MOST of the GO!’s readers know him as the popular, bubbly radio host on Algoa FM’s Drive Show but Brian Ndevu, 39, has been making a name for himself on the airwaves since the age of 15.
Ndevu who started following his passion for radio while he was studying at high school, moved on to study Public Relations and Communications in Johannesburg after completing matric.
The Mdantsane-born star said his fascination with radio stemmed from visiting CKI Radio at a young age to watch what they did.
“But my first big break was working for the SABC where I was a continuity presenter at Simunye and I did very well, winning the best presenter award a year after starting out.
“During that time I also co-hosted Miss South Africa Teen and made appearances on various other television programmes,” he said.
He went on to do other forms of media across the country – such as public relations and communications work.
The former TruFM Breakfast Show presenter, who landed the role of Algoa FM’s afternoon drive host after one meeting, took over from popular DJ Gordon Graham who had been with the station for 20 years.
“I took over from Gordon and the blessing of taking over from him was that we are very much alike and that made it easier for me to interact with his audience,” Ndevu said.
“And the way we did that was to host some of the first few shows together before the switchover and that made it a smooth transition.”
Ndevu received some criticism from a few listeners who complained about his mixing of different languages while on air.
“That does not bother me because at the end of the day I am capturing all audiences. If a caller interacts with me in isiXhosa I will respond in IsiXhosa as well as other languages such as Afrikaans and then go back and do a translation into English,” he said.
Ndevu said most of his listeners have amused him more than anything.
“There’s a guy who drove all the way from King William’s Town and he came especially to buy me a milkshake. “ He said he wanted to introduce himself and that he was a big fan of the show.
“And then I also made a joke when I heard that Black Coffee and Rihanna were going to make a remix and I said we could call them ‘Ricoffy.’ A woman who was driving from Alice to East London said she had to stop her car because she couldn’t stop laughing.
“I am like that, I am not afraid to tackle topics that spark up debates or to speak my mind,” Ndevu said.
“I think it’s fair to say that the adaptation has been successful. “Brian has taken to the airwaves of Algoa FM like a duck to water. He is a bright guy, a people’s person and a skilled broadcaster, said Algoa FM’s operations director, Alfie Jay.
“The listening audience has responded well to him and together we are looking forward to organic growth in this wonderful Border region.”
Ndevu, who enjoys the outdoors in his spare time, aspires to win a radio award for his show one day.
Catch “The Drive” with Brian Ndevu every weekday from 3pm to 7pm.
