Robin Sewlal's 'My Radio Memory': A Century of South African Radio

AS HIS show of appreciation for the impact it has had on his life advocate Robin Sewlal has produced a book that takes a nostalgic look at 100 years (1923-2023) of radio in South Africa.

The Durban launch of the book, My Radio Memory: Listening to the Listener, happened at Ike’s Books, on Florida Road on Tuesday, and also drew friends and others, who like Sewlal, have been awed by the airwaves.

The book is a compilation of anecdotal accounts of 100 people from around the country reminiscing about their radio experiences, a splash of yesteryear adverts and some reflection on 12 radio stations that are no more.

Springbok Radio, Radio Truro, Capital 604 and Classic FM are some of the stations that are no longer in the broadcast industry mix.

Sewlal said he gave the book a “light-touch edit” so that the listeners' hearts and voices could be heard. His passion for radio dates back to his boyhood, a time when he was keen to know about the atrocities of the past.

"Radio played a phenomenal role during the dark days of apartheid," said Sewlal

Back then he listened regularly to a host of overseas stations on shortwave. When LM Radio became Radio 5 (now 5FM) in 1975, he thoroughly enjoyed the shows presented especially by John Berks

He met his favourite presenter (Berks) at an outside broadcast on Durban’s beachfront, as a teenager.

After that conversation, Sewlal’s love for radio intensified.

He holds the work done at Audwax Music Radio in high regard, the station at the then University of Durban-Westville. It served as a communication tool to challenge the system engulfing the country.

Sewlal believes that Capital Radio and 702 were instrumental in "getting real, authentic news to the listener".

At Tuesday's launch, University of KwaZulu-Natal Professor Donal McCracken got proceedings underway, and regaled the audience with a recollection of anecdotes from the early days of radio in Ireland, while Patricia McCracken reflected on her chapter in the book.

Sewlal's dialogue with Dr Ismail Mahomed, the Director for the Centre of Creative Arts at UKZN, provided one of the highlights on the night, as they reflected on the important role radio played during the apartheid era.

Their discourse also traversed through the value of talk radio in the country, and Sewlal mentioned that his friend, Stan Katz, pioneered the concept in South Africa.

"Stan (Katz) was given carte blanche to transform 702 from being music-driven to talk.

The hosts were given total independence to air their personal views," he said.

Sewlal said the idea for the book was put into action in 2022, which has been "a fascinating journey" and was grateful for the support he received both nationally and internationally.

He reached out to respected broadcast personality David Gresham in early 2023 to write the book's foreword.

Gresham, who was well-know previously as a presenter on Springbok Radio and for his TV show Pop Shop, concurred with Sewlal that the "once-in-a-lifetime book should be made accessible and available to all citizens".

"The style of the book is non-academic, but included an index to assist the reader and researcher. It has already found its way into Australia, India, Europe, United Kingdom and United States."

Sewlal, who is the chairperson for Radiocracy, an organisation promoting democracy and development through the still vibrant medium of radio, said: “For more than 100 years radio has been the voice and sound of the nation.

His parting shot was: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The power and beauty of radio is in the ear of the beholder.” 

■ Proceeds from the sale of the book will be directed to outreach projects, it retails at R390 and includes home deliveries. The purchase the book, email: [email protected] 

DAILY NEWS