Atunda Ayenda

Infobox Radio Show
show_name = Atunda Ayenda


imagesize = 300px
caption = The cast from 2004, including Alhaji Sesay, third from the left, Winstinia Johnson, fifth from left, Patricia Fallah Hollist, centre.
other_names = Lost and Found
format = Soap Opera
runtime = 15 minutes
country = flagcountry|Sierra Leone
language = Krio
home_station =
syndicates =
television =
starring =
creator =
writer = Kemoh Daramy
director =
producer =Desmond During, Emrys Savage [Citation | accessdate=2008-07-12 | title =Promoting Peace, Security and Stability In Sierra Leone | publisher =UK Department for International Development | page =45 | url=http://dfidweb.dfid.gov.uk/prismdocs/ARCHIVE/SIERRALE/532011P1.DOC]
editor =
executive_producer =
narrated =
record_location = Talking Drum Studio Sierra Leone
first_aired = December 2001
last_aired = Present
num_series =
num_episodes = 1340 (As of June 2008)
audio_format =
opentheme =
endtheme =
website = [http://www.talkingdrumstudio.org/sleone/programmes/atunda.html Atunda Ayenda Website]
podcast = [http://www.talkingdrumstudio.org/sleone/programmes/atunda_programmes.html Atunda Ayenda on the internet]

"Atunda Ayenda" is a radio soap opera broadcast on 21 stations within Sierra Leone and through the Internet.cite web | title = Atunda-Ayenda: Lost & Found | publisher = Talking Drum Studio | url = http://www.talkingdrumstudio.org/sleone/programmes/atunda.html | accessdate = 2008-07-12] It is created by Talking Drum Studios and was the first radio soap opera aired in Sierra Leone. In the Mandingo language "Atunda Ayenda" means "Lost and Found".cite web | last = Lartigue | first = Laura | title = USAID Soap Opera Most Popular Show in Sierra Leone | publisher = USAID | date = June 8 2004 | url = http://www.usaid.gov/sl/sl_new/news/2004/040531_atunda_ayenda/index.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-12] The plot on the show revolved around young people and their experiences of the Sierra Leone Civil War, with story-arcs addressing contemporary issues such as HIV/AIDS.cite book | last = Dauncey | first = Guy | title = Enough Blood Shed: 101 Solutions to Violence, Terror and War | publisher = New Society Publishers | date = 2006 | pages = 144 | isbn = 978-0865715271]

Background

In 2000 Sierra Leone's ten year Civil War came to an end leaving the country rebuild and in enact a disarmament programme. Search for Common Ground an international non-profit organization set-up Talking Drum Studios to produce media content to address problems experienced after the war and promote peace and reconciliation. In December 2001 it produced "Atunda Ayenda", which means lost and found in the Mandingo language, the first radio soup opera aired in Sierra Leone. The show quickly gained significant popularity, in a 2004 survey of Sierra Leonean radio listeners 90 percent of respondents said they regularly listened to the show and 80 percent discussed the content with family and friends. [Citation | last =Estes | first =Carol | publication-date =2006 | title =Can Soap Operas Save the World? | publisher =YES! | url =http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=1456 | accessdate =2008-07-13] [Citation | last =Everett| first =Paul | | last2 =Williams
first2 = Tennyson | last3 =Myers
first3 =Mary publication-date =August 2004 | title =Evaluation of Search for Common Ground actvities in Sierra Leone:Undertaken for Search for Common Ground and DFID| publisher =Search for Common Ground |page=20| url =http://www.sfcg.org/sfcg/evaluations/sierra2.pdf | accessdate =2008-07-13]

Narrative

The narrative is divided into stages with story arcs reflecting current events in Sierra Leone. Each stage is written stage is written independently in the period just prior to broadcasting so that the stories are always up-to-date. The shows narrative is a reflection of the real experiences of people through out Sierra Leone with the writers travelling to remote areas of the country to research the stories.cite web | title = Talking Drum Studio - Sierra Leone Radio Programs | publisher = Search for Common Ground | url = http://www.sfcg.org/programmes/sierra/sierra_talking.html | accessdate = 2008-07-12] The plot of the show revolves around young people and their experiences of the Sierra Leone Civil War and reconstruction after the war. Individual story-arcs address contemporary issues such as HIV/AIDS. The show was originally scripted by Kemoh Daramy but is now written by a team of writers.

Characters

* Dragon - an ex-combatant who did not take part in the disarmament process.
* Matuka - who was held prisoner by Dragon but escaped to Nigeria.
* Tapia - a hot tempered character who coaches football and is in love with Matuka.

Production

The show is normally produced in the Krio language but Talking Drum Studios has joined partners with the BBC World Service to produce an English language version of the show. The original producers of the show were Desmond During and Emrys Savage with assistants including Isastu Mansaray.Citation | accessdate=2008-07-12 | title =Promoting Peace, Security and Stability In Sierra Leone | publisher =UK Department for International Development | page =45 | url=http://dfidweb.dfid.gov.uk/prismdocs/ARCHIVE/SIERRALE/532011P1.DOC] Some members of the cast, for example Isata Mahoi who plays Mamy Saio, also work as programme editors.

Format

The show is broadcast weekly from Monday to Friday, on 21 radio stations within Sierra Leone and on the internet in an mp3 format. Old episodes of the show from programme 850 are also available on the internet. The show is 15 minutes in length when its theme tune is included and is usually broadcast an evening prime-time slot at 17:45. A 30 minute summary of the show is also broadcast at the weekend.

ee Also

Media in Sierra Leone

References

External links

[http://www.talkingdrumstudio.org/sleone/programmes/atunda_programmes.html Internet broadcasts of Atunda Ayenda at Talking Drum]