INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XII December 2025
participatory and expressive nature of oramedia. This supports earlier scholarship that describes oramedia as
“people’s media,” rooted in communal ownership, dialogue, and shared cultural experience (Ugbajah, 1985;
Wilson, 2008). Performance-based communication enhances attention, emotional engagement, and collective
identity, making it particularly effective for mobilization.
Oramedia as a Development Communication Strategy
Table 2 shows that Oramedia proved effective in communicating health, sanitation, unity, and economic
empowerment messages. These findings align with Entertainment-Education and Theatre for Development
perspectives, which argue that culturally grounded performances bridge the gap between information
dissemination and behavioural response (Singhal & Rogers, 1999; Manyozo, 2012). The limited role of proverbs
suggests a shift away from abstract symbolism toward more demonstrative and experiential communication
forms.
Generational Shifts and Emerging Communication Tensions
Amajor challenge according to table 3 is the declining engagement of younger women, driven by their preference
for modern and digital communication platforms. This reflects broader transformations in media consumption
and supports arguments by Servaes (2008) and Waisbord (2014) that participatory communication systems must
continually adapt to remain legitimate and credible within changing social contexts.
Compatibility of Oramedia with Development Approaches
The findings in table 4 indicate that oramedia is highly compatible with participatory development approaches
within the context of August Meetings in Southeast Nigeria. The high mean scores recorded for self-help
projects, health campaigns, fundraising, cooperative activities, and peacebuilding suggest that oramedia
functions effectively in collective, action-oriented development settings. These approaches typically require
shared understanding, emotional engagement, and community ownership—elements that are naturally
embedded in oramedia forms such as songs, drama, and performances.
The strong acceptance of fundraising and cooperative activities supported through songs and drama underscores
the mobilizing power of performance-based communication, which encourages participation and reinforces
communal responsibility. Similarly, the suitability of oramedia for health campaigns and peacebuilding reflects
its ability to simplify complex issues, foster dialogue, and promote consensus in culturally meaningful ways.
Structural and Cultural Conditions for Effectiveness
From table 5, the findings show that the effectiveness of oramedia is strongly influenced by resource availability,
cultural relevance, and leadership support. These findings reinforce participatory communication theory, which
emphasizes enabling environments and institutional backing as prerequisites for sustained community
engagement. The rejection of education level as a limiting factor confirms the inclusive nature of oramedia,
supporting Ugbajah’s (1985) position that its strength lies in its accessibility across literacy levels.
REFERENCES
1. Adebayo, K., & Balogun, A. (2019). Development communication and grassroots transformation in
Africa. Ibadan, Nigeria: University Press.
2. Akpan, F. (2019). Indigenous communication systems and rural development in Nigeria. Journal of
African Communication Studies, 5(2), 44–58.
3. Bourn, D. (2015). The theory and practice of development education: A pedagogy for global social
justice. London, England: Routledge.
4. Ejike, V. (2023). August meetings and women’s empowerment among the Igbo. African Journal of
Gender Studies, 9(1), 66–81.
5. Jamias, S. B. (2018). Development communication in Asia: Context and practice. Asian Journal of
Communication, 28(4), 335–347.
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