News: Talking Drum Studio Spins off as a Local Non-Profit
“The messages sent by Talking Drum Studio encourage people not to give in to violence, to be tolerant, to approach grievances differently, or to resolve them in mutual respect. [...] I think that is essential. This is what has allowed us to have peace for 15 consecutive years,” said Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
In 1997, after Liberia's devastating civil war, Search established the production house Talking Drum Studio (TDS) with the bold goal of sowing the seeds of post-war recovery through innovative radio and theatre programming. Since then, TDS' radio programs have reached an estimated 4.5 million people, touching almost every Liberian in the country. Even today, TDS is known for becoming a trusted source of unbiased information for ordinary citizens and popularizing pidgin English in the media, as well as principles of nonviolence and peaceful conflict resolution.
In September 2019, Search officially passed the torch to Talking Drum Studio. To ensure the successful transition of TDS as a local entity, Search continues to build its capacity and provide strategic direction until the end of 2021 to position it firmly in Liberia's NGO sphere.
The new TDS is already in its third project launch. With funding from USAID, the organization has just completed a project that improved access to education for 48,000 children. The local organization has now secured new funding from UN Women and the African Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF). The former enables the team to engage men in supporting women's rights and changing perceptions of gender stereotypes. The second supports the commemoration of war while promoting unity, peace, and reconciliation through photography, documentary films, radio broadcasts, and dialogue.
Talking Drum Studio will continue to explore solutions to Liberia's persistent problems, such as land disputes, education, gender-based violence, and unresolved grievances from the country's past, with new programs and initiatives rooted in the studio’s 23 years of experience in Liberia.
