Radio and TV presenter Spitch Nzawumbi chats to us about his career and his DSTV Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards nomination. By Kwanele Mathebula
Image: Spitch Nzawumbi IG
I was born in the rural Transkei in Mthatha in 1989. My dad passed away when I was a year old, and my brother and I were left to be raised by my mom. It was the three of us until our mom also died in 1997. After that my brother and I relocated to Mount Frere where my maternal grandparents continued to take care of us. I enjoyed my childhood and I credit my late grandmother u-Mamtolo for the wonderful job she did in instilling values of ubuntu and faith in me. Mount Frere shaped my character, and growing up at the dawn of democracy in our country was a plus. I was an outspoken and confident child, and I took up debate and public speaking at school. Through these, I developed an interest in creating dialogue about socio-economic issues. This is what influenced me to study journalism after high school.
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One of my fondest childhood memories was rushing home from school to listen to the radio. I loved the idea of changing the frequency and tuning into different stations for different reasons. One of my many special moments was when my grandparents would listen to a play on Umhlobo Wenene FM called Imiphanga. They would scold us for being noisy during that slot. My grandmother also slept with her radio on and whenever I’d wake up to the sound of it during the night, it always reminded me that I was home.
Being on radio for me is about serving as a mouthpiece and a voice of reason. In 2006 when in Grade 12, I visited a local radio station to see how things worked behind the scenes. The experience left me with such excitement that I knew there and then that I wanted to work in radio. I enrolled to study broadcasting and journalism at Walter Sisulu University. While there, I worked as a presenter on the campus radio station and learned about the art of broadcasting, and also finding my own voice. After graduating with a Btech in journalism I worked as a communications officer. A few years after that I joined SABC1 as host of the consumer affairs show, Yilungelo Lakho.
Starting out in the industry at a young age was both a blessing and a challenge. When I hosted Yilungelo Lakho I was 24 years old with no television experience. This meant constantly having to prove my worth and abilities, especially to mature audiences. Also, with the industry being unpredictable, where things can change in an instant, I learned that to succeed in this space I needed to spread my wings. I found different avenues to get into in order to grow my brand.
Contrary to what people see, broadcasting is not always glitz and glam. Going in I had to deal with absurd expectations from those who receive my work. There’s also the issue of competition and sometimes sabotage. Everyone is trying to get to the top and they don’t even think twice about using you as a ladder to climb on. In an industry that is as superficial as this one, to stay sane and sober, it helps to remain true to who you are, remember your values, and not be phased by little things.
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I found out about my DSTV MVCA nomination from a friend. I was in East London at an event where I was the MC. At first I thought it was a joke but my gut told me to check social media. I found messages from people congratulating me. DSTV also sent me my nomination letter later that day. It was the confirmation I needed. I was excited because I had never, even in my wildest dreams, thought I would receive such recognition in my few years in broadcasting. The letter is validation of all the effort I’ve put into making sure that I deliver quality work. It’s also a nudge and push in the right direction. All I wanted was to be good at what I do whether it being television or radio.
2020 promises to be a great year for me. I’m looking into expanding my brand and stepping out of my comfort zone. I cannot reveal what I’m planning yet but there is definitely something coming, including new endorsements. Just watch this space!
