Voice and Publics in West African Radio: »Grogneurs« as Media Activists in Bénin
Bielefeld: transcript Verlag (2026), 182 pp.
"This book examines the role of new media actors in the West African Republic of Bénin, commonly referred to as grogneurs or faiseurs d’opinion. These are frequent callers to interactive radio shows that openly discuss politics and society in contemporary Bénin. I argue that it is too simplistic to define them as ‘citizen journalists.’ Instead, we need to adopt a more complex analysis of their position within new configurations of the public sphere(s) shaped by a wide range of actors, interests, practices, and technologies. The book focuses mainly on a series of radio call-in shows, commonly called grogne in Bénin, where listeners can speak freely and directly about current issues or denounce grievances, using the radio as the subcontinent’s still most predominant mass medium. It is evident that these programmes have become the primary platform through which these grogneurs express themselves. Their success is being significantly boosted by the increasing ease of access to mobile phones, and their enduring reputation for veracity and reliability. My book is a perfect case in point to demonstrate the pivotal role of central media actors, such as the grogneurs, which can be seen as information brokers. As media activists, they capitalise on the enabling potential of new media technologies and social media, which unfold their full potential in the Republic of Bénin when closely intertwined with more ‘traditional’ media such as radio and press. From a performative approach, the analysis of grogne shows and grogneurs’ interventions should be conceptualised as a media ritual and a drama, which follows specific scripts and includes typical rhetoric, interaction rituals, verbal and indirect means of communication." (Abstract)
Introduction 13
CHAPTER I: SETTING THE STAGE FOR GROGNEURS, 21
Media Structures and Technologies in Bénin -- Research Background: Media Studies and Politics -- A Brief History of Radio Broadcasting in Bénin -- Media in Bénin between Censorship and Instrumentalisation -- Investigating Participatory Media in Bénin
CHAPTER II: LA GROGNE MATINAL, 35
The Establishment of a Contentious Radio Show -- Beginnings -- Standards, Variations, and Schedules -- Grogne Shows and Public Debates: Persistent Topics and News -- Major scandals and national media events -- Digression: Radio Trottoir, Mediatisation and Grogne Shows in Bénin -- The Predominance of Frequent Callers -- Grogne Shows, Media Policies, and Adaptations
CHAPTER III: GROGNE SHOWS: MAIN ACTORS AND PRACTICES, 63
Who Are the Grogneurs? Profiles and Motives -- Calling in Between Radio Messaging and Self-Positioning -- From Hobby to Vocation: Inner Pressures and External Challenges -- Careers, Constraints, and Risks -- Call-in Practices between Communication Routines and Self-Techniques -- Women as Grogneuses -- Media appropriation, role-taking, and the public positionin of grogneurs -- Hosts and Their Dilemmas: Journalists and Interactive Radio Shows
CHAPTER IV: ON-AIR PERFORMANCES, 95
Calling in: Styles and Strategies -- Getting Attention: Staging and Rhetoric Strategies -- Insertion: Grogneurs in Changing Economies of Attention -- Grogne Shows as a Drama
CHAPTER V: GROGNEURS IN CHANGING MEDIA ENVIRONMENTS, 113
Grogneurs in Bénin: Comparative Aspects -- Strategies for Procuring Information -- Social Media and Opinion-Making in Bénin Today -- Everyday Relationships Between Grogneurs and Journalists -- Grogne Shows and Public Communication -- Grogneurs, Listeners, and Administrative Authorities -- Friendship and Competition: Relationships Between Grogneurs -- Remunerations -- The COVID-19 Crisis and Role-Taking -- Grogneurs and Politics -- Changes and Adaptations
CHAPTER VI: INTERMEDIATIONS, 151
Information Brokerage: Theorising the Role of Grogneurs in Bénin -- Grogneurs as media activists
CHAPTER VII: CONCLUSION, 159
CHAPTER I: SETTING THE STAGE FOR GROGNEURS, 21
Media Structures and Technologies in Bénin -- Research Background: Media Studies and Politics -- A Brief History of Radio Broadcasting in Bénin -- Media in Bénin between Censorship and Instrumentalisation -- Investigating Participatory Media in Bénin
CHAPTER II: LA GROGNE MATINAL, 35
The Establishment of a Contentious Radio Show -- Beginnings -- Standards, Variations, and Schedules -- Grogne Shows and Public Debates: Persistent Topics and News -- Major scandals and national media events -- Digression: Radio Trottoir, Mediatisation and Grogne Shows in Bénin -- The Predominance of Frequent Callers -- Grogne Shows, Media Policies, and Adaptations
CHAPTER III: GROGNE SHOWS: MAIN ACTORS AND PRACTICES, 63
Who Are the Grogneurs? Profiles and Motives -- Calling in Between Radio Messaging and Self-Positioning -- From Hobby to Vocation: Inner Pressures and External Challenges -- Careers, Constraints, and Risks -- Call-in Practices between Communication Routines and Self-Techniques -- Women as Grogneuses -- Media appropriation, role-taking, and the public positionin of grogneurs -- Hosts and Their Dilemmas: Journalists and Interactive Radio Shows
CHAPTER IV: ON-AIR PERFORMANCES, 95
Calling in: Styles and Strategies -- Getting Attention: Staging and Rhetoric Strategies -- Insertion: Grogneurs in Changing Economies of Attention -- Grogne Shows as a Drama
CHAPTER V: GROGNEURS IN CHANGING MEDIA ENVIRONMENTS, 113
Grogneurs in Bénin: Comparative Aspects -- Strategies for Procuring Information -- Social Media and Opinion-Making in Bénin Today -- Everyday Relationships Between Grogneurs and Journalists -- Grogne Shows and Public Communication -- Grogneurs, Listeners, and Administrative Authorities -- Friendship and Competition: Relationships Between Grogneurs -- Remunerations -- The COVID-19 Crisis and Role-Taking -- Grogneurs and Politics -- Changes and Adaptations
CHAPTER VI: INTERMEDIATIONS, 151
Information Brokerage: Theorising the Role of Grogneurs in Bénin -- Grogneurs as media activists
CHAPTER VII: CONCLUSION, 159
