Abstract

HIV/AIDS is the greatest challenge that has faced the African continent in recent decades. The absence of a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS and the urgent need to reach people on the impact of this disease has resulted in the emphasis of mass education of populations, which incorporates the use of mass media. Education about HIV/AIDS has gone beyond awareness building to attitude and behaviour change. This paper focuses on how HIV/AIDS awareness and education is carried out by the music industry in Kenya’s broadcast media. The paper introduces the rationale of HIV/AIDS prevalence among the Kenyan youth. It examines the place of Kenya’s music in behaviour change communication by digging into the language and graphics that are encompassed in this music. The paper notes that despite the fact that the media has made efforts to create awareness and advocate for behaviour change, the same media is perpetuating sexual graphics that seem to promote sexual behaviour among the youth. The paper gives recommendations concerning the way HIV/AIDS and behaviour change communication should be carried out by Kenya’s broadcast media, with the hope that these incorporations will help save young lives from HIV/AIDS scourge.

Key words: Kenya, media, HIV/AIDS, music, behaviour change.