Star FM’s #ZimNtulikazi certified success by listeners

STAR FM’S new programme #ZimNtulikazi ( Ntulikazi being the Ndebele word for July), which celebrates local music, has been certified as a success by listeners.

The month-long celebration that came to an end last week saw the station playing 100 percent Zimbabwean music.

Star FM’s programming manager Napoleon Nyanhi said musicians visited Star FM last month to express gratitude for the initiative which saw only local music being played on the country’s leading radio station. Zimbabweans who have made a mark in different fields across the world were also celebrated.

“This helped the station to gain ground and solidify our position as the urban radio station that is championing progressive things. We ventured deep into Zimbabwean culture on Wednesday nights. We also featured restaurants that specialise in traditional dishes on the Breeze.

“The 326Xpress had a Zim Knowledge quiz and the theme culminated in the ‘Best of ZimNtulikazi’s top ten countdown’ which was hosted by DJ Mox on Friday the 29th of July. This was a chart of the best Zimbabwean songs in July and on number one was Gary Tight featuring Willom Tight with a song called Tight Tune,” Nyanhi said.

He added that a significant percentage of Zimbabweans who did not know that July was called Ntulikazi in Ndebele now knew the word; thanks to the Star FM theme.

Zimpapers’ public relations and corporate affairs manager, Beatrice Tonhodzayi said the decision by the station to honour all things Zimbabwean in July had allowed the country to shine. She applauded the station for always coming up with ‘firsts’ that shake up the radio listening experience.

“It’s exciting to see Star FM coming up with these innovative ideas and themes, which always bring excitement to the radio listening experience. A lot of people were sceptical at first. I saw posts on social media where listeners questioned where Star FM would get enough music from Zimbabwe only to last the whole month, but the station did it well and what a listening pleasure it was to hear some songs which were last played ages ago; being played. It put our local music on the world map.

“What we are most excited about as a corporate is that in running with this theme, the station placed Zimbabwean music, achievements, personalities and businesses on the map.

“This is in line with government’s policy to push local products and services and we are glad that our radio station; through the ZimNtulikazi theme played a part in pushing brand Zimbabwe,’ she said.

Meanwhile, this month Star FM’s theme digs into the seeds of greatness planted by the liberation war heroes to expose present day legends. The theme of the month of August has been dubbed #Legendary.