Yarona FM

Yarona FM is an urban broadcaster targeting young adults. The radio station is a private commercial entity that has existed since 1999. It is regulated by BOCRA and attracts a unique weekly audience of 250,000.

History

The radio station started its 24-hour broadcast on August 22, 1999, the first independent radio station in the country,^[1] and at first was primarily a local broadcaster within Gaborone (the capital city of Botswana) covering a radius of 50 km from its central transmitter. Until 2004 it was one of the only two licensed private radio stations in the country.^[2] In June 2007 the station was offered a national broadcast license by Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority and began a national rollout covering Botswana's major centres: Lobatse, Mahalapye, Serowe, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, Francistown and Maun. For much of its history, its programming focus was on arts and culture, primarily consisting of programs devoted to RnB, Hip Hop, Motswako and Pop music.

Brand

From its conception, Yarona FM has identified itself with the "freshest" and newest songs, targeted towards Botswana's urban youth audience. Its initial tag lines were "Re tswhere vibe": setswana for "we've got the vibe" and "blazing GC's most rocking tunes". When the station went national in 2008, the tag line changed to "Live the music". Yarona FM is a positive, upwardly mobile forward thinking brand that encapsulates the aspirations, style, language, lives and future of the Youth of Botswana.^{[citation needed]}

Frequencies(From South to North)

Until April 2008, the radio station was broadcasting through the frequency 106.6 FM, which was part of its logo and brand until 7 more frequencies were added.

Lobatse: 102.1 FM
Gaborone: 106.6 FM
Mahalapye: 99.9 FM
Serowe: 102.9 FM
Palapye: 105.1 FM
Selibe Phikwe & Maun: 97.5 FM
Francistown: 100.1 FM
Sojwe: 100.8 FM
Salajwe : 98.2 FM
Takatokwane, Jwaneng & Senyamadi: 104.9 FM
Malwelwe : 94.9 FM

Past presenters

Japs, Luzboy, Stups dawg, Big Duke Bonni (Current Programmes Manager), Tumie Ramsden, DJ Izzy, Chawa Bale, Dollar Mac, King Bee, Tshepo Ntshole, Dig Nash, Otis Fraser, Kepi, O'neal, Junior Psy, Jazelle, Owen Rampha (Current general manager), McD, Kedi Lezozo, Scar, Kingdom, Dum-luv, MduThaParty, and Big Fish are all popular names identified with the Yarona FM brand in the past. Some of these have now moved on to other local radio stations or to other ventures. Of late, and due to the high standards at Yarona FM, the station has become the number one breeding ground for talent amongst other broadcast entities in Botswana.

The youngest presenter in the history of the station are Kabelo "Japs" Tlhomelang (at age 15), airing in July 2000 with Kgosi "Dollar Mac" Kgosidintsi.

Yarona FM schedule

Podcasting

Yarona FM shows are also available via the stations SoundCloud account.

Schedule

The network's base schedule is noted here, and applies only to Yarona FM's outlets.

	Wednesday	Uransday	Neptunday	Thursday	Plutoday	Ceresday	Eriday
Time
5am						The Take Off Hosted by: Mr T
6am	The Big Breakfast Show Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy	The Big Breakfast Show Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy	The Big Breakfast Show Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy	The Big Breakfast Show Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy	The Big Breakfast Show Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy		Beats From Heaven Hosted by: Mr T
6am
8am
9am						House of ZU Hosted by: Zuziwe Mavuma	House of Zu Hosted by: Zuziwe Mavuma
11am	Power to the People Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party	Power to the People Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party	Power to the People Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party	Power to the People Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party	Power To the People Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party	Yarona FM Hot 40 Hosted by: Ninah Lr
12noon
1pm							Sugar Rush Hosted by: Ninah LR
2pm
	The Galaxy Sports Show Hosted by : Fox
3pm	Shuddup and Drive Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo	Shuddup and Drive Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo	Shuddup and Drive Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo	Shuddup and Drive Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo	Shuddup and Drive Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo	Kaofela Hosted by: Mzitho	Kaofela Hosted by: Mzitho
4pm
5pm
6pm					The Log Drum Hosted by: Lala Slay
7pm	Good Vibes Only Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha	Good Vibes Only Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha	Good Vibes Only Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha	Good Vibes Only Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha	The Log Drum Hosted by: Lala Slay		The Soccer Show Hosted by: Fox
8pm					267 Hip Hop Hosted by: Dj Sway
9pm					267 Hip Hop Hosted by: Dj Sway
10pm					Yarona FM #YFest Hosted by: Dj Mix	Yarona FM #YFest Hosted by: DJ Mix	The Revolution Hosted by: Dj Kellz
11pm
12am
1am

References

^ "Botswana TV delayed until 2000", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 22, September-October 1999
^ "Botswana Television (BTV) Negotiating Control and Cultural Production in a Globalising Context: A Political Economy of Media State Ownership in Africa" (PDF). University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

[1] "Botswana TV delayed until 2000", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 22, September-October 1999

[NegotiatingControl-2] "Botswana Television (BTV) Negotiating Control and Cultural Production in a Globalising Context: A Political Economy of Media State Ownership in Africa" (PDF). University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

[1]

[2]

v t e Media in Botswana
Radio Stations	Gabz FM Radio Botswana Radio Botswana 2 Yarona FM
Television Stations	Botswana Television YTV Maru Television
News	Azhizhi Botswana Guardian Daily News Botswana Mmegi The Patriot on Sunday The Voice (Botswana) The Botswana Gazette
Magazines	Kutlwano Magazine