Broadcasting in Sierra Leone

Broadcasting in Sierra Leone provides a historical and contemporary overview of the first African nation to introduce television and radio broadcasting. Patricia A. Holmes presents a well researched history on broadcasting in the Sierra Leone that breaks new ground in the social, ethnic, economic, and political climate in the context of broadcasting development, utilizing many never before used documents, including some from British Broadcasting Corporation Written Archives Center which date back to the first broadcast in 1934. She documents the beginnings of colonial and government-owned media to current movements toward privatization, with Sierra Leone being one of the few African nations to open up the airwaves to the private sector. Holmes also explores the potential effects of the present civil unrest on the broadcasting industry in Sierra Leone.