Legendary radio DJ and media personality Bob Mabena is celebrating 25 years in the entertainment industry. Bob chats to us about his career and family.
So it’s 25 years! How has it been?
It’s been crazy! I’ve had ups, downs, flat lines, tears of joy, and tears of pain, major successes and spectacular failures. It’s been an adventure.
How have you grown in the past 20 years?
I’ve grown up in front of this country; I was 19 when I broke into the industry, now I am 46. My first four years of radio was different. I was doing what everybody thought was cool back then, which was to sound American. But after that, I started hanging with people with good influence, like the late Peter Makurube, the late Arabi Mocheke, and the late Andrew Molefe, who grounded me. I’ve grown a lot career-wise and spiritually over the years and I think it’s been visible.
When you started 25 years ago, did you think you’d end up here? What was the vision?
The vision kept changing according to what I was going through at that time and certain awakenings.
Let’s talk about radio now versus what it was then. What has changed for you?
A lot has changed, but the one thing that has stayed the same is that radio is still what people thought of it back then – a friend and companion; that will never change. As to the changes, there’s been so much. Back then, radio’s biggest competition was TV. Now we have so much competition in the form of 24-hour news channels and social media, which has a great influence on people. But, what I love about radio is that we have always been able to get around issues and remain relevant. No matter the new technology that emerges, radio has always been able to plug itself anywhere.
What have been the highlights of you career?
The highlights have been on and off radio and one of my best ones was my first day of broadcast.
You did radio at a time where mainstream careers were a thing. How were you able to convince your parents to let you try it out?
What some might see as a misfortune worked in my favour. I didn’t have parents; my mother passed away when I was 11, so I was raised by my grandmother. So there were no two parents to argue about my career. My grandmother didn’t support it at first, but she’s the one who actually gave me the bus fare to travel for my first radio job.
Speaking of mainstream careers, what advice would you give a parent who doesn’t understand what their child wants to do?
It’s tough; I’m a parent to six kids, the eldest is 25 years. None of them are the same. But, parents need to understand that things have changed. Back then, our career choices were limited. It was either you could be a teacher, lawyer or doctor. Now, the options are endless. The first thing you need to do as a parent when your child is picking a career is to keep in mind that people are now slashers (more than one job/career). Your child could be anything they want to be. I understand that the world cares more about your IQ than anything else and that could affect our thinking, but we need to let that go. There are new careers and we should let our kids be. Have an open mind and learn the new things that are happening.
You have six kids. How do you balance life and work, and making sure they are fine?
I try not to do the balance thing because it doesn’t work for me. I rather go for harmony – there will be times where I do less of the other and I have to make sure that the scale is balanced. I’ve learnt that you have to be very present. I’ve got four girls and two boys, and I do my best to spend time with them. Sometimes I take the girls on a trip and spend a weekend with them, and the following week, I do the same for the boys.
What do you love most about being a father to four girls?
I have learnt from my girls that women have the power to grow and test you. I remember when one of my daughters experienced her first heartbreak; she was moody and broke dishes. That when I realised the importance of being aware as a parent. I appreciate how close I am with my daughters. They even called me when their periods started; that’s when I realised I needed to think of myself as a parent, not as a man. I also love how affectionate girls are and that has taught me a lot. My girls have tested, challenged and stretched me but at the same time, they’ve smothered me with so much love.
How are you so comfortable talking to your girls about periods and heartbreaks?
It started when I was 5 years old; my mother was very harsh on me. She always emphasised knowledge. She didn’t just give me a book; she forced a book on me. So, from a very young age I became inquisitive and spent every minute I had reading. Through reading and being interested, I got to understand a lot of things. I was also raised by a lot of women who were abused, so I developed a soft side for women. It’s through seeing and the wonderful women who influenced me that have made me understand women.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a biography. It’s not about my life though, because the tabloids do that for me for free (laughs). I’m working on a book about my career.
You have the Jammer Journey 25 coming up soon. What is that about?
My business partner asked me if I realised that I’m consumed by everything around me, but haven’t stopped to celebrate what you’ve done for the past 25 years. And that’s when the idea came about.
Get a chance to Celebrate With Bob?
Bob will be celebrating his 25-year journey in the entertainment industry in a very special way. The event will be called the Jammer Journey. Mabena is inviting his friends and fans to get up close and personal with him by joining him on his Jammer Journey weekend getaways, starting from 4 to 6 September 2015 at Sun City.
The weekend getaways will include experiences such as golf, game drives, spa treatments and other activities with the radio star.
The full package for this costs R9 450 for two people and is all inclusive.
Book by calling 0833019663 or wendy@chicafrican.com
