Broadcasting and the Portuguese Empire: The case of Sao Tome and Principe

The colonial essence of the Portuguese nation was one of the pillars of Estado Novo (1933-1974). During this period, the media were largely used as a tool for promoting the cohesion of the territories, firstly embodying an Imperial mystique, and after the second World War, arguing for the exceptionalism of Portuguese colonialization and fighting enemy propaganda. However, contrary to other European empires, Portugal never had a consistent and articulated policy for using radio for these purposes. This article analyses the case of Sao Tome and Principe, the smallest Portuguese colony in Africa and argues that the new strategy that was experimented in the archipelago in the late 60's was characterized by a lack of organization and investment that curtailed any chances of success against competitor broadcasts. Based on archival research and interviews with former radio professionals, the case of Sao Tome is presented as an example of a frail global articulation that characterized the Imperial Portuguese broadcasting strategy during this period, while it deepens the knowledge on the development of radio in the former Portuguese colonies.