Madibaz Radio ... coming to you soon

“Radio bought people closer, brought entertainment to the doorsteps of homes … it contributed to the happiness and welfare of human society …”

I think we’re all agreed with this, and thankful for the invention of Guglielmo Marconi, about 113 years ago.

Radio is an integral part of lives – entertaining, enlightening, educating or simply reminding us we’re not alone. And very soon radio will become a part of our work and study lives at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Yes, we’re getting our own radio station. Madibaz Radio.

The institution has a had a couple of successful forays into radio in the past with Radio Uppie (with the former University of Port Elizabeth), the community-focused CBFM and smaller ventures by journalism students. Several of today’s top DJs – Daron Mann, Lance du Plessis and Martin Bester to mention a few – started out on these stations.

Madibaz Radio's management team (back from left) Musa Mosweni, Tebogo Sekhalo, Sinazo Mtshengu, manager Saki Makapela, (front) Khanyisa Melwa and Kgabo Maphoto.

But now it’s time for a new generation of radio presenters, programmers and DJs to take centre stage (which happens to physically be above Standard Bank in the Kraal area on South Campus). And how excited Madibaz Radio station manager Saki Makapela and his young team of volunteers are to begin broadcasting.

It is baby steps first as the station will be broadcast via a web address online. And then it hopes to spread its wings later this year with a broadcast licence to reach further listeners via traditional radio channels on the FM frequency. The team has already applied for the licence.

“We’re excited about what’s to come and can’t wait to start broadcasting,” says Saki, a former NMMU journalism student, who previously worked for South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

So far a team of 60 student volunteers has been assembled, led by a smaller dedicated management team. Volunteers will be given a two-month probation to prove their worth and to assess that the programme line-up meets the diverse needs of its diverse listeners.

NMMU music students are already recording the radio jingles, its journalism students are preparing to read the news and the DJ Student Society is providing music mixes and other expertise to respond to the provisional 7am to 10pm weekday programme line-up of:

· 7 – 9am breakfast show

· 9am to midday, mid-morning show

· 12pm to 1pm lunchtime show

· 1pm to 2pm alternate show - current affairs, sport, campus politics and societies

· 2pm to 4pm afternoon cruise

· 4pm to 6pm drive show

· 6pm to 7pm current affairs talk hours

· 7pm to 8pm education talk show

· 8pm to 10pm music offerings

The line-up at the weekends will offer different genres of music from a jazz hour through to hip hop and will also flight the original work of NMMU’s own talented music students.

The teams responsible for each programme will come up with names for their own shows “because we want them to take responsibility for the role,” says Musa Mosweni, who is Madibaz Radio’s programming manager.

According to Saki, Madibaz Radio is purely a student station with its focus on students and student needs.

The content mix is expected to be 80% English, 15% isiXhosa and 5% Afrikaans.

So yes, it’s all pretty exciting … now we simply wait as the final equipment is installed and the teams are trained in the various processes. This will probably take another month.

Stuart Keil and David Opperman of Magnetic Storm are installing equipment for the new Madibaz Radio.

In the interim, however, if you have questions or wish to advertise on Madibaz Radio, here are your contacts:

Programming.madibazradio@nmmu.ac.za

Sales.madibazradio@nmmu.ac.za

Marketing.madibazradio@nmmu.ac.za

Technical.madibazradio@nmmu.ac.za

Music.madibazradio@nmmu.ac.za



We wish the team all the best for Madibaz Radio.