'Sommar, sommar, sommar...'

This year's 'Sommar' hosts were recently introduced to the press with, as expected, no politicians this year. 

  • Listen in to ”Sommar” on radio, channel P1. You may want to hear about author Johan Theorin’s grandmother and the mysterious thing she saw on an Öland beach. Photo: Mattias Ahlm/Sveriges Radio

  • Don’t expect any politicians in this year’s edition of the popular radio program ”Sommar.” During the program’s 55 year history, politicians have commonly been banned during election years, and this year is no different. But ”Sommar” commences on Midsummer Day with an artist who is known for his political engagement: Jason ”Timbuktu” Diakité will discuss his experiences of racism and why he needed to show up in parliament with his Swedish passport. Other speakers who will share their stories and music are: incoming Archbishop Antje Jackelén, Nordea’s CEO Björn Wahlroos and Henrik Stenson, second in the world in golf. Other sports profiles include World Championship referee Jonas Eriksson, hockey legend Börje Salming and medalist at the last Paralympics, Helene Ripa. There will also be many artists and cultural profiles, such as Sanna Nielsen, Andreas Dregen, Steve Angello from Swedish House Mafia, Christian Falk and Edda Magnason (who played Monica Zetterlund on the big screen last year). Dr. Alban is also on the list — he made something of a comeback earlier this year, when he participated in this year’s Swedish Eurovision Song Contest.
    ”I will talk about what it was like when I came from Nigeria to Sweden, became a dentist, and an artist. There are a couple of things people don’t know. I will reveal the details,” he told media. Also expect authors such as Athena Farrokhzad, Johan Theorin, Kjell Westö and Po Tidholm.
    ”I will talk about mysteries I’ve come across and not able to solve," says Theorin. "About something strange that my grandmother saw on a beach on Öland and that she told about before she died. She was either crazy or she really saw something strange.” Theorin has written several crime novels set on Öland.
    For more information: Årets Sommarvärdar

  • Or you might want to hear about singer/rapper Timbuktu’s experiences of racism in today’s Sweden. Photo: Mattias Ahlm/Sveriges Radio

  • Listen to the (unforgettable?) evergreen Sommar, Sommar, Sommar

  • Group shot of the 2014 "Sommar" hosts on Sweden's radio P1: First row 1 (standing in the back): Per Fritzell, Alban Nwapa, Martina Montelius, Oskar Kihlborg, Caroline Winberg, Anders Bárány, Baker Karim, Linda Nordin, Andreas Dregen, Karin Hermansson, Johan Theorin. Second row: (seated) Mustafa Can, Sofia Hedin, Bi Puranen, Athena Farrokhzad, Morton Narrowe, Ingalill Mosander, Mette Rode Sundström, Bea Szenfeld, Agnes Wold, Gunilla Palmstierna-Weiss. Third row: (seated at the edge of stage) Nathalia Edenmont, Åsa Larsson holding Antje Jackelén's portrait, Felix Kjellberg holding Jesper Rönndahl's portrait, Edda Magnason, Johan Croneman, Sanna Nielsen, Börje Salming, Simon Kyaga, Annie Wegelius holding Fredrik Wikingsson's portrait, Kjell Westö holding Björn Wahlroos. Fourth row: (seated on chairs) Nina Lagergren, Monika Ahlberg holding Steve Angello, Marianne Bernadotte, Anna von Bayern, Po Tidholm, Helene Ripa håller i Henrik Stenson, Christian Falk, Jason Diakité, Loa Falkman Fifth row: (Sitting in the grass) Sebastian Kirppu holding Svante Pääbo, Linda Pira holding Gunhild Carling, Jeppe Wikström, Navid Modiri holding Lars Palmgren, Therese Söderlind, Evabritt Strandberg holding Bea Uusma, Benke Rydman holding Jonas Eriksson. Photo: Mattias Ahlm/Sveriges Radio