The casket of late Eye Radio journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile lies at St. Theresa Cathedral during a requiem mass on Saturday January 3, 2026. File Photo

Eye Radio on Saturday afternoon observed a minute of dead air after replaying the final words of its late senior journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile, moments before his burial in Gurei suburb of Juba.

The tribute came as Akile’s body was being laid to rest at his family residence, drawing an emotional pause across the airwaves that had carried his voice for more than a decade.

Earlier, Eye Radio journalist Hellen Samuel, who was hosting a live broadcast covering the requiem prayers and burial, informed listeners that the station would go silent for one minute in honour of the late Dawn Show presenter.

Just before the silence, Akile’s voice filled the air one last time. The recording was taken from his final sign-off on the Dawn Show on December 23, 2025, only a week before his death. In the outro, he sent Christmas and New Year wishes to listeners before saying, “Let’s meet again next year. I’m gonna miss you, but we’ll meet again.”

The one-minute silence was part of a series of tributes organised by Eye Radio management to honour Akile’s life and service. News and regular programming had earlier been suspended on Wednesday, a day after his death on December 30, 2025, at a Gudele hospital.

Akile was buried in a sombre ceremony attended by Eye Radio colleagues, family members, public officials and well-wishers.

Earlier in the day, his body was taken to St. Theresa Cathedral Catholic Church for a requiem mass and final prayers. The service was attended by senior public officials and diplomats, including the leader of the National Democratic Movement and former Minister of Transport, Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, the Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State, Paulino Lukudu Obede, the US Ambassador to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler, and the Central Equatoria State Minister of Information and Communication, Patrick Nyarsuk, among others.

Eye Radio Chief Executive Officer Stephen Omiri Obuor, staff of Eye Radio and members of Akile’s family were also present at the prayers.

A Catholic by faith, Akile was widely regarded as an acclaimed radio journalist and a familiar voice to many South Sudanese. He died after a short illness at the age of 36.

Tributes and messages of condolence have continued to pour in from officials, colleagues, listeners and well-wishers, remembering Akile for his professionalism, humility and commitment to journalism.

Akile is survived by his 13-year-old son, Jonathan Emmanuel Josheph Akile.