Goaba the youngest local radio talk-show host

Gasebalwe Seretse
Correspondent | Tuesday May 21, 2013 00:00

 

 Showbiz had to do much convincing before the young presenter from Menyatso ward in Serowe could agree to an interview.  'My love for radio started when I was at high school. I listened to radio personality, Robbie Rob a lot and I liked what he was doing and my greatest wish at the time was to meet him one day,' he says.

As Lady Luck would have it, Mojakgomo had a chance meeting with Robin Chivazve, better known as Robbie Rob at a Gaborone cafe in 2010. He approached the giant of the airwaves and told him about his love for radio and Robbie Rob asked him to meet him at the Duma FM studios the following Monday - and the rest, as they say, is history. 'I was on vacation so I was given a chance to have an in-house training at Duma FM while in turn I produced Robbie RobÕs show,' the former University of Botswana (UB) media studies student said adding that one of those people who trained him was the popular DJ, Sidney Baitsile also known as DJ Sid. Mojakgomo started the in-house training in the winter of 2010 till the festive season, producing the Robbie Rob show.

The following year he finally started acting as a stand-in on a number of shows at Duma FM.  Asked how it felt the first time on air, the youthful presenter said, 'I was very uneasy and I kept wondering who was listening to me and if I made sense to my listeners. When I left the studios, I kept asking myself what I could have done to make the show better.'

Fortunately for Mojakgomo, all he got afterwards was positive feedback. The young presenter however, got his greatest breakthrough last year when he was given his own talk show, Declaration, on Duma FM. The show, which addresses socio-political issues, has enabled him to engage most of BotswanaÕs political giants including Cabinet ministers and parliamentarians.'I have talked to almost all ministers and I can safely say the President is one of the few I haven't engaged,' Mojakgomo said jokingly.

He cites his chat with DIS director Isaac Kgosi as one of the highlights of his career so far. His chats with Assistant Minister Botlogile Tshireletso and opposition leader Gomolemo Motswaledi are among the most memorable, he says. Outside Declaration, the young presenter has chatted with international artist like Lira, Ringo and Euphonic among others.He believes that he is good at his job because he does his research on the Internet and reads newspapers.

Asked if fame has not gone to his head like others in the entertainment world, Mojakgomo said, 'I don't behave like someone in the limelight. I have chosen to keep myself in check at all times because that's who I am. In fact many people don't know that I am shy since I am on radio.'

The talk-show host further added that he is a teetotaller and that his love for people is inspirational enough to drive him to do the best in his job.  He said that one of his favourite hobbies is visiting his family farm near Orapa as he has great love for cattle. He also said that his best friend is his Smartphone whose many applications keep him informed about what is going in the world around him.

The presenter, who recently completed his media studies, said that he is waiting to spread his wings in the broadcasting world and he is confident of getting a full-time job soon.