The Politics of Language in Nigerian Broadcasting: Multilingualism, Power, and Democratic Inclusion

This study examines the politics of language in Nigerian broadcasting, developing an original theoretical framework for understanding how language policy, practice, and ideology in broadcast media reproduce or challenge power hierarchies and democratic inclusion across Nigeria's approximately 500 language communities. Language is a fundamental axis of power and exclusion in Nigerian broadcasting, where the three major languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo) are institutionally privileged over hundreds of minority languages, English retains colonial prestige, and the allocation of broadcasting time by language reflects and reinforces ethnic political hierarchies. This study employs a multi-method critical approach combining political economy analysis of language allocation across all licensed Nigerian broadcast stations (quantitative survey of 180 broadcast licensees), critical discourse analysis of language ideology in broadcasting policy documents from 1957 to 2024, ethnographic research in minority language broadcasting communities in Plateau, Cross River, and Niger Delta areas (24 months of fieldwork), interviews with 46 broadcasters, language policy makers, and minority language community members, and original democratic theory analysis of language in multicultural broadcasting. The theoretical framework integrates linguistic anthropology, critical discourse studies, African political theory, and democratic communication theory. Findings reveal that English-dominant broadcasting governance systematically disadvantages the majority of Nigerians who communicate most effectively in indigenous languages. Minority language communities experience measurable democratic communication exclusion. The study contributes an original Language Power in Broadcasting Theory for Nigeria and recommends a Language Equity Broadcasting Policy reform with specific minority language airtime guarantees and funding mechanisms.

Keywords: language politics, broadcasting, multilingualism, democratic inclusion, Nigeria.