KHOZI FM is not like other radio stations scattered around the world. In addition to pleasing its listeners, Ukozi is the home of the famous nation, Zulu. This station provides information, it also teaches but it is also a source of protection and growth of the Zulu language.
In other words, Ukhozi plays a major role in developing the Zulu language and culture as it is a public broadcasting service (PBS) station. Channels of this type are designed to inform, educate and entertain in a specific language as we see Umhlobo Wenene, which focuses on the Xhosa language.
That is why the changes in a station like this affect many because its listeners have a voice, and rightly so, in the management of the radio station. Eagle has recently changed the programs, including new young broadcasters. This is a happy thing and it shows that they are preparing for the future.
It is a difficult yoke for the managers of this station because they say that they ensure that Ukhozi FM continues to be valuable to listeners, but they also have to be able to attract advertisers so that the station can make a profit which is what it lives on.
Here is the challenge that they present to managers: that even when things change, money is not the priority and they forget what the station represents. The language must be careful that it is not confusing because that affects the listeners in something they have deep feelings about.
What is spoken in the Eagle reaches many people, so deviance can end up being a normal way of speaking since it is also demeaning to the language. Broadcasters are facing the challenge of coming up with something different and attracting their peers to this station, but they have been protecting this treasure that the listeners of this radio station do not hear about.
It is in this place that new broadcasters will be tested because it is not only about speed and skill, but stepping on a line that is acceptable to the owners of the story – the listeners.
We have seen in the past few days on social media that people are criticizing the new road presenter Nokwanda Tema. Although there was no harm in what he said or did, what remained clear is that the Eagle’s listener is a policeman “guarding his route”.
The good thing is that there are linguists working with Ukhozi who can support the radio with words that sound right and work in this modern age so that broadcasters don’t have to resort to English too often when they are struggling to cope with the language problem.