Mjakes steals the show at the Good Radio Awards
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday November 28, 2017 15:43
The talented former host of the ER won the best weekday radio presenter and best weekday radio show awards. Mjakes, as Mojakgomo is affectionately called by his legion of fans, had an illustrious radio career and his contribution also helped his former station Duma FM to walk away with the best radio station award. Although he was sketchy at first about his next move after radio, Mjakes said it was not his wish to leave radio. “I would love to make a return to radio but unfortunately the circumstances don’t allow me,” he said.
He still intends to return to radio even if it would be just a weekly show. Mjakes who was speculated to have left Duma FM to join BBC Radio thanked Robin Chivazve, better known as Robbie Rob or Stupid 1 for introducing him to radio.
He said people thought he was too young to do radio at the age of 19 but he was so passionate and determined. Mjakes who attended the awards with his longtime girlfriend and RB2 presenter, Zanele Thato Bawe advised other radio presenters not to chase fame but rather follow their passion. The University of Botswana Media studies alumnus had a chance to say goodbye again after bidding farewell to everyone at My Kind of Place (MKOP) in September.
The night was also most special for legendary Radio Botswana Radio broadcaster Justice Gaolekwe, who was honored with the Lifetime of Good Radio Award.
Gaolekwe who came out of retirement recently to shower listeners with his legendary voice once more was happy to receive the award after reading news for decades. The legendary newsreader began his speech as if he was reading news and the hall fell silent, with the audience seemingly mesmerised at seeing the face behind the famous voice. “Everytime I read news, I pause deliberately because I think of an old man who is still picking up his chair and the old woman who is still laying the mat on the floor,” he said. Gaolekwe said his experience in radio dates as far back as 38 years ago.
He revealed that he was a teacher before coming to radio. The legendary radioman, who refers to radio as welese and English as seesemane received a standing ovation in one of the moments, which will always be treasured in the history of the newbie awards.
It must have been an even sweeter moment for the RB man as protégé Boemo Dibeela Nyadza scooped the best newsreader award while RB2’s Sunday Ballads won the best weekend radio show. Gabz FM’s Gaone Kgaswane won the best weekend radio presenter while Martin Charisma Fani from Yarona FM won the best sports presenter. The awards show, which is a brainchild of Oratile Jazzelle Kebakile, also featured the Dira radio competition where students form various schools competed to create a functional radio stereo.
Three boys from Mogoditshane Senior Secondary school won the competition and would each get a laptop and their school will receive P5000. The students tuned the radio live at the awards and expressed how thankful they are for the opportunities.
“Before this, I thought this was impossible but with all the hard work and determination we managed to do this,” one of the students said.