YFM Breakfast Show DJ, Smash Afrika shares how his love for radio started and his success tips to young people
What inspired your love for radio, was it something you wanted to do from an early age?
No, radio wasn’t something I’ve always wanted to do.I wanted to be an actor. I fell in love with radio the day I was invited in at a campus radio station by a friend of mine back in 2008.
Journey us into how you started your radio career and what were the challenges you faced when you first started?
I started my radio career in 2009 at Kovsie FM at the Universtiy of the Free State. I hosted the weekday dedication show in the evening. Later that year I started doing radio every day. I read sports on the afternoon drive show, hosted the dedication show in the evening and Co presented a weekend drive time show. The challenge was balancing work, studies, and radio. I ended up having to drop out and focused on radio and working for my dad as his PA. The challenge is balance even today but I make it work.
What have been some of your highlights at YFM?
Being hired to co-present a drive time show with Tholi B, then later being asked to host their first reality show “Ground Zero”. To be honest my whole stay at YFM has been a highlight. I was privileged to host a midnight show, an early breakfast show to now hosting a breakfast show in a space of three years.
Do you plan on building a long term career in radio, or might you branch into television as well?
I’ll do radio for as long as I have an opinion on life. Most importantly, radio allows me to make it better for those coming after me. TV, TV, TV oh TV watch this space.
Describe the rest of your day after your morning show, Smash and Grab on YFM
It is never the same; I have meetings, gym, freelance work, MC gigs and sometimes TV interviews or appearances.
Describe your personality in three words?
Real, Energetic and Loud
What was your first job and how did it shape you to being the DJ you are today?
Funny enough, It was when I was a waiter at Spur in 2007 where a customer suggested I try radio because of my voice and personality.
What is the best career advice you have received that you still apply?
Do what you love. Burning Bridges is a NO NO!
What do you love about your job?
Everything, I don’t do things I don’t Love
As a young person, how do you commemorate youth month, and how do you help make the South Africa you want to live in generally?
I try to do things that will leave SA better than I found it, and also living out my purpose through my passions.
If you could change anything about the industry you are in, what would it be?
Representation, from Lawyers, to Unions and Skills & Talent development. We need more of that, talent often gets ripped off because they don’t know their worth and sometimes their rights.
What is your advice to young people who want to make a success of themselves, especially those who want to have a career in broadcasting or entertainment?
If you love it (not fame) you will go far, if it comes easy it will probably go easily as well. Be yourself, we have enough fakes already.
Catch Smash on YFM’s breakfast show weekdays from 6-9 AM.
Connect with him on:
https://www.facebook.com/SmashAfrikaSA/
Instagram: @smashafrika
Twitter: @smashafrika
