Know the radio that amplifies Afromexican voices

In an era marked by accelerated technological innovations, Radio remains one of the most reliable and used media in the world.

According to the United Nations Organization for Education, science and culture (UNESCO) In Mexico, There are more than 1500 radio frequencies that transmit in the country (private, public, social, community and indigenous).

In this great diversity, it would be expected that all listeners can find content with those that are identified; However, it is not so and achieving it can imply a fight of years.

Afromexican voices resonate in Oaxaca

With a firm voice, Yolanda Camacho is proclaimed Proudly Afromexicana and Mixteca. The same pride in its roots shares it with the other members of the collective ña’a tinda (which means “black woman” in the language SA’AN SAVI), which was founded on the coast of Oaxaca with the aim of promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous and Afromexican women.

“We are the voice of those who do not have or do not want to report for fear of reprisals,” said Yolanda Camacho, president of the collective.

In 2017, the collective Ña’a tinda It began with a request to have a radio concession to issue content on the wealth of Afromexican culture and the empowerment of women.

However, its request did not prosper because the Afromexican community, at that time, was not recognized as part of the cultural diversity of Mexico, a requirement to obtain concession under social use.

It was not until 2019 that Afromexican peoples and communities were recognized as part of the nation’s multicultural composition, in article 2 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States.

Despite the legislative changes, the dream of having a radio was paused again, this time by COVID-19. In 2023, the proposal of the Radio Aphromexican voices It was approved by Congress and, on June 19, 2024, He finally received his concession from the Federal Telecommunications Institute, becoming the first concession of radio for Afromexican social use in Mexico.

“Aphromexican voices is the result of a 7 -year struggle of our leaders in the search for a space where The voice of the community and of Afromexican women are heard”, Said Sheila Martínez, radio coordinator.

Aphromexican voices transmits content On culture, art, human rights, environment, traditional and children’s cuisine, and is transmitted in the 107.3 MHz frequency, with 24 kilometers coverage over San Marquitos, Villa de Tututepec, Oaxaca.

“Aphromexican voices begins with an idea of ​​wanting to publicize the cultural wealth that the Afro community of the Oaxaca coast has; But, above all, reach more latitudes with the intention of having a space where women can be heard, be free and have a safe space”, Said Sheila Martínez.

Empower the Afromexican community from the radio

In Mexico, 2% of the country’s total populationthat is to say 2.5 million people, are recognized as Afromexicanas, according to the Population and Housing Census 2020 of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography.

Little more than 50% of the Afromexican population is concentrated in six entities; Being Oaxaca, with 194 thousand people, the fourth state with the highest number of Afromexican people nationwideas reported in the census.

Felipe Bernal Ibarra, proud Afromexicano, radialist and control operator in Radio Aphromexican voicesHe stressed that this people, which for years were invisible, must be empowered to guarantee a decent and prosperous life.

“For a long time, equal rights and opportunities have been lacked. Now the government recognizes the people and we must take this empowerment to young people, children, women, adults and all the Afromexican people. This empowerment in a dignified life, of equalities, opportunities and rights must be landed”Felipe Bernal said.

For Yolanda Camacho, legal representative of the concessionaire, this radio means claiming and a watershed to strengthen the community.

“Aphromexican voices is the spokeswoman for my Afromexicano people. With this concession We are going to strengthen our culture, our identity and our roots, we will make known echo of the silent voices”, Concluded Yolanda Camacho.

Text: Tania García on the occasion of Within the framework of World Radio Day.

Photographs: Courtesy of Afromexican voices | Video: Luis Arroyo | United Nations Information Center in Mexico, Cuba and Dominican Republic