The twelve-part radio drama series, recorded in six African languages, is based on an ‘edutainment’ methodology, which uses radio as a medium to highlight the social issues that are typical in mining communities, while highlighting the difference the group makes through its investments in education, health, enterprise development and mine community development.
Makarapa City has a cast of South African industry veterans and fresh talent, who all have a zest for storytelling. The radio drama is a reflection of what is playing out, not only in these communities, but also in South Africa as a whole. The show brings to life full, well-rounded, characters that community members can identify with - from ‘JB’, the patriarch of the community, to Chaklas, the young rebel, and Loretta, the ambitious entrepreneur.
“Mine communities deal with a number of socio-economic challenges daily. By using radio as a medium, we have connected with over 11 million listeners in our mining communities, on their platform of choice, to tackle the issues they face daily,” said Pranill Ramchander, head of corporate communication for Anglo American South Africa.
The series is set around a feuding family, who live in Makarapa City - a fictitious mining community - and who are caught between a more traditional view of the world and the demands and challenges of a modern society around them.
Following season one, Anglo American commissioned a research survey to measure the efficacy of the radio drama series. The survey showed that 68% of the listeners found the radio drama easy to understand, while 65% of the respondents found the series informative and authentic.
"The conversations in mining are changing. Now more than ever, we need to create platforms that meet the need for authentic dialogue that not only highlight the challenges, but also the progress we are making in our mining communities. We hope that Makarapa City can be a catalyst for real and sustainable engagement with our mining communities," concluded Ramchander.
