Radio Ndeke Luka

Radio Ndeke Luka (RNL) began broadcasting in 2000. It took over from Radio Minurca, the radio of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), which handed over the radio to Fondation Hirondelle, after its departure from the country. The name “Ndeke Luka” was born from the contraction of “Ndeke”, a Sango word which evokes a bird, and “Luka”, derived from the English “luck”. “Ndeke Luka” means “The auspicious bird”.

Anchored in its mission of public service and general interest, Radio Ndeke Luka strives to play a positive role in the reconstruction of the CAR by broadcasting quality information and education programs in French and Sango, live political debates, interactive magazines focused on human rights, youth, the status of women, development, health and good governance.

Information is free on Ndeke Luka. Press releases and invitations to press conferences are not subject to change, even for the transport of our teams. The Ndeke Luka editorial team reserves the right to disseminate or not the information and to choose the angle of processing this information in complete independence and objectivity and in a balanced manner while respecting the sensitivities of each person. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the frequency 100.9 FM from transmitters installed in Bangui, Bambari, Bangassou, Beloko, Berberati, Birao, Bossangoa, Bouar, Bozoum, Bria, Mobaye, Ndele and Obo. Its presence on Canal Satellite Afrique allows it national coverage (channel no. 545). The radio can also be listened to in streaming from its website: www.radiondekeluka.org

In 2008, Fondation Hirondelle created the Ndeke Luka Foundation (FNL), an institution under Central African law, and placed RNL under the governance of the FNL. The transition is thus launched so that the Ndeke Luka Foundation gradually takes over the management of Radio Ndeke Luka. But this initiative was stopped short by the 2013 crisis. A process to revive the Board of Directors has been in place since 2018.

A quantitative audience study carried out in 2020 by the Kantar Institute, a leading international polling institute which notably conducts each year the major “Africascope” media audience survey in the capitals of French-speaking Africa, indicates that Radio Ndeke Luka remains the best-known media, and the most listened to by the Central African population. The radio is listened to daily by 63% of the population aged 15 and over, and every week by almost 84% of the population. Nearly 1.4 million people regularly listen to Radio Ndeke Luka (at least once a week) across the country, according to this study. In Bangui, the daily audience of Radio Ndeke Luka stands at 71%. Finally, the notoriety of RNL is spectacular: Radio Ndeke Luka is known to 98% of those questioned in Bangui, and 96% in Bambari.