KAZI

Austin, Texas
Broadcast area	Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area
Frequency	88.7 (MHz)
Branding	KAZI 88.7
Programming
Format	Urban Contemporary/Community Radio
Ownership
Owner	Austin Community Radio, Inc.
History
First air date	August 29, 1982 (41 years ago) (1982-08-29)
Call sign meaning	Kazi is Swahili for work
Technical information
Class	A
ERP	1,700 watts
HAAT	107 meters (351 ft)
Translator(s)	91.3 MHz K217GJ (Austin)
Links
Webcast	Listen live
Website	http://www.kazifm.org/

KAZI (88.7 FM) is a listener-supported, non-commercial community radio station in Austin, Texas, United States. The transmitter site is located in Southwest Austin and the station has studios in Northeast Austin. It is owned by Austin Community Radio, Inc., a Texas non-profit entity founded April 22, 1975.

History

John Warfield, PhD (né John Lewis Warfield; 1938–2007), a University of Texas Professor of African-American studies, was the pioneering founder KAZI-FM, a noncommercial radio station aimed at serving the African-American community in Austin. His success came with the help of his wife, Jan (née Jeanette Aycox; 1941–2015), several board members, and a host of volunteers and supporters. KAZI debuted on air August 29, 1982, 2 PM – forty-one years ago – broadcasting from a studio on Manor Road.^[1] Although its mission, before its debut, was to serve African-Americans of Austin, when it finally debuted, its focus had expanded to appeal to Hispanics and a general audience, according to the station's founding manager, Cheryl Anderson Strange (maiden; born 1947). Warfield was the founding President.

The station primarily features an urban contemporary radio format and also plays other styles of music such as R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel, Blues, Soul, Reggae, and Jazz. In addition, KAZI provides educational programming, community information, and independent news.