SPOTLIGHT: IFRIKYA FM - The new shortwave station

 

SPOTLIGHT:  IFRIKYA FM

Rob dancing to Ifrikya FM

There’s always excitement when a new radio station hits the shortwave bands, probably because it rarely happens these days! Back on May 3, we saw the start of a new service called Ifrikya FM. It seems to replace most of the old Radio Algérienne programming format except for a few hours each day when we still hear recitations of the Holy Qur’an. 

Ifrikya FM presents a broad mix of news, interviews, sports and educational content, along with a wonderful selection of contemporary Afro-infused music from across the continent. The variety of groovy music played has converted me into a big fan. So much so that I find myself tuning in and letting it run in the background while I do other stuff in the radio shack!

Broadcasts are mainly in Arabic and French, clearly attempting to reach out to as many listeners in neighbouring countries as possible. Occasionally, you can hear the local languages of the Tuareg, plus Hausa and Bambara aimed at Libya, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Ivory Coast. The director of Ifrikya FM, Mohamed Sayem, indicated that the station had employed a young team of different African nationalities and correspondents in nine African countries, with more staff to come.

Broadcasts emanate from the two new 300 kW transmitters at Ouargla and Béchar. Reports from DX clubs and SWL Facebook groups indicate that the signals are reaching most parts of the globe with comparative ease. The schedule, which is subject to change, is currently as follows:

Béchar transmitter: 

0300-0600 in Arabic/French on 9470

0600-0900 in Arabic/French on 15110 

0900-1100 in Arabic/French on 17600 

1100-1800 in Arabic/French on 21550 

1800-2100 in Arabic/French on 17600 

2100-0300 in Arabic/French on 13590

Ouargla transmitter: 

1800-2100 in Arabic/French on 15160 

2100-0900 in Arabic/French on 13790

There are two further observations I have made from listening to Ifrikya FM: 

1. I have noticed that the change between frequencies is not always executed with smooth clockwork precision! Sometimes it can take upwards of ten minutes to activate the frequency changeover. 
   
   
2. There are five hours in the day when Ifrikya FM programming is replaced with the traditional Holy Qur’an broadcasts that we have come to know from Radio Algérienne. This occurs daily between 1800 and 2300 UTC.

Recently, I also found this four-minute YouTube video in English on Ikrikya FM. It is well worth watching to get an idea of the station's mission and goals:

So far, I have not seen any QSLs reported from this station. However, perhaps you could try this Gmail address that appears on their Facebook page: 

ifrikyafm@gmail.com

The station has a Facebook page with posts mainly in English and French. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090062677320

The Ifrikya FM website is just a landing page for their streaming audio. You can get more information on the station's programming from the Radio Algerienne website at; https://news.radioalgerie.dz/fr/blog/tags/ifrikya-fm

There is also an X (formerly Twitter) account and an active YouTube page.

73 and good DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW