RADIO FOR MIGRANTS

From the Origins to the Present: the Story of Radio for Migrants

Radio for Migrants was created more than ten years ago by Alberto Cicala for Mater Africa, with the aim of building a sonic bridge between cultures, stories, and communities living between Africa and Europe. Its roots, however, reach much further back. In 1977, Cicala designed and built an FM radio station in Sicily called Radio Scotland, involving groups of young people and experimenting with new forms of communication. That pioneering experience became, decades later, the seed of a modern and inclusive project.
Thanks to a European Union–funded initiative, Radio for Migrants began broadcasting online without interruption, offering information and entertainment to migrant communities: news, cultural programs, language lessons, music from different countries, and content dedicated to integration (currently being reorganized).
The mission of the radio is twofold:
to keep alive the connection with countries of origin, especially Nigeria,
to support integration within new host communities.
Over time, the station has built a strong digital presence: live streaming, podcasts, social channels, and collaborations with sponsors and organizations that actively support migrant communities. The project also anticipates the Mattei Passport, which will provide online Italian language courses for young Nigerians selected to work in Italy.
Listeners can access Radio for Migrants through the official website, where they find live broadcasts, recorded programs, and informative articles. A mobile app is also available, allowing people to listen on the move and stay connected at any time.
Today, Radio for Migrants is more than a radio station: it is a community space, a place where information, identity, and integration meet to support those who live between two worlds.