Achievers
Fred Obachi Machoka: Blackest man in black Africa
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- Published on Monday, 02 July 2007 01:32
person to put up a house in the area 11 years ago and so the area got its name. So popular is he in the neighbourhood that we are able to locate his house by asking for directions from passers-by after losing direction in the maze like roads. The place is full of activity as people are buying water a few kilometres from his compound. They draw water from a borehole belonging to him, another indication of his centrality in the local community. Machoka shares a light moment with his wife Sophie at their home in Kitengela. Finally it is time to meet the man who took radio and later television fans by storm in the early 80s, enjoying high popularity ratings. As a consequence he has had to live with outrageous rumours, the price he has paid for his popularity. He is a man whose greatest fear is how he would survive if he lost his wife and family. His wife Sophie, who does not leave his side for a moment during our visit, welcomes us into their country home in Kitengela. Traces of farming are evident as soon as one enters the compound, with various species of trees and verdant grass making the compound a charming sight.
Machoka’s old fans give different reasons for what it is that captured their attention when Machoka was on air but the majority cite his distinct deep voice and style of presentation. The one time GSU radio communication signaller’s love affair with radio started slightly over 30 years ago at the then VoK (Voice of Kenya) on a programme known as Sanyo juu, Sanyo tops. It was a commercial music programme that featured the best of local, African and international music. The likes of Mangelepa, Fadhili Williams, Lionel Ritchie, Les Wanyika and Them Mushrooms filled the airwaves whenever Machoka was behind the mike.
In his late 40s and still very enthusiastic about life, the outspoken Machoka describes his long radio career as something that started as a joke. "I was stationed in Wajir District attached to the GSU and would come to Nairobi once in a while to record for the shows as a part time presenter," he recalls. He was then invited by Peter Colmore of Peter Colmore Ltd to do a signallers section due to the quality of his voice and knowledge of telecommunication. The year 1976 marked his full time entry into radio and exit from the GSU. "A friend had a court case while I was still in Wajir and getting permission to be present at his trials was conditional. Attending the court case meant leaving my job and that is exactly what happened when I tendered my 24-hour resignation notice," he says. Thereafter that he joined Peter Colmore Ltd as a full time broadcaster.
McCann Erickson later bought Peter Colman Ltd, and he worked there before moving to BBC in 1978 for a year. He cites keen research, hard work and listening to criticism as what has enabled him to maintain 20 sponsored shows and remain one of the best in the business. "I take criticism, rubbish what does not help and then use it to improve on whatever I do and that has helped a lot," he says. In those days he worked with presenters like Said Omar Kassongo and Mohammed Rama.
Machoka’s most memorable show remains one that was called ‘Ugua Pole Na Lucozade’. "It is still close to my heart as this was the most interactive show I did which brought me close to the people," he says. Through his initiative, the show involved going to hospitals to give patients a bottle of Lucozade and a get-well card. One of Machoka’s most memorable moments was when he interviewed a woman who had just delivered a baby at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and the husband learnt about it through the show while in Mombasa.
Events took an unexpected turn when the child was stolen and the only evidence of its existence available was the live broadcast that had taken place earlier in the day. He treasures many other moments from his music shows on TV. The one that stands out most in his mind was when he visited Nkubu Hospital in Meru. "The nurses on training boycotted classes and the matron was at pains trying to get them back to class not knowing the cause of the commotion," recalls Machoka. When she learnt the cause of the disruption, all she said was, "Oh, I remember this is the guy who presents the music show that makes the students more attentive than when they attend church service." On another occasion he paid a surprise visit to his cousin at the University of Nairobi only to find the entertainment hall packed with every student’s eye glued to the TV watching his show, Music Time. He could not trace his cousin and therefore left.
Being unable to go anywhere unnoticed by both the young and old alike has been the lot of Fred Obachi Machoka.Between 1989 and 1992 viewers were treated to a music show the presenter that gave birth to the "Same time, same place" clichÈ. Machoka coined it to get fans to stay tuned every Saturday for a similar treat. The show saw him interact with popular international artistes like Anna Mwale, Tshala Mwana, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Kanda Bongoman and Prince Eyango. He has travelled to 32 African countries and even abroad to get material for the show. "I must admit that travelling was making it difficult to find time to be with him," says his wife.
They have been married for 27 years and she has been by his side all through the years. She speaks of his popularity in the old days among both male and female fans. "It was quite a feat for Fred to take me out. Someone would always pick him out from the crowd and often join us unceremoniously," she recalls. The two no longer go out to dance as often as they used to and enjoy listening to country and Taarab music. At no time however did she feel that their relationship was threatened. She believed that he was doing his job and he always assured her of his loyalty.
The two met through his sister who attended the same school with Sophie and they got married the same year. "It was love at first sight and I did not even know about his popularity," says a jovial Sophie, a teacher by profession who works with the Teachers Service Commission.His TV show had its low moments. "The show was rated one of the best and I did extensive research on the kind of musicians my fans wanted but my biggest problem was when musicians who did not measure up found their way into the show," he recalls.Until they meet him many of Machoka’s fans believe that he is a very dark man because of the catch phrase of his shows, "Blackest man in Black Africa".He however explains that he came up with the phrase after meeting two white men who did not appreciate the African skin colour, which he is proud of and would not trade for anything.
Currently Machoka runs FM 35, a promotions advertising and P.R firm on Mombasa road and still does a show known as ‘Roga roga’ on Citizen Radio that is quite popular. Machoka’s favourite radio presenter is Maina Kageni, whom he describes as a presenter who knows how to keep the fans asking for more while he has a lot of respect for Leonard Mambo Mbotela, another radio personality who has managed to remain in the business for a long time.
