Like a sprained ankle, Njoki Chege ain't nothing to play with. She has been on fire for the last couple of days.
I think 'moto wa kuotea mbali' should be her anthem and Grandpa should hurry to 'ita wazima moto' because at this rate.........shhhhh, keep the fire burning.
Recently, she decided to throw her two cents on a crucial subject and here is what she thinks of Kenyan radio presenters:
Unlike most of my
friends, I am a huge fan of Kenyan radio. I listen to local radio whenever I can,
which is mostly on my way to work or school. Mention a radio station and I will
give you a list of my favourite presenters, their shows and what time they are on
air. Which is why I feel that I am an authority in the field of a local radio.
And who is better placed to give advice to future radio presenters on how to be
a radio presenter in Kenya? You guessed it. So here we go, boys and girls who
envision a bright future in the world of local radio. Do you want to be a radio
presenter in Kenya? Do you think you have what it takes? Look no further. I got
you. Grab a pen and a notebook; I am only going to say this once.
1. Have a fake accent: A
fake accent is the capital requirement for a sterling career in radio.
Radio is all about your
voice, darling. And not just a voice. The voice. You need a smooth, adenoidal
voice that will wow and awe your audience. Those TV bimbos have their curves
and bouncy weaves but you have your voice. This industry requires that you have
an extra something to make it. Your ‘extra
something’ is an accent. You need an
accent. If you don’t have an
accent, fake it. It doesn’t matter if
you grew up in Kariobangi or Rongai; you’ve
got to have an accent to make it in the Kenyan radio scene. Don’t worry about that British or
American accent nonsense. As long as you tweng your ‘r’s’ and ‘l’s’, and learn to talk really
fast, you are already halfway through the path to success. You cannot get a job
at a radio station without an accent, trust me, I work in the media and I know
these things. Whatever you do, work hard to
practice that fake
accent.
2. Be an untalented,
failing musician: You can Kiss poverty goodbye and have it easy on the FM stations
in Kenya if you are a waning musician. I will tell you a secret. The people who
make decisions on radio these days are not exactly the sharpest tools in the box-
if you know what I mean. I am told you don’t
have to be smart or brilliant to be the guy who makes decisions in a local
radio station. I am just quoting sources. So if you are a backfired musician,
the one hit wonder type, I have good news for you. Chances are you are going to
have a radio show all to
yourself. This way, you
are able to punish your audience by playing your songs during your show and in the
process kill two birds with one stone. You do your job and get free promotion
on a local radio station. It doesn’t
matter if you are that female radio presenter who cannot sing (not even
in your mother tongue). It
won’t even matter if you are that
short, male radio presenter who easily sings like a girl and dresses in
cleavage revealing t-shirts. Are you a failing musician? Report to the nearest radio
station. You are exactly what they are looking for!
3. Be semi-illiterate: To
work in one of the FM stations in Kenya, I am pleased to inform you that you do
not need to go to school. High school drop outs are ruling our airwaves and if
you are a college dropout, then I must tell you the truth, you are over
qualified to work in a local radio station. If you want to be successful in radio,
leave school right now. You see, there are two types of radio stations in Kenya,
those that employ presenters who can speak English with an accent and those who
employ presenters that barely speak English. If you are in the second category,
the ones who can barely speak English, I am convinced that one of the FM
stations is looking for you.
If you are the
semi-illiterate type that cannot make a sensible argument on air, you are
needed
at one of the FM stations
for an evening rush hour or ‘drive’ radio show. If those who are
making decisions on radio are barely schooled, what makes you think that you need
a degree to be a radio presenter?'
4. Be a comedian: A
Classic hallmark of a radio presenter in Kenya is being a comedian. Local
radio today is a laughing
matter. Are you a comedian? Are you trying to be a comedian? Do you masquerade
as a comedian, regurgitating internet and twitter jokes on evening comedy
shows? Were you a comedian but went broke? Or a comedian with a TV show that
needs publicity? Or
maybe a comedian who can
fake a Luo or Luhya accent very well? Or perhaps a comedian with a fake
Nigerian accent, name and tasteless Nigerian garb? Or a wannabe comedian that wants
to be a comedian but doesn’t
know how to? End your search. I am going to give you free career advice. Walk
into a radio station and say that you are a comedian who can fake a Luo accent
and you will be directed to the human resource office to sign a contract and
you will start as soon as you are ready!
BY NJOKI CHEGE
2 comments
Write commentsNjoki Chege, you should learn to use your head in the correct way and not as a rag..
ReplyThere are so many radio presenters who are learned to university level with diplomas and degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications and a good example is myself and am proud of my career...
You are as fake as the accents you are talking about.Respect other people's careers dear miss lost..if you didn't make it where they are,just shut the hell up and accept yourself as a failure on that side..
This is garbage.... So what?.
Reply.what difference will it make... Will you get them fired or reduce their salaries?.... Mind yo own damn business....
EmoticonEmoticon