Radio’s battle royale

By David Odongo

Flash back, April 20, 2012. It’s around 3pm and the Chaguo La Teeniez’ (CHAT) Awards ceremony is on at Nyayo Stadium.

Avril, Camp Mulla, P-Unit, and Size 8, have performed and Big Ted has just delivered a moving tribute to the late E-Sir. The only award category left is Radio Presenter of the year.

It is a two-horse race. Will it be Ghetto Radio’s Mbusi or Kiss100’s Shaffie? Silence sweeps across the gymnasium as fans hold their breath before the big announcement.

“The Radio Presenter of the Year award goes to...Shaffie,” announces the emcee. Alas! Drama unfolds!

The emcee wasn’t able to complete his sentence as uproar took over Nyayo Stadium. The crowd was split in the middle. Some said Mbusi deserved the award while others beleived Shaffie won it fair and square. At the time, Shaffie was driving his way to the stadium but on receiving news on how chaotic the mention of his name had turned the ceremony into drama circus, he turned round at Westlands and drove home to bed.

Immediately, fans angrily took on to social media.

“It was rigged. Shaffie can’t beat Mbusi,” one fan posted on Facebook. “Shaffie is the king of radio. Love him or hate him, he is the best,” another one claimed. There was mad Facebook showdown all night and the consequent days. It’s not over yet.

Now Mbusi says it’s all very simple. He says he is natural while Shaffie is a fake. “Shaffie is so fake, am surprised he wasn’t made in China,” Mbusi commented on a Facebook post, which generated 3,823 comments.

Phrases like Hakuna Mbrrrrcha and Toto si toto have become so common  that they are used in everyday conversation thanks to Mbusi.

Shaffie, on the other hand, is very popular due to his warm straight-shooting interaction with his listeners.

He is a celebrity emcee who can spring life into any dead event.  And yes, he has swag and the good life to go with.

Mbusi introduced the famous Nyahunyo to his show. The hilarious whipping of public offenders was soon incorporated in the Shaffie and Kalekye popular drive show and it is now working for them.

“You see, Shaffie copied my idea. Amependa kudub vitu sana,” says Mbusi.

Pulse now seeks to end this debate through you and we dare ask; who is the king of Radio?