UMhlobo Wenene FM

UMhlobo Wenene FM
Broadcast areaSouth Africa
FrequencyFM: 88-106 MHz
Ownership
OwnerSABC
Ukhozi FM
History
First air date
6 May 1960; 64 years ago (1960-05-06)
Links
Websitewww.umhlobowenenefm.co.za

UMhlobo Wenene FM (UWFM) is a South African radio station, providing news, sports, and entertainment broadcasts in isiXhosa. The station broadcasts 24/7 on Channel 818 on DStv. It is the second-largest radio station in South Africa, with 4 million listeners.[1]

Broadcasting began on May 6, 1960, from the city of Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha),[2] under the name Radio Xhosa, before a renaming following the fall of apartheid and the 1994 election.[3]


The station has a broadcasting license from ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa).[4]

The station has received a number of awards.[5]

The word "Umhlobo wenene" is a Xhosa word meaning "True Friend"

References

  1. ^ "Top 10 Radio Stations 2018". sabcgroupsales. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  2. ^ "UMhlobo Wenene Radio". gov. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. ^ Ally, Shireen; Lissoni, Arianna (2017). New Histories of South Africa's Apartheid-Era Bantustans. Routledge. After 1994 [...] vernacular radio stations came up with new names and logos. [...] Radio Xhosa adopted the name 'Umhlobo Wenene'
  4. ^ ICASA Website (Checked April 2013)
  5. ^ "Umhlobo Wenene (Awards)". umhlobowenenefm. Retrieved 17 July 2020.