Durban DJ nominated for awards

DURBAN radio personality, Vee Brown, has been nominated for “Media Personality of the Year” at the #031Awards and is encouraging the community to vote for her.

Vee Brown, whose real name is Noluvuyo Mpakathi, is a 2019 graduate from Boston Media House (BMH), and holds a double major in journalism and radio broadcasting in media practices. She currently hosts the #MusicAndLunch on DYR105.1 (formerly Durban Youth Radio) from noon to 3pm, and is passionate about the medium.

“When I enrolled at Boston in 2016 I wanted to study journalism but my first year radio lecturer, Mathumo Manaka, saw something in me and asked me to do a news report on the new Oceans Hotel for radio. I presented it in front of everyone and he saw talent,” she said.

During that year she had the opportunity to do an internship at Vuma FM and was put on the lunch show with Linda Nzimande for the month of July in commemoration of Mandela Day.
“I was Linda’s 67 minute Mandela ‘baby’ and he mentored me and held my hand during this time. He told me he had started with Durban Youth Radio and since the college had moved to Victoria Embankment by that time, it was close to the Bat Centre where Durban Youth Radio was based at the time, ” she said. Noluvuyo got the opportunity to produce the night time show. After hearing her on the BMH radio station, the station manager asked her to put through a demo. She was then put on news during breakfast with Kevin Minter-Brown.

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“This helped improve my speech and articulation and the next year when the college revamped its radio station, I was the first person to get a show on BMH Radio Durban, I handled news, sound engineering, sound image design and content production for two years, and I learnt from my mistakes. I also worked at Durban Youth Radio in the morning,” she said.

Noluvuyo took on radio as a second major in her third year and had to work hard and balance work and studies. “My mom went into a coma for four months and as she was the breadwinner, this was a difficult time. I’m part of a very good congregation though, and they helped me out. I wanted to quit but I knew I had too much to lose. Things got brighter as I got more positive!” she said.

Noluvuyo started as co-host of #MusicAndLunch after completing her studies at the beginning of 2019. She said it was something that came easily for her and she didn’t have to put in any effort.

“I had this overwhelming feeling that I wasn’t moving forward. I then got the opportunity in the June to join the record label Vthseason as their digital marketer. I met some great people and learnt new skills. My experience there was magical, but by the end of November, I chose to return to Durban where my radio journey resumed,” she said.

Noluvuyo said she had felt a bit stressed on returning to Durban and was excited when a friend called her to say they had decided to nominate her for the Media Personality of the Year at the #031Awards.

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“The bright side of life has started again! I’m excited about the awards, and have promoted myself to get votes. It’s going very well. I am also back at DYR. It is my home, it is all I am. The way I speak and the skills I have honed are all because of DYR. It is a place where I can be unapologetically me. When they offered me a show again I took it with both hands, and my feet!”

Noluvuyo said she attributes her sense of freedom and believing anything is possible to her loving mother, who allows allowed her to be a free spirit.

“My mom is a strong independent women who raised two daughters by herself, built a home and taught me to be self-reliant. She always told me I could do whatever I wanted and I think that has also given me the freedom to dabble in all the media platforms,” she said.

When she isn’t on the radio, she loves to be at home. “I enjoy going to my friend’s car wash, chilling out and talking rubbish. I don’t like clubbing, I love fitness and gyming. I would rather be outside than indoors, although I do like to stay in and binge on series!” she said.

The public can vote for Noluvuyo in the awards. To vote, SMS 031 Vee Brown to the number 35029. Voting closes on 25 July.

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