BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – Radio legends who once graced the EBIS’ airwaves yesteryears, were brought to broadcast on EBIS today to bring the experience they gathered in the industry, which cannot be bought anywhere.
This was said by Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services Director (EBIS) Director Sabelo Dlamini, when he shared with this publication on why they hosted EBIS radio legends today on EBIS 1 (SiSwati Channel) and EBIS 2 (English Channel).
The radio legends were hosted by the country’s national radio station to celebrate the World Radio Day. The legends started from as early as 7am on the SiSwati channel, when former Radio Journalist Enock Qedusizi Ndlovu hosted Letishisako (a current affairs programme).
Ndlovu, who is also former Matsanjeni South Member of Parliament (MP), co-hosted the programme with Reverend Mazibuko of Alliance Church. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo took the 8am to 10am morning slot.
The other legends who were also on radio during the course of the day include S’gayoyo Magongo, Makhosi Khoza, and King’s Office Director of Communication Percy Simelane, Joseph ‘Magilogilo’ Dlamini, Lindiwe ‘Yellow Rose Mavuso, Rogers Mamba, Senzo Malaza, and Mfundo ‘Baby B’ Mndzebele.
Dlamini shared with this publication how the radio station came up with the concept, which was declared by the United Nations World Radio Day to honour and respect the impact of broadcasting. World Radio Day is an international day celebrated on February 13 each year.
The day was decided by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on November 3, 2011 during its 36th conference. It was later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on January 14, 2013 as an international day.
Dlamini said: “The theme this year is to celebrate 100 years of radio entertainment and teaching, which is in line with what we stand for, hence we picked the radio veterans who will be broadcasting throughout the day to teach us how it was done back then. We were happy we were able to reach them.”
The Director added that in the morning, they had veterans such as Ndlovu and Khoza. “Today we already had veteran Qedusizi Ndlovu who hosted Letishisako, which he co-hosted with Mbabane Alliance Church Reverend Dr Johannes Mazibuko. On the English Channel, Makhosi Khoza took care of the morning show. We are pleased that the veterans came through and we still have more coming,” shared the Director.
He also revealed that Sharon Maziya was also one of the EBIS presenters many years ago and she will be live on air today from 5pm. “We will also have Dr Maxwell Mthembu in the afternoon to remind the nation how it was back then. We are happy that they came and honoured our invitation because their experience cannot be bought. It is their experience that we want to tap into to teach the new presenters how it was done before,” he said.
According to the director, they are planning to introduce what he termed as visual radio. Visual radio is the listeners’ ability to listen while being able to see what was going on in studio, where the broadcasters were working.
“We will soon launch visual radio, which we are trying out today. Some of the programmes will now be streamed live. It’s important to move with the times. Programming has changed, but it must not kill the core of the radio as a constant reliable source of information,” said Dlamini.
He also shared with this publication that soon they would have turntables that were digital for disck jockeys (DJs) to play their sets live, so that one could listen and also watch. Dlamini highlighted that they were accommodating all generations, especially the youth that wanted to watch and see.
