1996 Vol. 10 No. 3 African Council for Communication Education (ACCE) Copyright© 1996 Nairobi, Kenya ISSN 0258-4913 Africa Media Review provides a forum for the study of communication theory, practice and policy in African countries. It is published three times a year by the ACCE Institute for Communication Development and Research, P. O. Box 47495, Nairobi, Kenya. Telephone: 227043/216135/215270/334244 ext. 28068 E-mail: acceb@arcc.ur.ke acceb @ form-net-com Correspondence and Advertising Authors should send contributions to the Managing Editor, ACCE Institute for Communication Development and Research, P. O. Box 47495, Nairobi, Kenya. Books for review, book review articles and all other matters regarding AMR should be sent to the same address. Annual Subscription Rate Africa US$45:00 Outside Africa US$60:00 These rates include packaging and postage. Single copies are US$ 15:00 within Africa and US$ 20:00 outside Africa. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to African Council for Communication Education and sent to the above address. Special arrangements will be entered into where applicable for subscribers in Africa through their nearest ACCE national co-ordinator. ACCE institutional and individual members receive AMR as part of membership privileges. Managing Editor Dr. Charles Okigbo, African Council for Commun- ication Education, Nairobi, Kenya. Editorial Assistant Mr. Charles Ongadi Nyambuga, African Council for Communication Education, Nairobi, Kenya. Circulation ACCE President Ms. Lydia Gachungi, African Council for Commun- ication Education, Nairobi, Kenya. ! Mr. Polycarp Omolo Ochilo, University of Nairobi, Kenya Comments on this Issue * This issue comprises some of the papers that were presented at ACCE's 10th Biennial Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The articles are on different aspects of "Communication and the Empowerment of Civil Society." Francis Kasoma's article is the only exception; it discusses aspects of African ethics and their relevance in journalism. The article advocates for use of a communal approach in solving moral problems in journalism and ends by stating that the world needs journalism with a human face. Peter Wanyande in his article "The Media as a Civil Society and Their Role in the Democratic Transition in Kenya" discusses the problems encountered by the media in the process of promoting democratic politics. He underscores the critical role of the media as a major player in the politics of transition to multi-party democracy in Kenya. The article on "Portrayal of Women in Nigerian Home Video Films: Empowerment or Subjugation" by Stella Okunna shows how video technology could be used for the empowerment of severely marginalised social groups like poor and illiterate women in some rural Third World countries. In conclusion, she calls upon women to seek more positive and active roles. Francis Nyamnjoh attempts a historical backdrop of the origins of civil society in his article "Media and Civil Society in Cameroon". He points out that poor professionalization among journalists is a major factor in the media's failure to promote democracy and civil society in Cameroon. Danladi Musa discusses the importance of the media as a watchdog in the society. He advocates for review of the structure and ownership of the media to redress the imbalances that make them tools for the disempowerment of civil society. "Communication and Empowerment of Civil Society" is the title of Onuora Nwuneli's keynote address, where he argues for appreciating the constraints of empowerment communication and empowerment civil society before we strive to overcome these constraints. Charles Nyambuga Table of Contents 1-20 21-36 The Media as Civil Society and Their Role in Democratic Transition in Kenya By Peter Wanyande Portrayal of Women in Nigerian Home Video Films: Empowerment or Subjugation? By Chinyere Stella Okunna 37-66 Media and Civil Society in Cameroon By Dr. Francis B. Nyamnjoh, Dr. Francis Wete and Dr. Tangie Fonchingong 67-78 79-92 Communication and Empowerment of Civil Society By Onuora E. Nwuneli The Sleeping Dog Cannot Bark: Media and Mass Disempowerment of Civil Society in Africa By Danladi Musa 93-116 The Foundations of African Ethics (Afriethics) and the Professional Practice of Journalism: The Case for Society-Centred Media Morality By Francis P. Kasoma