Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

GETTING nominated for the 6th edition of the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) has become a dream come true for Victoria Falls-based Breeze FM’s executive producer and presenter Thanduxolo Nizbert Ndlovu.

Popularly known as SharksNova or Mude-mude on radio, the personality is nominated in the Outstanding radio DJ category where he will battle it out with Mjox from Skyz Metro FM and Khulumani FM’s Cde Phil.

SharksNova, 29, after 11 years in the media industry, had almost given up on getting nominated for any award.

“After 11 years of being a radio personality, finally I get a nomination. I’d told myself that I wasn’t going to apply for any award, but let my works speak and have people judge me.

As such, this nomination came as a surprise at a time when I was about to give up on thinking of any nomination,” said SharksNova.

Cde Phil

SharksNova said he started off as a waiter in South Africa where he was spotted by the late Joe Mafela, who upon hearing his voice, told him that he was in the wrong profession. He suggested that he tries out a career in broadcasting.

“Joe Mafela told me I was in the wrong industry because of the way I spoke to customers. He told me that it wasn’t about education, but the voice and he helped me get attached to SABC,” said SharksNova

He said unfortunately, he lost his mother and returned to Zimbabwe to bury her. Upon his return to South Africa, SharksNova said his job at SABC had been given to someone else.

The late Mafela, SharksNova said, came to his rescue once again and introduced him to Ukhozi FM’s Linda Sibiya who trained him to be a radio DJ.

Afterward, he returned to Zimbabwe and joined Skyz Metro FM before the station’s management transferred him to Breeze FM in Victoria Falls in 2017 where he was to be in charge of the Drive Time show.

Now, he is responsible for the Breakfast Show while doubling as the station’s executive producer.

Off radio, SharksNova is a professional private guide, professional chef, professional masseuse, actor, and philanthropist.

Also representing Victoria Falls at this year’s Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards is Andrea The Vocalist who is nominated in two categories, Outstanding song of the year for his song Uhambo and Newcomer of the year.

Poet Obert Dube and Flying Bantu will also represent the resort city at the awards taking place in Bulawayo on Christmas Eve. – @ncubeleon