Championing Local Music: A Eulogy of Mohlophehi Mokoena

Fallen community broadcaster, Champion Mokoena, lived a life totally sold out to radio, eulogises Ace Moloi.

In a podcast interview, celebrated Lesedi FM breakfast presenter, Ba2cada, shared that in his days at the leading Soweto-based community radio station, Jozi FM, he was – together with other local presenters – the link between publicists and the township, having built a firm brand as an authoritative, magnetic and relevant personality in the area for all types of product activations. It didn’t matter how popular an act or brand were, they needed Jozi FM – and Ba2cada’s street power – to accomplish their brand objectives in Soweto.

In so saying, Ba2cada demonstrated the unique power of local radio, and why communities need strong broadcasting institutions. Vitally, his anecdotes validated the power of community support for local talent and platforms. When we love what is ours, we set the agenda for external stakeholders such as promoters that nothing about us should happen without us.

Indeed, when radio was still an undisputed leader in infotainment, every hood had its own fighter to bet on against popular presenters. Places like Vaal had the likes of Thabo Mokone, or Shaun Dihoro in Mangaung. Growing up in Qwa-Qwa at a time when our community radio station was a powerhouse, presenters such as Skuzabel were our radio demigods whom we trusted to whip every other presenter, especially the SABC ones.

Here in Mangaung, with Shaun Dihoro having hung his headphones after great years of running street radio, we went a number of years without a reigning king for Sesotho radio. Although many young and very gifted Sesotho presenters filled up spaces at local stations, nobody was crowned champion of the airwaves. This was so, until Motheo FM signed one loud, electrifying and talkative jock named Mohlophehi Mokoena, or Champion to his addicts, from CUT FM and allocated all the big shows to him.

Few of us could have predicted then that in no time, Champion would become the most loved local broadcaster, emerging as the new sheriff in town.

Champion breakfast

At CUT FM, Champion did different shows, including weekend breakfast and a night time music requests show. Upon joining Motheo FM, he rose to fame as an afternoon drive host. But it was the Saturday charts show that unlocked his potential, making him arguably the most popular radio jock in his generation and region. During the week, Champion co-presented Motheo FM’s breakfast show alongside the thick and creamy voice of TV host and MC, Nonkululeko Kingi, who is now with Lesedi FM’s current affairs department. A marriage arranged by the gods of radio, Champ and Nonkululeko grew into crowd favourites, adored for their transferrable energy, a chemistry most lovers could only wish for and conversations that kept the listener engaged beyond the duration of the show.

With this pair, Motheo FM managed to not only revive its breakfast offering, which had been uninspiring since Fana Mini’s departure, but also overhaul its entire image. The station secured Vodacom as a sponsor with naming rights for the breakfast show and created a profitable product for local businesses, including Mimosa Mall which traditionally channelled its advertising budget to OFM, to buy into. The station was also given a thumbs-up by industry experts when it scooped a national radio awards nomination in the community breakfast category. It’s no surprise, therefore, that Motheo FM’s management has renamed its morning drive show after Champion.

Saturdays belong to Motheo FM

Champion, who was a newsreader at some point and also anchored a current affairs show at campus radio, lived a life totally sold out to the medium of radio. He believed in leveraging the power of radio to not only entertain but also empower. His listeners placed their hopes in him, trusting him with solutions to their personal struggles, such as not having electricity. Parents were particularly fond of him for his motivational truths, which he dished out with a twist of fun for heightened impact, in the process cultivating a responsible, inspired and resilient generation. With his time and star power, he organised charity events to uplift youth in underprivileged communities and donated essentials such as food to the needy.

Champ belonged to a younger generation crafting the future of Sesotho radio. He climbed the ladder one show at a time, unfazed by how long it’s taking. Like all young radio heads, he struggled to locate his own voice. But with growth and a learning attitude, he freed himself from trying to sound like someone he wasn’t, subsequently morphing into a very dangerous on-air rival to go up against in the same timeslot on Saturdays.

Champ’s presenting style resonated across the listenership base, his sharp voice blaring in townships and suburbs alike, cementing him as a music radio authority while throwing dust particles in the eyes of the dazzled competition. He went head to head with major radio stations seeking a piece of the local audience, and walked away with the largest pound of flesh, his distinct laughter rubbing salt to the wound(ed). No other radio station mattered when the champ was on air.

There’s more the station accomplished through him than just monopolising the space, specifically on Saturdays. Through him, Motheo FM pivoted a successful music charts show that introduced us to fresh sounds from the region, leading songs in the country and a focus on Africa. To many local artists, Champion’s show was the plug they needed for publicity. He hyped local producers so much one would have no choice but to stream their music and add an extra number to their online following. In fact, some hours before his tragic death, I was as usual listening to his Saturday Avenue lunch show, which he started doing after leaving the charts show. Even then, he had a music group in studio, continuing to use his influence to be a patron of the arts.

Se e tsamaile ntja ya teng, Mokoena Champion

On the 2^nd of June 2024, with chilling sorrow and shocking disbelief, we woke up to news that on the side of the N8, a star was dimmed before rising to national splendour and a dream shattered before its glorious manifestation.

A local radio giant was cut off at the knees, his demise shaking the whole city as he landed mightily to the ground.

A rare talent was stolen before multiplying as the Lord commanded.

The hit-and-run that dumped him breathless on the road also cost this city its pulse.

Today, a child is left to grow without a father, and a young woman has lost a building partner, soul buddy, husband, friend and lover.

Champ was a jewel we couldn’t wait to showcase to the rest of the country. That a couple of radio seasons passed by without the SABC snatching him was a bitter tutorial about God’s divine timing, a truth emphasised brutally by his killing. Truly, the local radio community lost a success story that was yet to climax.

No other time has been darker, no other news sadder and absolutely no other mourned by so many people. To remix Champ’s popular Top 40 intro: E se e tsamaile ntja ya teng. Mokoena Champion. Kwena ya madiba.

The radio loving kids don’t have anyone to put their money on anymore, like we did during our childhood, to whip national broadcasters in the radio ring. Their champ, our champ, is no more!

May the soul of Mohlophehi “Champion” Mokoena rest in the excellence his spirit will forever be remembered for. And may he never stop talking to us on the airwaves.