Mbusi: Radio’s Superhero Unmasked!

Once a while, entertainment comes across a phenom. A discovery.

And Ghetto Radio has had two. One was Bonoko who has become a hit with the listeners. The other is the reason they even came across Bonoko: Mbusi.

Mbusi managed to muscle in on an otherwise virtually impregnable time slot: 2-7pm which was under Shaffie Weru and Kalekye Mumo’s lock and key. Not only did Mbusi make the time slot his, he became the only recognizeable brand associated with Ghetto Radio.

And just how did this radio emcee everyone loves do it? A rather uncanny insight into his demograph’s wants and likes and his unconventional brand of sheng.
Mbusi did his thing without care or concern about what the rest were doing. Let’s face it, there are alot of folk copying off the same cheat-sheet and that’s why most afternoon radio shows sound the same.

And save for Shaffie and Kalekye, no-one comes close to Mbusi’s near cultic following. and can you blame his fandom for liking him thus? He is one of them and he represents the youth of the ghetto without any shame or pretense. And the statistics back what i say when i talk about Mbusi’s reach.

Think about it, who did the closing skit at the Tarrus Riley concert? Who got applause from the crowd that rivalled Tarrus own?

And who has single-handedly influenced the way sheng is spoken? From his catch phrases such as “Kung’uta miwa kungu kungu”, “Bonoko-deh”, “Lion na tortoise”. No singular individual has had such a profound influence on urban culture and continues to do so without even trying.

Take a second to think about it then tip your hat to this year’s radio revelation, the enigma that caught every other industry player unawares, the phenom that is Mbusi.