Bridging the Gap: A New Radio Show Connecting Jamaica and the African Diaspora

About the Show

A brand-new radio show that combines a web-based magazine element is anticipated to foster ties between Jamaica and the African diaspora. The show, titled Bridging The Gap, debuted on Power 106FM on November 23, 2024.

Show Format

The hour-long show, produced and hosted by Steven Golding, features a wide variety of mainstream, modern, and traditional music, as well as news and scholarly interviews.

Connecting African Nations

Overcoming The Gap linked various African nations, such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, in addition to Jamaica and the diaspora. The show also has ties to Liberia, Kenya, and South Africa, with the formal first transmission expected to occur in January 2025.

Show Content

In addition to company profile interviews, the show plans to include discussions with government representatives, an investment opportunity emphasis, and a history and culture focus.

The Bridging the Gap Initiative

According to Steven Golding, the Bridging the Gap initiative aims to bridge the gap between Africa and the Caribbean diaspora, reconnecting families that have been split up as a result of the Middle Passage, which was connected to the Atlantic slave trade.

Golding noted, “It will open the doors to building stronger unity and cooperation between Africans at home and abroad; and a fulfilment of the dreams, hopes and aspirations of Jamaican national hero, Marcus Garvey.”

Golding stated, “Our content will focus on highlighting the connecting threads between our various Afrocentric cultures. The history, the language and all the nuances that make our cultural landscapes uniquely similar.”

The Idea Behind the Show

Earle Williams, CEO of Pinchy Kobi, an organization that connects Afro communities globally via literary, visual, and performing arts, came up with the idea for the program. Afro-Latino nations, the Caribbean, and Africa are examples of communities.

According to Earle Williams, a gap has existed in African families since the enslavement of more than 20 million Africans, leaving a feeling of longing and a scar that must be healed.

He noted, “Those who’ve had the opportunity to go (back) to Africa and enter through the Door of Return in Ghana have experienced the reconnection to the homeland that Africa’s diaspora still longs for. This longing is expressed consciously and unconsciously. We are attempting to fill this void, for those that cannot physically go back to their ancestral home.”

Conclusion

Bridging the Gap aims to foster stronger ties between Jamaica and the African diaspora, reconnecting families and cultures that have been separated for centuries. With its unique blend of music, news, and scholarly interviews, the show is poised to make a significant impact on the global community.

FAQs

Q: What is the main goal of the Bridging the Gap show?

A: The main goal is to foster stronger ties between Jamaica and the African diaspora, reconnecting families and cultures that have been separated for centuries.

Q: What types of content can viewers expect to see on the show?

A: The show will feature a wide variety of mainstream, modern, and traditional music, as well as news and scholarly interviews, company profile interviews, discussions with government representatives, investment opportunity emphasis, and a history and culture focus.

Q: Who is behind the idea for the show?

A: Earle Williams, CEO of Pinchy Kobi, an organization that connects Afro communities globally via literary, visual, and performing arts, came up with the idea for the program.

Q: When can viewers expect to see the first transmission of the show?

A: The formal first transmission is expected to occur in January 2025.