stations contend with electricity black-outs or being shut down by the government for airing sensitive topics.

Abraham isn’t fazed! He’s clear about why he’ll continue to broadcast Life in Lulu no matter the challenges. “Life in Lulu is important because its stories explore ways to achieve peace and harmony – something that everyone wants for this beautiful nation.”

South Sudan has been through many ups and downs since we started producing Life in Lulu over three years ago. Now with more than 100 episodes under its belt, the radio drama has covered everything from conflict resolution to child and maternal health. Despite the challenges, radio station producers like Abraham continue to make sure that – by hook or by crook – Life in Lulu continues to help communities through drama across South Sudan.

Winnie Jarguru is a scriptwriter for BBC Media Action and works on the drama 'Life in Lulu'

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