(Juba) – Radio Miraya, one of South Sudan’s most trusted broadcasters, has celebrated its 19th anniversary with a nationwide event that brought together listeners, media colleagues and devoted fans for a special live broadcast from Juba.
The station operated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) hosted the celebration at the Women’s Union Centre in the capital, drawing a diverse audience and reflecting on nearly two decades of service to the nation.
The anniversary marked the beginning of Radio Miraya’s final year as a “teenager,” and the event was themed as a walk down memory lane.
Guests were treated to a mix of music, dance and poetry that echoed important historical moments in South Sudan’s journey as an independent nation. Listeners from across the country also participated, interacting live with presenters and sharing reflections on the station’s impact on their lives.
Among the attendees was Laurence Ladu Luka, a volunteer teacher who first started listening to Radio Miraya in 2012 while he was a student in Yei. He said that the broadcaster’s programmes, particularly the Breakfast Show, Nationwide, and the Roundtable Discussions—shaped his interests in governance, social and cultural issues.
“The discussions I used to absorb inspired me to follow these topics, and I still do,” Luka said. He recalled with pride that he once appeared as a guest on a talk show to discuss waste management challenges in Juba.
The event also attracted a new generation of listeners. Apen Abraham, a senior student at Darling Wisdom Academy, spoke of the radio’s powerful reach. “
You may mostly be working from your studios, far away from us, but you give a voice to the voiceless. Your information reaches distant towns and villages and touches the lives of young and old alike,” he said.
Another student, Safa Sarif, said the live anniversary broadcast had turned her into a loyal listener. “Now I understand the importance of radio,” she said, promising to follow the station’s programmes more closely. She, like others present, received a solar-powered radio during the event.
Radio Miraya’s Head of Programming, Patricia Okoed, welcomed the feedback from listeners and emphasised the station’s commitment to inclusivity and wide reach.
“We are proud to reach 80 per cent of the country, more than anyone else. Our microphones are open to everyone who wants to tell their story to the people of South Sudan,” she said.
The station team hopes to further expand its coverage and strengthen its connection with communities as the station enters its 20th year.
Radio remains one of the most accessible sources of information in South Sudan, especially in rural areas where internet and electricity are limited.