Meet Papy Saygbay | Vocie Over Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Papy Saygbay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Papy, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
I believe that one of the most important things I have done for my daughters is introduce them to the closest person in my life, Jesus Christ. My faith drives many of my decisions, and it helps them understand why I do the things I do. I encourage them to read the gospel for themselves, and to make up their own minds about the trustworthiness of Christ. Following this, I have also passed onto them the ability to critically think; to be a skeptic and to search for evidence. I’m convinced we use evidence to rationalize our actions and other daily decisions. Being a single father, I have realized the importance of these teachings, and wish to convey them to my daughters to prepare them for greatness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love being a voice actor! It allows me to be everyone and one no one at the same time. Though it’s not too different from my prior career in radio, I still have creative liberty in my profession. Due to the similar building blocks that radio and voice acting share, it isn’t uncommon for an on air personality to transition into voice acting. If anything, the experience I garnered made the transition smoother for me. I first attended the HBCU Texas Southern University before transferring to Sam Houston State and receiving a BFA in Radio, TV, and Film. After 4 markets, 6 different formats, and over 15 years in radio, I decided to be a full time voice over artist. Working for others was never something that interested me, so entrepreneurship was the next best thing. Of course, like any business, there challenges as far as consistent revenue, increasing your brand, and managing expenses, but once I understood how to take control of my voice, it got easier. Being a first generation immigrant, I have faced challenges all my life. At the age of three, my family and I migrated to the United States, sleeping in a subway for three days before being taken in by another Liberian family. Assimilating to a new language and culture wasn’t easy. We lived in New York, New Jersey, and Atlanta before settling in the DWF area, where our lives drastically improved. Though it was a challenge, with the support of my family and strength from God, I was ready to take it on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One place I would start with is a black owned restaurant called Pangea; The owner was the winner of the competitive cooking show, “Beat Bobby Flay”. I typically order the stuffed salmon, the mac and cheese, and their outstanding cornbread. Next stop would be the roof top theater in Fort Worth and check out an old school movie, like Love Jones. On Friday nights it is always a fun time at Sandaga, with drink specials and an electric atmosphere. Then the next day, visiting would Interskate Roller Rink in Lewisville to relive our youth is a must. Finally, to wrap up the week, we would check out one of the many concerts at the Toyota Music Factory.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many influences that driven me into becoming who I am today. First, I would like to give all honor and glory to God, because without his grace and guidance, there would be no me. I believe that none of us got to where we are solely because of ourselves, so a big shout out to the Liberian community, my parents Victoria Merchant Saygbay and Satchmo Saygbay, my sisters Monigo Saygbay-Hallie, Sonie Maluba, and Renee Wilson, my bothers Ujai Saygbay and Francis Saygbay. Also a special shout out to my friends from the schools I attended, as well as my work family from the various jobs that I’ve had. You all are unforgettable, valuable factors to my success.

Website: www.papyonair.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/papyonair

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/papyonair

Facebook: www.facebook.com/papysaygbay

Other: tiktok: @papyonair

Image Credits
photo: Chris Porter model: Samarica Sallier-Mack