The Bustling Airwaves Of Ho—Part 3

Late afternoon (also known as drive time) programmes have been a major area of competition for radio stations across Ghana. The market in Ho has not been an exception to this rule because it has been the battle grounds for many talented presenters who use all manner of antics to woo listeners to their sides. This write up, the third in the series, takes a look at the late afternoon slots on the stations operating in the H.O. City.

Drive time On Kekeli 102.9 FM
The late afternoon show on Kekeli FM is one of the shows on the network which have undoubtedly won the station the massive popularity it enjoys in the Ho Township. The host, Darlington Dodo Nyasorgbor, better known as Sizzla One (and many other names and titles he had conferred on himself), is the kind of presenter most radio managers could only dream of having on their networks. Words (not even on this platform) cannot describe the talent this gentleman displays on air each weekday evening and it is not surprising his popularity cuts across people of all ages.

Before he arrived in Ho, together with the Kekeli FM team, we were seeking solace in the firm bosom of an equally talented ‘driver’ by name Michael Nene Lamptey (DJ Tablet) of VP FM fame as far as drive time shows were concerned. But, l can say unequivocally that Sizzla One’s arrival brought a new dimension into that segment of the radio market in the Volta Regional capital and the competition has reached fever pitch.

The show’s popularity is largely due to Sizzla’s fast-paced style of presentation which is certainly new and refreshing to listeners. His energy-sucking style flavoured occasionally with wits and humour is what has made the show the one to beat in Ho currently. The dude simply dazzles his listeners with his perfect blend of English and Ewe on the show and he is gradually cutting a niche for himself as the number one promoter of music from Volta origin. In fact, the instant popularity of JJ Gonami’s ‘dzidzor kporkpor’song can largely be attributed to the promotional prowess of the man who goes by names such as DJ Nagbo Nagbo, Alhaji Currency, The Ghetto Youth Defender, etc.

One factor which has partly propelled him and the show to this height within this short period of time has been the long absence of DJ Tablet from his show on VP FM and the short ‘leave’ by another late afternoon show colossus, Bright Ellis, from the airwaves after the US FM and tilapia brouhaha. In their absence, Sizzla One has managed to build an ‘empire’ on the airwaves in Ho and overthrowing such an empire is going to be a herculean task for anyone.

Dude, you definitely know the game and you play it so intelligently to your advantage. The sky can only be a starting point if you continue like this. If truly a show is as good as its host, then Kekeli Drive is great because the host rocks. More grease (or shea butter) to your mouth.

Great show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kuul Easy Drive on Kuul 103.5 FM
The show, within this short period of its existence, has passed through the hands of a few presenters already, probably on trial and error basis. One notable personality who has graced this platform is Lady K with her sweet-silky voice. Well, she did her best on the show but in a space dominated by the bullying voices of men, perhaps her best was not enough. So, the programmes guys went in for a very experienced ‘driver’ who knows the terrain very well, Bright Ellis, her compatriot from the Hohoe market. What do I think about this move? Perfecto!!!This business of driving people back from work in Ho has been left to the guy at Kekeli FM alone for far too long and the return of Bright Ellis is long overdue.

Kuul Easy Drive is set to grow even bigger with this dude because he has established himself as a ‘master driver’ since his days at Hohoe-based Heritage FM, where he was a thorn in the flesh of the folks at Lorlornyo FM, especially AGT man and Papa Anointing. For me, he was the biggest import by the US FM crew into the Ho market and in all sincerity; he delivered his money’s worth at US FM by giving DJ Tablet (VP FM) and Xomse Ametame (DJ Emotion at Hope FM then) a good run for their money in the early days of his career in Ho.

His appearance on Hope FM (their mid morning show), albeit briefly, after his short ‘leave’ to cool off following all the troubles at US FM, came as a big surprise to me looking at his style and what the guys at Hope FM do. It was like sending Abeiku Santana to Atlantis Radio to host their drive time show. A ‘paid talkative’ on a show that you are supposed to play more music and talk less. Hahahahaha!!!

The good news is he left and now finds himself on a bigger platform (in terms of mileage) to do what he does best. But Mr. Ellis, l have news for you. In your short absence from the airways one ‘lion’ of a presenter, (Sizzla One at Kekeli FM) has taken this segment of the market to another level and you certainly need to put in your best – and l mean, your very best – to be able to tame the lion in him. If all your previous exploits are anything to go by, then am positive you can deliver, especially now that members of the ‘Rush Hour, the Moment’ callers club you masterminded at US FM are ‘invading’ the talk segment on the Kuul Easy Drive. The fans you left behind at Hohoe also have the opportunity to listen to you again on this network. All these certainly add to the audience base of Kuul Easy Drive.

Without seeking your consent first (as the lady in one of your IDs does), your drink is on the way to the Water Works studios of Kuul FM for good work done so far.

Dornordornordornordornor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drive time (Traffic Line Show) on Tosh Fm 103.9 FM

The late afternoon show on Tosh FM had seen its fair share of a game of musical chairs as far as hosts are concerned. Maybe, just maybe, they have been looking for the right man to sit behind ‘the steering wheel’ on this very competitive terrain. Recently, a young man by name Bismark Selali Lawson took over the show and if his exploits so far, are indications of what he got to offer, then his competitors (or should l say his seniors?) better watch their backs. He seems to be the guy they have been looking for to make a strong showing in the market and judging by the response from listeners to the talk segment of the show one can safely say the young man is here to make an impact. But all that depend on how long he stays on the show because the rate at which presenters are leaving Tosh FM is worrying. The last time l checked, their former sports cum morning show host, Randy Edudzi, has started plying his trade at Kekeli FM as a sports presenter.

Selali is a good material capable of driving the drive time programme on Tosh FM to greater heights. From all indications, playing good contemporary Ghanaian music seems to be the stock in trade of Tosh FM now and this dude does just that. See you at the top, buddy!!!!!!!

Home Drive on VP 98.1 FM
The genesis of structured late afternoon radio in Ho started on this station with the likes of Israel Pentem (DJ Scott), Wisdom Ahiayibor (The Mega Man), etc passing through with their own styles of what a late afternoon show is supposed to be. But one individual who made the show what it used to be (the drive time show of choice) until recently was Michael Nene Lamptey popularly known as DJ Tablet. The guy simple understood what a drive time show was meant to be and delivered exactly that. His choice of music, the wit with which he interacted with listeners who called into the show and his good command over the Queen’s language, all together made the show what one wanted to listen to after a hard day’s work at the office.

A good number of celebrity interviews were also conducted during his era on the show much to the listening pleasure of the mostly youthful listeners of the show. But for whatever reason (which l have not bothered to find out), this genius of a presenter has been off the show for some time now leaving a shoe too big to wear, for all the guys who came after him so far. His exit from the show marked the beginning of the end (as we say in Ghana) for a show which once dominated the airways of Ho.

The current host, Efo Dodzi (yes, that is his name), has been doing his best but l can’t really tell which part of the market Home Drive is now competing in with Efo Dodzi in charge. Maybe, am the only one who seems to be at lost by the turn of events on the show. Efo Dodzi delivers well in Ewe but fumbles a lot anytime he tries to do same in English (sorry, but that is my opinion) and this ‘forces’ him to present a greater part of the show in Ewe contrary to what happened during the eras of DJ Tablet and his predecessors. This calls into question the student-centred broadcasting that VP FM is supposed to do and had been known for in time past. Perhaps, the tertiary student population in Ho, and at Ho Polytechnic in particular, is now made up of at least 95% Ewe speakers. If that is the case, then the style of the current host of Home Drive is fantastic. It is obvious this is VP FM’s response to the styles of presenters like Sizzla One on Kekeli FM, Bright Ellis now on Kuul FM, and lately Selali of Tosh FM. But the big question is does VP FM belong to the market these guys are competing in? What happened to the urban student market VP FM used to dominate? If their target market now is everybody in Ho and around (including market women and farmers), then you guys are on track with the current style. What l know is that the urban student market is small but strategy wise, 95% of 20 is much better than 2% of 100.

DJ Tablet, wherever you are, you may want to come back (if it is possible) to save the sinking soul of the once popular drive time show on VP FM. Happy 19^th anniversary, anyway.

Drive Time Programming on Hope 93.1FM

Drive time programming on Hope FM has also been living up to their much touted mantra ‘the station with the difference’. To this end, the style of the show since the days of Xomse Ametame (now with Kuul FM) has been to play soul-soothing music, occasionally interspersed with talk shows on a variety of issues. This is where those who are not too comfortable with the often ‘heated’ late afternoon shows on the other stations seek solace. And if you ever find yourself listening to their definition of what a drive time show is supposed to be, prepare to learn new things on topics such as road safety, the attitude of taxi drivers in Ho, the battery size your car needs and many more.

For whatever reason, the show seems not to be catching on well with businesses and media buyers looking at the low level of commercial activity on the show. But really, who cares if the Big Boss (The Bushman, he calls himself) has cash to pay the bills. The station is definitely living up to its mantra, ‘the station with the difference’. Good luck!!

Late Afternoon Programming On Volta Star Radio

The folks at Volta Star Radio love to do their own things irrespective of what their competitors are doing. This has been the case for their late afternoon programming too. Variety is the name of the game on this slot on the station as different types of programmes are aired from Monday to Friday. Prominent among them being Missing You’ hosted by Kafui Kumagah, ‘ele afe le gbe’ hosted by veteran Ewe-language broadcaster, Little Ben Bidzreku.

This particular show (ele afe le gbe) has been of immerse interest to me because it is one of the few programmes on radio (including Etse Atideku’s Sunday afternoon programme on Kuul Fm) that teaches you about Ewe culture and everything in between. Being one of the longest running programmes on the station, ele afe le gbe’s popularity with all those who care to learn a few things about their Ewe identity knows no bounds. It has been the reference point for everything ‘Ewe like’, including the meaning of my own name, Atsu. I can only say ‘aborka, edrika’ (l hope it is correct) to the veteran broadcaster, also known as ‘Xedagbui’ for his good works.

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