Pretoria - Popular broadcaster Given Mabunda has ticked-off yet another item on his career wish-list by joining Munghana Lonene FM.
After cutting his broadcasting teeth at Tshwane FM, Mabunda moved up north in 2019, where he presented Limpopo’s Capricorn FM CTM Urban Hot 40 show every Saturday.
In June last year he took a break from radio to explore other things in line with what he studied in university – supply chain management. However, the broadcasting bug bit him and he is back from his sabbatical, this time on the Polokwane-based SABC’s Xitsonga radio station with 1.4 million listeners.
“Working for the SABC, Munghana Lonene FM, in particular, has always formed part of the list of stations I dreamt of working work for,” he said.
Munghana Lonene FM was looking for fresh talent for its Saturday night party show. He entered and was successful, joining the station on July 1.
He hosts Hi Pfurha Malangvi on Saturdays, 10pm to 1am – a party show which plays the hottest songs to bring the listener the ultimate experience on the radio..
Mabunda was also given the opportunity to host Campus Connection every Sunday from 10pm to 1am. The show is “all things students”, and the focus is on students and their challenges.
“The beauty of this opportunity is I get to broadcast in my home language, Xitsonga. The previous stations I worked for, Tshwane FM and Capricorn FM, were both English,” he said.
“It’s a new chapter in my career and I’d love the listener to be part of this new journey. The mandate hasn’t changed. We still present radio that not only entertains or educates, but that creates a happy society.
“It’s very important to be yourself; do not try and be someone; be you. Always understand that radio is a powerful tool and it’s important that you go into it for the right reasons. And always follow your dreams and be prepared to fight for them.”
After making a name for himself in the capital city, the man previously known as Given Littleman got an opportunity to “sit-in” on Capricorn FM in 2017.
Two years later, he was offered a contract to host the music show.
From the age of 15, Mabunda’s passion for radio was already burning.
He started as a music compiler, and eventually hosted his first radio show called RockaFella.
Mabunda was born in 1996 in Tzaneen, but spent most of his life in Gauteng. His upbringing was similar to that of other children, he said.
“It was filled with a lot of music and playing, but the love for deejaying began at the age of 12.
“With radio, my mother wanted to be a radio broadcaster and I went with her to some of the auditions.
“I attended Grade 1 in Parktown Public School and later moved to Piet van Vuuren Primary School, also in Joburg, as well as Burgher Right Primary School. My secondary education was at Elandspoort High School,” Mabunda said.
He holds a national diploma in logistics and an advanced diploma in supply chain management from the Tshwane University of Technology.
Remembering his radio debut at the age of 15, he said: “It was in 2011 and I was in Grade 9. I hosted and co-hosted a Saturday radio show called RockaFella on Tshwane FM.
“The story of me joining radio is interesting. At the age of 13, I was a big fan of Tshwane FM. I used to call on every show. I then got an invite to visit the station, and that became a routine every Saturday.
“I learnt about radio, to understand what it meant. Two years later, the host of RockaFella didn’t pitch, and I offered to host the show.
“The rest is history,” he said.
Fast-forward to 2021, and Mabunda is host on one of the most popular commercial radio station in the country, Capricorn FM.
He is drawing from the experiences gained over the years – from the days of RockerFella to Tshwane FM’s breakfast show and the afternoon drive.
While with the afternoon show, he was nominated for Best Presenter and Show at the Liberty Radio Awards.
Mabunda is also one of the most young talented DJs around.
“My first gig, apart from playing at high school balls, was at Cappello Sunnypark, Pretoria.
“In 2016, I was nominated Best House DJ at the 012 Hall of Fame awards, as well as in 2017. I was nominated Best DJ at the Pheli Awards.”
Not only is Given on the radio or in the DJ booth, he hosts shows across the country called 2 Hours Of Given Littleman, which he does to further grow his brand and his reach, and to get people accustomed to the type of music he plays as a club DJ.
“It’s a way to work with other brands that might be serving to the contribution of my growth,” he said.
He has already hosted a few with success. However, with his recent name change, the concept is now called 2 Hours Of Given Mabunda.
Pretoria News