IN the wake of barrage of heated political news hitting the airwaves, Radio Phoenix decided to feature comedians on last Friday’s ‘Let the People Talk’ programme. Listeners had more than what they expected. Laughter!
What do you expect when men in Topsy Sikalinda, Oziaus Kaundula Banda, Pakheni Makowani, Chibwe Katebe and Saulos share a studio; there was laughter and gnashing of eyes as the funny men ‘assaulted’ the airwaves.
Listeners were treated to a relaxing moment, a programme different from the usual hard talk that has previously characterized the phone-in programme.
Typical of them, their response to a caller who wanted to know what that particular programme was all about, answer; “We are laughing.”
Then there was ‘soccer commentaries’ with the 11, January 20, 2015 presidential aspiring candidates turned into a line up!
United Party for National Development’s Hakainde Hichilema as leading attacking sticker while Patriotic Front’s Edgar Lungu, as defender.
What ingenious of a radio station to have spent the entire two hours of nothing but laughter!
ANIMAL WELFARE
It is rare for radio stations to discuss matters concerning animals, yet Radio Phoenix’s Lusaka Animal Welfare Society programme has become popular and informative every Saturday afternoons.
Alif Kalipinde, otherwise known as Alkal has been featuring Caroline to sensitize listeners on the dangers of animal cruelty.
One hopes that other sponsors learn from both Lusaka Animal Welfare Society and Phoenix to give space for such unique programmes.
SIG TUNE
When the song; ‘Dangerous’ played in full on Radio Phoenix, one would have thought it was like hearing ZNBC’s Radio 4 Deejay Jack ‘Hot Stepper’ Mwale announcing his arrival on air.
This was so, because the song is associated with ‘Hot Stepper’ who has identified himself with that song as his signature. Such is how important ‘Signature tunes can be, they become synonymous with presenters.
RCV
Radio Christian Voice (RCV) gave listeners behind the scenes presentation by playing slip ups of what happens in the studio.
As raw as some of the recordings sounded, they provided the other side of radio presentation, more like taking listeners right in the studios.
Listeners heard, repeated recordings of advertisements, live reporting and news reading and the joking that goes among the presenters on shifts.
ZNBC
The Event, a radio programme on ZNBC presented by Suwilanji Siame every Sundays at 21:00 hours revealed the Chinese language as the most spoken language in 2014. English was second while French as the 10th most spoken language.
Suwilanji gets on the programme with sounds of loud applause to which he responds with ; “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Only when a presenter is presenting a live programme can listeners be convinced that the audience is real, otherwise he could be said to be responding to an imaginary studio audience.
DISABILITY TALK
Dr Charles Mwape, who is regional disability policy analyst for SADC and inclusive development advisor for centre for disability development research, law and policy, was on ZNBC’s Radio 2 morning discussion with Ahmed Mwape last Tuesday.
The discussion on the plight of the disabled in Zambia was exceptional that provided a platform for disabled personnel’s needs to be heard.
MILLENIUM RADIO
On Millennium Radio was a duo; Musenge and Juma who presented a programme reacting to Newspaper headlines.
AKM noted that it was wrong for Juma to have said that she would be back on the SET; instead, she should have said back on the air, because she was on radio and not television.
During the same programme, Musenge urged electorates to keep the vote FOR themselves instead of saying keep the vote TO themselves.
DEAR JACK
Mr Sam Kasankha made the following observation; “Advise our newsreaders to differentiate the following words: Coalition (pronounced kolishon) meaning an amalgamation, and collision (pronounced kolizhon) which is a crash.
Also to retaliate is to fight back while to reiterate is to state again. They are usually confused to be the same. They are different in meaning and pronunciations.”
NAMES
Mr Mwewa, kindly render professional guidance to the issue of stage name composition.
Tell me, is it anything meaningless or any weird combination of words, including style that can pass for stage name?
Take for instance this paragraph of a stage (booth) name: Man of Information, Son of a Carpenter.
Equally, I have heard of a radio deejay whose stage name runs something like ‘Minister of smart and tucking affairs…’ is a stage name supposed to be that mouthful?
Regards
RK
Ndola
*MONIKER’S or nicknames for radio presenters are meant to be simple to pronounce and rhyme.
Just like names of Radio stations that ought to be short and simple to mention, in fact, the shorter and simple the name, the more it is remembered.
Radio has had names like DJ CJ for Chella Katwishi at ZNBC and later at Phoenix, Blaze, Shock, Alkal, DBM, Dazzle, Lady MC, Roxy, Lucy, Chriszo, Ama ten ten, Kwaza, Black Mama Jammer, Double M T and others.
Stay tuned, don’t touch that dial! – jackmwewa@gmail.com   0955115777