{"id":65211,"date":"2026-01-19T08:47:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=65211"},"modified":"2026-01-19T08:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:47:03","slug":"bbc-sunday-feature-leo-sarkisian-the-music-man-for-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/bbc-sunday-feature-leo-sarkisian-the-music-man-for-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Sunday Feature: Leo Sarkisian, The Music Man for Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0m2frwx.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-65212\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0m2frwx.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0m2frwx.jpg 640w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0m2frwx-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/p0m2frwx-624x351.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>Many thanks to <em>SWLing Post<\/em> friend and contributor David Goren, who produced this wonderful BBC Sunday Feature documentary, <em>The Music Man for Africa<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The program explores the remarkable life of Leo Sarkisian, the legendary Voice of America broadcaster who spent decades traveling across Africa (and beyond) with a massive tape recorder, documenting traditional music and sharing it with the world through <em>Music Time in Africa<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>You can listen via the BBC here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/m002przx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/m002przx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If the BBC is geofenced in your part of the world, you can also listen via SoundCloud here (note that it may require a SoundCloud free account to listen):<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Music Man for Africa Sunday Feature BBC Radio 3 by Shortwaveology\" width=\"625\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?visual=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F2249817803&#038;show_artwork=true&#038;maxheight=938&#038;maxwidth=625\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many thanks to SWLing Post friend and contributor David Goren, who produced this wonderful BBC Sunday Feature documentary, The Music Man for Africa. The program explores the remarkable life of Leo Sarkisian, the legendary Voice of America broadcaster who spent decades traveling across Africa (and beyond) with a massive tape recorder, documenting traditional music and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[960,3,43],"tags":[174,1521,1524,11025],"class_list":["post-65211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-david-goren","tag-leo-sarkisian","tag-music-time-in-africa","tag-the-music-man-for-africa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gXN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4997,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/voas-music-man-leo-sarkisian-retires-at-91\/","url_meta":{"origin":65211,"position":0},"title":"VOA&#8217;s &#8220;Music Man,&#8221; Leo Sarkisian, retires at 91","author":"Thomas","date":"December 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Many shortwave radio listeners know the name Leo Sarkisian, founder of the Voice of America show Music Time in Africa. For decades, Leo and his wife, Mary, traveled to every corner of Africa, lugging with them a large reel-to-reel recorder that Leo used to capture for broadcast the diverse music\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Art&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Heather-Leo-and-Mary-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":32766,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/voas-music-man-for-africa-leo-sarkisian-dies-at-97\/","url_meta":{"origin":65211,"position":1},"title":"VOA&#8217;s Music Man For Africa, Leo Sarkisian, dies at 97","author":"Thomas","date":"June 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In February 2013, Leo Sarkisian and his sweet wife, Mary, invited me to their home and studio in Maryland and I recorded what turned into a 3+ hour audio interview. Sitting with him, time seemed to disappear as I was absorbed by stories about his travels and experiences. He was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Music&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/LeoSarkisian.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/LeoSarkisian.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/LeoSarkisian.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/LeoSarkisian.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47011,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/the-music-time-in-africa-archive-at-the-university-of-michigan\/","url_meta":{"origin":65211,"position":2},"title":"The Music Time in Africa Archive at the University of Michigan","author":"Thomas","date":"December 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Zack Schindler (N8FNR), who writes: If anyone wants to listen to archives of VOA's Music Time in Africa many are now available. I received this email from the archivist at the University of Michigan \"At the present time we have roughly 600 shows online\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Broadcasting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/15-Cameroon-e1608552803432.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/15-Cameroon-e1608552803432.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/15-Cameroon-e1608552803432.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/15-Cameroon-e1608552803432.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49333,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/comrade-africa-a-historic-look-at-the-gdrs-cold-war-era-shortwave-broadcasts-to-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":65211,"position":3},"title":"Comrade Africa: A historic look at the GDR\u2019s Cold War era shortwave broadcasts to Africa","author":"Thomas","date":"June 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ulis (K3LU), who shares the following note via his Twitter feed: \u201cComrade Africa\u201d - a historic look at the GDR\u2019s (Radio Berlin International) Cold War era shortwave broadcasts to Africa via the BBC World Service: https:\/\/open.live.bbc.co.uk\/mediaselector\/6\/redir\/version\/2.0\/mediaset\/audio-nondrm-download\/proto\/https\/vpid\/p07zc40r.mp3 Click here to listen to the documentary at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Broadcasting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RadioBerlinInternationalFront-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RadioBerlinInternationalFront-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RadioBerlinInternationalFront-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RadioBerlinInternationalFront-001.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40597,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/bbc-world-service-documentary-about-radio-berlin-international-service-to-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":65211,"position":4},"title":"BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Kris and Ed who both note a fascinating BBC World Service documentary. Ed writes: Hey Thomas, SWLing Post readers will surely enjoy this brilliant BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa. \"Comrade Africa\" offers a 53-minute fascinating blast from the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pilot-T-133-Dial-1024x678.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65804,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/carlos-illustrated-radio-listening-report-and-recording-of-vatican-radio-bbc-april-13-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":65211,"position":5},"title":"Carlos\u2019 Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Vatican Radio &#038; BBC (April 13, 2026)","author":"Thomas","date":"April 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor and noted political cartoonist,\u00a0Carlos Latuff, who shares the following\u00a0illustrated radio listening report of recent Vatican Radio & BBC broadcasts. Carlos notes: Vatican Radio & BBC: Pope Leo XIV begins Africa trip https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/HZKhVaRQOso?si=fCAgUVFaX8Vuo4US Click here to view on YouTube.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Art&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Latuff-BBC-Vatican-13apr2026-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Latuff-BBC-Vatican-13apr2026-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Latuff-BBC-Vatican-13apr2026-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Latuff-BBC-Vatican-13apr2026-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Latuff-BBC-Vatican-13apr2026-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65211"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65213,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65211\/revisions\/65213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}