Africa’s biggest radio station, Ukhozi FM, celebrates its 60th anniversary in June. The station has an estimated 8 million listeners.
Siyabonga ezindabeni zeSABC #UkhoziFM60 @SABCNews #UkhozifmXLeboM60 pic.twitter.com/z43rXF7Ukl
— Ukhozi FM Official (@ukhozi_fm) June 6, 2020
The year 1960 was a turbulent era in the country’s political landscape; the Rivonia trialists, including Nelson Mandela, were on the stand. The ANC and PAC were banned on 8 April 1960.
Two months later on 1 June, the SABC launched Radio Bantu; a radio station broadcasting in different African languages, including IsiZulu, to serve as a propaganda channel.
A teacher by profession, King Edward Masinga, known as KE Masinga; became the first Zulu announcer. A host of talented broadcasters were later recruited. These included the first black woman on South Africa’s airwaves, Winnie Mahlangu.
Being the only source of entertainment for most Zulu speakers in the country, the station’s listenership grew fast. Undoubtedly the most popular presenter and crowd-puller was Cyril “Kansas” Mchunu.
In the 80s, the station continued to grow in numbers and changed its name from Radio Bantu to Radio Zulu.
Former presenter Dr Velaphi “VVO” Mkhize says there were no producers back then.
“There were no producers in those days; it was only yourself. You were the announcer and you were the producer. You’ll get into the studio and say whatever you want to say because they knew that you are carrying that discipline.”
The station was the first to play and popularise both Isicathamiya and Maskandi music.
Former station manager Dr Welcome “Bhodloza” Nzimande says it was important for management to treat people well.
“It was important for us as management to treat our people well because if we don’t treat our people well, we’re going to lose it. You see the person that you treat badly, that person is going to do something you’ve never seen. He’s going to treat the audience badly because he’s being taught here that the right thing is treating people badly.”
After the 1994 general election, the station changed its name to Ukhozi FM. With the new crop of broadcasters, it continues to be the station of choice for 8 million listeners which even extend to listeners in other provinces.
Station manager Sbongi Ngcobo attributes its success to loyal fans.
“We are nothing without our listeners and we want to tell them to continue to choose us. We thank them for their support; everything we do is for them. We want to grow with them and we want to ensure that we continue to provide anything that will inform and entertain them.”
Ngcobo says the station will broadcast a number of programmes to mark this milestone.
In the video below, Ukhozi FM celebrates 60 years of broadcasting:
