COVER: DJ Ankletap ready to embody the MALOME brand at his new home at YOU FM
Ankletap’s move back home to the North West, after 17 years in Johannesburg, was motivated by his need to take care of his mental health.
As the radio world shakes up its presenter slots, many migrating from one station to the other – or none, DJ Ankletap’s massive move to North West’s commercial radio station YOU FM was a move no one saw coming.
This jump comes after 12 years of gracing YFM’s airwaves, where he gained a legion of loyal listeners who affectionately called him malome – which means uncle in most African languages.
And since he had reached the target he set out when he began radio in 2011, the 12 year mark, moving back home to start a new life was the easiest decision he has taken in a long time – he shares. A full circle moment if any.
But more than the sentimental reason of a homecoming, DJ Ankletap made the all-important decision to move out of the city for his mental health. A pertinent part of his life that he is dedicating his 30s to placing front and center and intentionally taking care of.
“I’ve always wanted to move out of the city. My mental health was taking strain and that became the biggest reason for this move. I’ve been through a lot in the last couple of years with my divorce, Covid-19, the changes that came with it, and having been on YFM for so many years and only knowing that. I wanted to get a little peace and quiet out of the city, out of the dog-eat-dog-world and re-center myself. Do simple things like taking up golf, learning how to fish, riding a boat etc., as opposed to running from one gig to the next.
“I’ve been in Joburg for 17 years and I found it to be so monotonous. And I think I’ve outgrown the popping of bottles and the groove lifestyle. I wanted a bit more, especially for my mental health,” adding that when the YOU FM job offer came, it took him two seconds to say yes looking at the station’s vision that he felt he resonated with.
Born and raised in Bokone Bophirima, Bryce Clarke got his first taste of the broadcasting waters in his birth province where he was a commentator and stadium announcer for cricket games around the ages 12/13 years old. Moving to Johannesburg for his psychology studies, radio became a dream realized even though he never imagined it.
It is on radio that life blossomed and a new world was created.
“I owe everything to YFM. That’s why I wanted to leave on such a high because I owe them everything. YFM took me on board straight out of university, and not only have they taught me my radio craft, honed and polished it, but I grew up with the station,” citing his entire 20s were dedicated to the youth station.
“My first car, my first house, I got engaged on air, I then got married and then got divorced on air. All these major milestones in my life – YFM has been the most constant and longest relationship I’ve had,” he added.
It was also during these times that he rubbed shoulders with legends to a point of slowly ascending the legends ladder himself.
“The station allowed me to be who I was and I grew into the malome thing. At first, when the nickname was given to me by listeners, I got discouraged from using it by the programmers and for awhile thereafter, I shied away from it. But the nickname stuck everyday and I grew into it and I really think that was a beautiful part of my journey as well.”
Currently Ankletap makes up the breakfast team alongside a commercial radio newbie, former Voice of Wits presenter Boipelo “Kgosigadi” Hlapane as co-host and a leading sports commentator Themba Boyi as the sports presenter.
“To see the amount of listeners who have migrated with me over to YOU FM is simply incredible. Because they grew with me. There are some people who even listened to me for 10 years, some listened to me from inside prison, people land jobs through our hookup feature. So there is that sense of family with the listeners and YFM afforded me that,” he said, reminiscing.
And while Gauteng is sometimes deemed as thee ONLY province where dreams can be realised, Ankletap hopes to debunk this thought.
“There are HUGE provinces in South Africa and that spells so many opportunities. There is a huge footprint here in the North West where nothing much was happening for the longest time, and I want to be that firestarter that takes YOU Fm to the next level. And also break that Joburg bubble that everyone is so convinced of. I want to show people that there are nine provinces and every province has an amazing radio station. Radio can be amazing in the right environment, anywhere you go.
“The kind of radio that I make and want to make requires a lot of creative freedom, a team that has full faith in you and that is what I was looking for. I wanted my next step to be something that I can continue to enhance my radio legacy and the things that I love doing on radio. The kind of freedom that I am afforded here at YOU.
With the new era at hand, Ankletap hopes that this new phase embodies where he finds himself in life. A place of growth, peace and inspiration.
“And I will definitely allow all those to manifest themselves naturally. But if you look at the new show, there is no word Ankletap anywhere. The show is called ‘Your mornings with Malome’, so if anything, I am kind of leaving Ankletap at YFM and I am growing into Malome more,” he said.
The North West has been kind to him thus far, he shares, with a new sense of peace and motivation.
“I am in a much better space already. I feel reinvigorated, because prior to coming here there were points where planning about the next show on YFM was a difficult task, and for no other reason than that I was in a bad space. Now, I can’t wait to plan the next day’s show. The spark is back,” adding that leaving when the time allows is what he stands for. Leaving when on you are on top and when you are ready to.
“I was born for radio. I am a storyteller and I was given this amazing gift to tell stories. So wherever I go, radio will forever be my constant companion. I don’t see myself giving it up anytime soon and I am grateful that I am able to continue with my passion in this journey that I am at,” he said.
worn
Ƅoоkmarked!!, I lіke your ѕite!