Radio Voice of the Gospel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Radio Voice of the Gospel. A Lutheran Church international Radio station based in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from 1963. The brainchild of Norwegian missionary Dr. Sig Aske it had two powerful 100kw short-wave transmitters which could reach much of Africa and Asia. It broadcast in English, French and a number of African and Asian languages. Many of the latter programmes were compiled in studios in the countries to which they were broadcast. It aimed to be more general than many church owned stations broadcasting news largly based on Reuters as well as drama and features. The staff were international and ecumenical. It also had a medium wave transmitter serving Addis Ababa.

However it often faced tensions. Ethiopia was still under the somewhat autocratic Emperor Haile Selassie and political activity or free comment were very limited in the country. It was therefore subject to some censorship and limitations, particularly on the local Amharic service. Also some of the donors came from the fundamentalist wing of the church and were clearly anxious their approach should dominate, particularly in such matters as creation. After the 'dergue' took control of the country in the 1970s it was taken over by the Ethiopian government, apparently without compensation, which used it for its own international broadcasting.