NSK

I have been on radio for 10 years straight – about to hit 11 in December. I have a whole generation that grew up listening to me. My voice is synonymous with the medium. So, trust me when I say: never has there been an effort to counsel radio presenters; never has there been an effort to protect our mental health, and never has there been an effort to monitor our mental state. 

Why is there a need to counsel radio presenters? Why is there a need to protect our mental health? Why should anyone care to monitor our mental state? Allow me to contextualise a few things for you. Radio presenters are your friends. 

A radio presenter is that voice on the radio that is supposed to make you feel good about yourself. A radio presenter is that voice on the radio whose primary job is to keep you company and help you escape from whatever reality you find yourself in. A radio presenter is that voice on the radio that is tasked with putting a smile on your face – one way or another.

This is expected of radio presenters – every day, especially if it’s a prime time radio presenter. Primetime radio presenters are on radio every day. I always get questions from people at every turn, asking me: “But NSK, how are you always happy on air, every day?” 

It’s a good question. Honestly, I don’t know how to answer that question. I actually get emo whenever someone asks me that question because Lord knows I do not know how to answer that question. I would love to say, ‘Well, it’s because management makes an effort to protect our mental health”.

I would love to say, “Well, it’s because society makes an effort to check up on our mental state”. I would love to say, “Well, it’s because NGOs or the state makes an effort to counsel us through various interventions and targeted programmes”. 

I would be f*cking lying if I were to say that! How do prime time radio presenters show up every day, talk to hundreds and thousands with a smile and manage to put a smile on your face? 

Remember, radio is about consistency. That means radio presenters are expected to see out these tasks of keeping you company, helping you escape from your reality and putting a smile on your face – every day!

Do you now perhaps understand the dire need for counselling? Do you now perhaps understand the dire need to protect our mental health? Do you perhaps understand the dire need to monitor our mental state? Because my goodness, who on Nujoma’s earth can be on radio, speak to hundreds and thousands and be happy every single day? 

Do radio presenters not have personal lives? Do we not have social challenges? Do radio presenters not deal with bullies behind the scenes at work? Do we not stomach people who have zero passion for the craft and our people, who sit in gatekeeping positions? Do we not have families, aspirations and a love life?

We do have social challenges. Radio presenters do deal with bullies behind the scenes at work. Radio presenters die inside whenever having to take instruction from zombies in gatekeeping positions. Radio presenters do have families. We do have hopes, dreams and aspirations. And yes, we do fall in love; we do get hurt and deal with excruciatingly painful messy breakups.  

So how is it possible in 2021 that no effort has been made to counsel radio presenters? How is it possible in 2021 that no effort has been made to monitor our mental state? It needs to change. Radio presenters are human. Radio presenters need help. Radio presenters need help – now! 

Because, trust me, we deal with a lot of bullsh*t!

Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM                       

Need an MC? Contact NSK for a quote at naobebsekind@gmail.com 

@naobebsekind (Twitter)