Impersonator a big internet hit
A KENTON-ON-SEA part-time gardener and building site labourer has become an internet sensation for his amazing ability to impersonate Umhlobo Wenene FM station presenters.
Videos of Andile Kani, aka “WaRuna”, imitating prime-time radio personalities are going viral on social network sites, generating millions of views.
He shares videos of himself on his Facebook page imitating almost the entire lineup of personalities including Putco Mafani, Amaza Ntshanga, Pastor Nozewu, and the late Saba Mbixane and soccer commentator Zingisile Matiso.
Kani’s exceptional talent does not come as a surprise to many – after all, he is the nephew of legendary theatre maestro and television actor John Kani.
Following his new-found fame, Kani, 33, was called by the station to perform his creative mimicry live on air at a breakfast show at Umhlobo Wene FM last week.
The performance left many listeners begging for more.
Kani has many Facebook users intrigued with how he effortlessly impersonates the radio personalities.
He does it sitting outside his home in an imaginary studio and using his clenched fist as a microphone.
His videos show that he understands the seven Ps of on-air presenting, starting with perfect posture before nailing the pitching, projection, pronunciation, pauses, pacing and, most important, personality.
Kani said he discovered his talent at school after he started imitating soccer commentator Matiso, who was his role model. He was 12 at the time. “I used to do live soccer matches and then people started asking me to imitate other presenters, so from there I just grew and grew.” He is a huge Orlando Pirates fan. “I’m one of those people who muted the TV volume and switched on the radio to listen to Matiso’s commentary,” he said.
Kani leaves many social media users in stitches when he puts soccer analyst Barracks Ncedana’s occasionally-confusing live match analysis under the spotlight.
Ncedana has in the past come under fire from the station’s listeners for his slow-paced and questionable soccer analysis.
Ever since his becoming a hit on social media, event organisers have been booking Kani to perform at their events. “Sometimes I go to school concerts and weddings to entertain the crowd,” he said.
“I now take my work very seriously because this means I must work hard to be able to imitate a wide variety of personalities so that I don’t bore the audience with the same material.”