People don't usually honour and pay tribute to talent when those who have it are still alive.
But South African communications executive Albi Modise has been appreciating and doing it on radio personalities. Today Modise paid tribute to legendary Zimbabwean radio star Tich Mataz.
But South African communications executive Albi Modise has been appreciating and doing it on radio personalities. Today Modise paid tribute to legendary Zimbabwean radio star Tich Mataz.
"Tich Mataz (Tichafa Matambanadzo) was the real razzmatazz when he waltzed into our lives after landing the coveted afternoon drive show gig on Radio Bop," Modise says.
"Not every Tim, Dick and Harrry got a gag at Bop.
"Mataz took over The Safe Drive Show (from Bob Mabena)."
"Not every Tim, Dick and Harrry got a gag at Bop.
"Mataz took over The Safe Drive Show (from Bob Mabena)."
"It would signal the battle of the airwaves between Tich Mataz on drive and Bob Mabena who was also manning the same slot on Metro (after leaving Bop).
"Some friends of mine would later confess how conflicted they were having to move their dials between the two stations (Bop with Tich Mataz and Metro with Bob Mabena - when he died commentators in South Africa said radio had died). It was a star-studded afternoon," Modise says.
"Tich had this brilliant and creative ability to play with his links in a manner that allowed his show to be one beautiful radio tapestry. Clean, flawless and use of colour to tell stories. He was a colourful jock, literally and figuratively.
"Tich Mataz would join a sizeable number of jocks that left the station post-elections. Keith Lindsay was the station manager at Radio 5 when Tich joined the station. I used to listen to Keith Lindsay on Radio 5 on Sundays doing the Countdown.
"He became the first black broadcaster on a predominantly white station, Radio 5 in 1994. Radio 5 would later be renamed 5FM.
Wet Wet Wet’s Love is all around us was making waves globally and Mataz would play this song religiously. To this day I associate this song with Tich.
Wet Wet Wet’s Love is all around us was making waves globally and Mataz would play this song religiously. To this day I associate this song with Tich.
"Mataz would move to midday to 3pm slot on 5FM until his deportation in 1998 on charges of obtaining his South African ID fraudulently.
Tich Mataz’s radio career in South Africa was cut short while his radio career was at its peak. He was at the prime of his radio life...
Tich Mataz’s radio career in South Africa was cut short while his radio career was at its peak. He was at the prime of his radio life...
"Thanks for beautiful radio years Tichafa Matambanadzo."
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