African Language Radio as a Locus of Indigenous Language Revival and Identity Negotiation: A Case Study of Umhlobo Wenene FM

The role of ethnic media in language revitalisation and maintenance remains unresolved, especially in minority language media studies. Despite numerous African language radio stations across Sub-Saharan Africa, limited research has explored their uses. This chapter reports on a study seeking to understand the nexus of African language radio, identity negotiation, and language maintenance within an African population group, the Xhosa ethnic group in South Africa. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 24 listeners of Umhlobo Wenene FM, the study found a heightened need for belonging. African language radio, such as Umhlobo Wenene FM, proved to be a vital identity resource that affords listeners the agency to negotiate and renegotiate their ethnic identity creating a sense of pride and exclusivity. The findings suggest that consistent promotion and validation of mother tongues on African language radio were critical in reviving and preserving indigenous languages.