On Wednesday 7 May, the Italian Cultural Institute of Dakar will host the group Cinema Sound Materials to tell the story of community radio in Senegal through the experience of Giorgio Lollithe Bolognese technician who contributed to the FM revolution in Africa.
Formed in the period of free radios, Lolli has spent over forty years in Africa installed over 500 broadcasters from Senegal to Burkina Faso passing through Togo, Mali, Mozambique, Benin and Eritrea and, through his enterprise the Solaire, brought radio to local communities, from the Berber camp without electricity to the agricultural communities of the Sahel. Thanks to him, the concept of rural radio took shape, but not only that: the entrepreneur from Bologna also started it schools for radio technicians in Togo and Malicontributing to the growth and independence of local communities.
In memory of Giorgio Lolli, who passed away in April 2023, some of his students and collaborators have decided to continue his mission. Abdrahamane Cissokhoof the Board of Directors of XFM radio in Dakar, started the construction of a new FM radio in Kidira, between Mali and Mauritania. A station dedicated to young contemporary African migrants. who, by Lolli’s wish, will carry forward his spirit of equality and democracy.
During the meeting on May 7th the trailer of the documentary Radio Solaire – currently in production with Kiné and created with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region through Emilia-Romagna Film Commission. Furthermore, photos and videos taken by Lolli himself during his stay in Africa will be shown. The two authors and directors, Federico Bacci and Francesco Eppesteingherfinally, they will bring the missing piece, a transmitter, essential to start Radio Lolli broadcasts in Kidira. The birth of this new radio station will be documented, thus becoming the natural conclusion of the documentary “Radio Solaire”.
