Radio Free Africa
Radio Free Africa was established in 1995 under the famous acronym of RFA. Based in Mwanza on the Lake Victoria, RFA broadcasts in Kiswahili covering national and international news, entertainment, documentaries, features, drama series, sports and sitcoms.
It is one of the most listened to radio stations. It emerged as the second most popular station (XX.XXX%) in GeoPoll’s 2018 second quarter survey on radio stations audience share nationwide. The station broadcasts 20 frequencies throughout the country. Its programming can as well reach the entire East, Central and Southern Africa region via FM and AM platforms.
After the station had started broadcasting at an experimental stage in August 1995, the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation hesitated to issue the obligatory license. Back then Executive Chairman Dr. Anthony M. Diallo found that „Initially the registration was difficult as we had to follow all the government red tape procedures, bearing in mind that even the government administration was inexperienced on this aspect.“ (Letter from Anthony M.
Diallo, September 25th 1996)
Today, RFA’s radio license is registered to Sahara Media Group Ltd (SMG) to 100% - according to the Tanzanian Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA). It was formerly known as Sahara Communication and Publishing Company Ltd and was established in 1992. SMG runs three media outlets—Star TV, Radio Free Africa and Kiss FM.
Ownership data for SMG was not accessible at the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). According to his Linkedin profile, Chairman and CEO of SMG is today still its founder Dr. Anthony M. Diallo, an ex-Minister in several capacities.
Audience Share
Ownership Type
private
Geographic Coverage
National (entire East, Central and outhern Africa region via FM and AM platforms)
Content Type
free content
Media Companies / Groups
Sahara Media Group Limited
Ownership Structure
Radio Free Africa is owned and operated by Sahara Media Group Limited, which ultimately belongs to ist founder Dr. Diallo. No Data at BRELA available.
Voting Rights
Missing Data
Company
General Information
Founding Year
Date of registration: September 6th 1995 Start: August 1995 on a trial basis
Founder
Dr. Anthony M. Diallo - is a politician and Mwanza Regional Party Chairman of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM). He was a Member of Parliament (1995 to October 2010) when he lost to the opposition candidate. He served in different capacities in the cab
Ceo
Anthony M. Diallo - see above.
Editor-In-Chief
Beatrice Rabachi - Programme Manager # Calvin Jilala - News editor #
Contact
Radio Free Africa;
Plot No. 5-7, Ilemela Industrial Area, Airport Road,
P.O Box 1732, Mwanza.
E-mail: info@radiofreeafrica.co.tz
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
Missing Data
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
Missing Data
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Data
Market Share
Missing Data
Further Information
Meta Data
Audience share based on Geopoll’s Radio & TV Ratings Tanzania (April – June 2018) report.
Research and Planning Manager, Sahara Media Group (September 2018). Media Ownership Monitor Questionnaire Sahara Media Group.
