A local South African radio station, Tambo FM, has won the Best Radio Station Award at the Emerge Africa Awards.
According to the judging committee, Tambo FM has become a beacon of entertainment, information and community engagement.
“Tambo FM has become a beacon of entertainment, information, and community engagement. Their talented team of broadcasters, DJs, and producers consistently bring forth captivating shows, diverse music, and engaging discussions that resonate with their audience,” said the award committee.
The judges said the radio station had successfully created a platform that entertained, educated and connected listeners, making a positive impact on the community.
Tambo FM station manager and founder Vuyolwethu Ntabankulu and his co-workers are celebrating the Emerge Africa award amid the station’s three years in existence.
After three years, with an award in the bag and a continued vision to empower the Garden Route youth, Tambo FM is continuing to expand its staff, audience and influence in the region.
The community radio station visited Mossel Bay recently to show off its Emerge Africa award for best radio station to some of the people who made it possible.
The award arrived in the hands of station manager Ntabankulu, two months after the station was announce the winner.
He said it would not have been possible without the help of the station’s supporters and his team of volunteers.
“My volunteers and I have come a long way. I wish I could employ 16 of my workers but unfortunately as a radio that is still growing that would be impossible,” Ntabankulu said.
Vuyolwethu Mfumbe, one of the six volunteers who will now be permanent employees of the station, said he was happy about their first win and honored to be part of the station in Mossel Bay.
Mfumbe is a catalyst for different shows on the radio, including the popular “Mirror of Society” which is focused on promoting community developments and discussing social ills like gender-based violence.
“I am grateful for our growth, and in the future, I see myself going nationally,” Mfumbe said.
Another former volunteer who recently became a permanent employee, Buseka Nomandla, also known as Rizah, said they were all over the moon about the accolade and the support of their 2,000 listeners.
Tambo FM, which is named after anti-apartheid activist Oliver Tambo, broadcasts in 80% isiXhosa and 20% English.
The station’s programs and founder Ntabankulu have since been nominated for three more awards.