BROADCASTING AND PRESERVATION OF CULTURE IN NASARAWA STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Nasarawa State, located in Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone, is widely recognized for its cultural plurality and diversity. Established in 1996, the state has over two dozen ethnic groups, including the Eggon, Alago, Gwandara, Mada, Tiv, Hausa, and Fulani, each with distinct languages, oral traditions, performance arts, and festivals (Wikipedia, 2023). This pluralism makes Nasarawa a microcosm of Nigeria’s larger cultural mosaic, offering a fertile ground for cultural studies and preservation strategies. However, the preservation of such cultural diversity requires deliberate mechanisms for documentation, promotion, and inter-generational transmission, especially in the face of modernization and globalization.
Broadcasting, particularly through radio and television, has historically been a major tool for cultural communication in Nigeria. From the colonial era to post-independence Nigeria, broadcasting has been used for public education, news dissemination, cultural programming, and national integration (Ojebode, 2011). In Nasarawa State, state-owned broadcasting outlets such as the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS) provide platforms for cultural programming, drama, music, and festival coverage, which collectively support cultural identity and heritage preservation (Nasarawa Broadcasting Service [NBS], 2024). Through these programmes, local dialects, folklore, and traditional music are not only celebrated but also transmitted to younger generations.
The Nasarawa State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism explicitly outlines cultural promotion as part of its mandate. In collaboration with broadcasting services, it often engages in documenting and showcasing traditional festivals, dances, and indigenous crafts as part of cultural tourism promotion (Nasarawa State Government, 2024). Such collaborations demonstrate the symbiotic relationship between media institutions and cultural custodians in preserving Nasarawa’s rich cultural legacy. Without this intervention, many traditional practices risk being eroded due to urbanization, Western cultural influence, and language extinction pressures.
Empirical evidence from Nigerian scholars further highlights the role of broadcasting in cultural preservation. For instance, Odesola and Bernice (2024) argue that educational and community broadcasting are vital in maintaining indigenous languages, revitalizing traditional performing arts, and countering cultural erosion. They emphasize that community-focused programmes, such as local radio dramas and folk music shows, help instill pride in cultural identity and ensure that heritage is not lost amidst modernization. These findings align with global best practices that regard broadcasting as a tool for cultural continuity.
Furthermore, the emergence of local community radio stations in Nigeria has expanded the scope of broadcasting for cultural preservation. Community radio fosters participatory communication by involving local people in programme production, thus increasing relevance and ownership of cultural content (Uche & Ngige, 2018). In Nasarawa, community-based broadcasting has the potential to highlight lesser-known traditions and languages, particularly those of minority ethnic groups that are underrepresented in mainstream media. This participatory model enhances inclusivity in cultural documentation and transmission.
The challenges of globalization and digital media also necessitate an increased focus on local broadcasting. While global media content exposes audiences to external cultures, it simultaneously contributes to cultural homogenization and marginalization of indigenous practices (Salawu, 2015). Broadcasting services in Nasarawa must therefore balance exposure to global content with deliberate promotion of local culture, ensuring that audiences retain a strong connection to their roots while engaging with global trends.
Moreover, the role of broadcasting in cultural preservation goes beyond entertainment. It also includes cultural education, public enlightenment, and tourism promotion. By broadcasting local festivals such as the Eggon Aren Eggon festival or the Alago cultural day, media not only preserve traditions but also attract cultural tourists to the state, contributing to socioeconomic development (Okeke, 2017). This dual role of preserving heritage while promoting development positions broadcasting as a central instrument in Nasarawa’s cultural and economic strategy.
At the same time, infrastructural, policy, and funding challenges remain significant obstacles. State broadcasters often lack adequate resources, technical facilities, and archival systems to properly document cultural materials (Ekwelie, 2016). In many cases, programmes are short-lived or poorly preserved, limiting their inter-generational impact. Additionally, there is a need for stronger government support and policies to ensure sustainability and innovation in cultural broadcasting.
Broadcasting plays a pivotal role in the preservation and promotion of culture in Nasarawa State. It functions as a medium for transmitting indigenous languages, showcasing festivals, educating the youth, and promoting cultural tourism. However, to maximize this role, deliberate strategies such as tailored programming, institutional collaboration, adequate funding, and modern archiving systems are needed. By strengthening broadcasting, Nasarawa State can safeguard its cultural diversity against the pressures of globalization and modernization, ensuring that its heritage remains vibrant for future generations.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Despite the existence of state-owned and private broadcasting platforms in Nasarawa State, indigenous languages, oral traditions, and performance forms remain under serious threat. The increasing dominance of national and global media content has contributed to cultural erosion, as many young people prefer to consume programmes in English or Hausa, leaving minority languages with limited platforms of expression (Salawu, 2015). Language shift, particularly among urban youth, has become a significant challenge, as local languages are increasingly excluded from family communication and educational settings. As a result, cultural values transmitted through oral histories, folklore, and traditional performances are gradually being sidelined in favor of more dominant media narratives (Okeke, 2017).
Moreover, the challenge of youth migration further compounds the problem. Many young people migrate from rural communities to urban areas within and outside the state in search of education and employment opportunities. This migration often exposes them to cultural influences that undermine their connection to indigenous practices (Ojebode, 2011). Broadcasting, which could serve as a bridge for transmitting cultural identity across generations, has not been adequately leveraged to counteract these pressures. Limited cultural programming, coupled with the preference for commercial entertainment content, means that many indigenous practices remain underrepresented in mainstream media (Uche & Ngige, 2018).
Another pressing issue is the absence of comprehensive archiving and documentation systems in broadcasting institutions within Nasarawa State. Valuable audiovisual materials, including recordings of traditional festivals, oral poetry, and interviews with cultural custodians, are either poorly archived or not preserved at all. This lack of systematic preservation poses the risk of permanent loss of intangible heritage (Ekwelie, 2016). In addition, institutional gaps such as inadequate funding, outdated technology, insufficient training for media personnel, and weak cultural policies further limit the capacity of broadcasters to meaningfully engage in cultural preservation (Odesola & Bernice, 2024).
In light of these challenges, there is a knowledge gap regarding the extent to which broadcasting has contributed to the preservation of culture in Nasarawa State. Few empirical studies have specifically assessed how effectively state and private broadcasters document and promote local cultural diversity. This absence of systematic evidence makes it difficult for policymakers, cultural stakeholders, and broadcasting institutions to design strategies that address existing challenges. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the role of broadcasting in preserving indigenous languages, traditions, and cultural practices in Nasarawa State, identify institutional strengths and constraints, and propose actionable recommendations to strengthen the cultural preservation mandate of the media.
1.3 Research Objectives
The main objective of this study is to examine the role of broadcasting in the preservation of culture in Nasarawa State. Specific objectives are to:
- Describe the current range of cultural content broadcast in Nasarawa State (radio and television).
- Assess the effectiveness of broadcasting programmes in promoting local languages, festivals and traditional arts.
- Identify institutional, technical and social constraints that hinder broadcasting’s contribution to cultural preservation.
- Propose policy and programme recommendations to strengthen broadcasting-led cultural preservation.
1.4 Research Questions
To meet the objectives above the study will address these research questions:
- What kinds of cultural content (language programmes, music, drama, festival coverage, interviews, archiving) are broadcast in Nasarawa State?
- How do audiences (including elders, cultural custodians, youth) perceive the effectiveness of broadcast programmes for cultural preservation?
- What operational or policy barriers limit broadcasters from adequately documenting and promoting local culture in Nasarawa State?
- Which interventions (training, funding, community partnerships, archiving systems) can enhance the role of broadcasting in cultural preservation?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
H₀: Broadcasting activities in Nasarawa State do not significantly influence the preservation of indigenous languages and cultural practices.
H₁: Broadcasting activities in Nasarawa State significantly influence the preservation of indigenous languages and cultural practices.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is significant because it contributes to both theory and practice in the fields of media studies, cultural policy, and development studies. By providing empirical evidence on the role of regional broadcasting in preserving cultural heritage, the research deepens theoretical understanding of how media functions as a tool of cultural transmission and identity formation. Broadcasting has been shown to influence not only what people know but also how they perceive their cultural belonging (Salawu, 2015). Therefore, analyzing the broadcasting landscape in Nasarawa State adds to academic discourse on the intersection between media and cultural sustainability in multicultural societies.
For policymakers, particularly the Nasarawa State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the study offers practical insights into how broadcasting can be harnessed as a cultural development tool. Evidence from the research can guide targeted investments, including the provision of funds for cultural programming, training of media personnel, and acquisition of modern archival technologies (Nasarawa State Government, 2024). Such policy-driven interventions will help address the structural and institutional gaps that limit the impact of broadcasting on cultural preservation. Policymakers can also use the study’s findings to design cultural frameworks that strengthen the integration of media in safeguarding indigenous traditions.
For broadcasting institutions such as the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS) and private radio and television stations, the study is valuable in highlighting strategies for content development and programme sustainability. Broadcasting stations can adopt the recommendations to increase the visibility of indigenous festivals, music, drama, and oral histories
The study is equally significant for cultural organizations, community associations, and academics. It will provide documented evidence on the state of cultural preservation through broadcasting in Nasarawa State, which can support advocacy for language revitalization and community-led cultural initiatives (Uche & Ngige, 2018).
Finally, this study is timely because it aligns with recent collaborative initiatives between the Nasarawa State Ministry of Information, state universities, and the broadcasting service aimed at promoting culture through education and media (Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, 2024). These partnerships demonstrate institutional receptiveness to research-based recommendations, making it more likely that the findings of this study will be implemented.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on broadcasting outlets operating within Nasarawa State (state radio and television, and significant local private/community broadcasters) and their cultural programming. Geographically, it covers selected urban and rural communities in Nasarawa State where cultural groups are present. The temporal scope will examine programming and activities over the most recent five-year period (to capture recent trends in digitization and community outreach), supplemented by historical context where relevant.
1.8 Operational Definitions of Terms
Broadcasting: Transmission of audio and/or visual content to the public by radio and television services; in this study it includes live coverage, recorded programmes, and online streams operated by state and local broadcasters.
Cultural Preservation: Activities that maintain, document, revive or transmit language, music, dance, drama, festivals, oral history and other elements of intangible cultural heritage.
Indigenous Language: A language native to an ethnic group in Nasarawa State (e.g., Eggon, Alago, Gwandara) as distinct from lingua francas such as Hausa or official languages such as English.
Community Broadcasting: Radio/TV services that are locally based, participatory and aimed at serving specific community needs, often including cultural content.
REFERENCES
Ekwelie, N. (2016). Challenges of cultural preservation in Nigerian broadcasting. Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, 8(2), 44–57.
Nasarawa Broadcasting Service. (2024). Official website of Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS). Retrieved from https://nbs.na.gov.ng
Odesola, E. A., & Bernice, S. (2024). The role of educational broadcasting in Nigeria’s cultural preservation. Indiana Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(9), 15–22.
Ojebode, A. (2011). Broadcasting and cultural preservation in Nigeria: The challenges and prospects. African Communication Research, 4(3), 345–362.
Okeke, C. (2017). Media, cultural festivals, and tourism promotion in Nigeria. International Journal of Communication and Media Studies, 9(1), 20–32.
Salawu, A. (2015). Indigenous language broadcasting and cultural preservation in Nigeria. Journal of African Media Studies, 7(1), 33–49.
Uche, L., & Ngige, E. (2018). Community radio and cultural identity preservation in Nigeria. Global Media Journal African Edition, 12(1), 55–70.
Wikipedia. (2023). Nasarawa State. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Nasarawa_State