In Kidi Ya Chanza (When the Drumbeat Changes You Must Change Your Dance-Steps)

According to the organisers, the radio series aims to help farmers understand that the impacts of climate change are not happening because the gods are angry or because a hostile person is putting a hex on them. It aims to inform farmers about the impacts of climate change, and the adaptive methods that can be implemented to respond to the changing conditions. In meeting its objective, the series recognises farmers' traditional knowledge and their adaptive capacity to the harsh conditions of the regions.

The radio series is based on a magazine format that revolves around a multi-plot serial drama. There are 26 programmes in the series, split into 2 sections of 13, each covering 4 key topics. Besides the drama, the programmes include popular music, a narrator linking the components of the programme, and guest experts such as an agriculture extension officer or an experienced farmer. Due to the different agricultural livelihoods throughout the listening areas and the different languages, the wrap-up with a local expert varies by region. Listeners are encouraged to provide feedback via short message service (SMS), phone, and/or mail, both individually and through encouraged listener and farmer groups.

The drama is set in a rural and peri-urban environment in northern Nigeria. The fictitious locations are: Karkaran Jatau, Rijiyar Nasara, Yamade, and Birnin Rago (where most of the actions take place). Other real towns and countries are also mentioned in the series. According to the organisers, the delivery of messages is crucial. While taking a serious tone, they need to be carefully designed to avoid unnecessary alarm as well as unrealistic expectations. People whose livelihoods depend on marginal lands are easily fearful of the prospect of a worsening environment.

According to the producers, the drama format has been chosen for a number of reasons: Drama involves music and storytelling, which can both entertain and educate. Drama imitates real life and can be a vehicle for demonstrating actions to highlight comparisons and consequences. Through multi-dimensional characters, drama can credibly portray models of responsibility, community leadership, and self-efficacy, and at the same time present new social norms to drive behaviour change. It also encourages household discussions of otherwise difficult topics. In addition, drama encourages the audience to be part of the whole process of change without being bombarded with too many messages. The listener would usually empathise with the characters and would not feel talked down to, as useful information is given out by characters they grow to love in the course of the drama.

The serial is being produced locally in 2 local Nigerian languages, with scripts available in English and French. It will be broadcast weekly by 5 radio stations over a 2-year period to test the effectiveness of informing smallholder farmers of climate change adaptation measures and to strengthen their capacity to mitigate the impact on their livelihoods.

The radio drama was designed through a collaborative workshop with representatives from Northern States, the producers, and stakeholders to ensure cultural accuracy and proper content. The result of that workshop was a design document which outlined the project background, environmental/climate change information, and a character list - along with plots and sub-plots.

The University of Guelph, combining its research and input from partners, has also created a toolkit related to radio drama for development and climate change. Both a printed handbook and a CD copy are planned and will be available for free and open distribution.

Agriculture, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management.

Farming is the predominant occupation of the rural areas of Northern Nigeria and farmers are feeling the increasing effects of climate change, which are likely to worsen with time. The land has become drier due to shorter and unpredictable rainfalls, and therefore less productive. Over the years, the rural farmer has had to depend more and more on inorganic fertilisers. This has proven harmful in the long run, as the mineral content of the soil has been further depleted. Harmful practices, such as bush burning, have also contributed to the land degradation and depletion of arable land.

Radio, according to the organisers, is an important and trusted medium for Northern farmers, and the majority of smallholders have access to and regularly listen to radio programmes. Research findings have identified that, apart from being affordable, radio is appropriate because it does not rely on electrical power points to operate. This makes radio a highly accessible medium through which people can be reached immediately in situations with an unreliable power supply. Over 85% of Nigerians have access to a radio set, making radio an effective medium for the broadcast of this series of programmes.