DJ Sbu Leope and his team have launched another online radio station called Homegrown Radio in an effort to open up the radio broadcasting industry.
The new online radio station was born out of the radio training programme I was Born to Speak on Radio, an initiative of Leadership 2020. The station started during the lockdown last year and plans to empower young people who have a passion for radio broadcasting.
Chairman of Leadership 2020 and co-founder Leope said Homegrown Radio, located in Centurion, has students from Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya on the course and looks forward to developing relations with these countries.
The radio station plays only African music, it features only new talent from its radio training programme, and its authentic African positioning includes a focus on agriculture, entrepreneurship, entertainment and Africa.
“We stand for empowerment of the African child," Leope said. "We are here to show the next generation that it is totally possible to make a difference in the world of others by creating the runway for them to walk, run, and eventually fly.
"This has been the Leadership 2020 model for development since 2013. Today we are proud to represent over 100 students on our 12-part training programme who all have the exclusive opportunity, once graduated, to join our new baby, Homegrown Radio – Africa’s Gift to its Tribe.
“We want the young talented individuals who are hungry for success, dedicated and, most importantly, willing to be trained by us. We don’t mind how small the social media account is. We are creating a Homegrown hub of companies that integrate with each other and it is our focus to give the young people who join us an experience no university or degree can buy at a fraction of the price.”
Lungile Ntshangase, a graduate of the Leadership 2020 radio training programme who holds the head of marketing position, said radio was her calling.
“I joined the radio training programme thinking I was going into a career in news reading. After eight weeks on the course, numerous webinars with radio legends and professionals from across Africa and the UK, I was inspired to do more with my passion for radio.
"Today I am proud to say that thanks to 'I was Born to Speak on Radio' I have had the chance to interview DJ Black Coffee, join a unique family of radio enthusiasts and it’s my delight and an absolute privilege to be doing what I love daily which is to promote and market an authentic product, Homegrown Radio.”
Homegrown runs with live programming on weekdays from 8am until 8pm.
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