Aubrey Nedambale has built a reputation as a versatile radio presenter whose voice bridges the gap between community and commercial broadcasting. From local studios in Venda to the fast-paced, multilingual environment of Alex FM, his career reflects resilience, adaptability and a deep commitment to connecting with listeners.
Nedambale began at Univen FM in 2008, describing the experience as his foundation. With no prior experience, he learned to engage an audience and treated early setbacks as lessons. In 2009, he moved to Makhado FM, where limited resources forced presenters to innovate, producing content without landlines or modern tools.
Joining Alex FM in 2012 presented a new challenge. The station's urban sound required shorter links, a polished English delivery and an ability to appeal to a diverse audience, including Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Tswana, Ndebele and Sotho speakers. "A key turning point came when I learned to speak to a listener as opposed to speaking at a listener," Nedambale said.
His interest in radio began in high school, inspired by broadcasters such as Jose Ncube, the late Martha Makhela, Dry Skin Sono and Vasco Manamela. A visit to meet Makhela at the SABC in Thohoyandou offered guidance that still shapes his work.
At Alex FM, Nedambale focuses on relevance, freshness and relatability. He studies trends, listener discussions and age demographics, using live calls, social media and on-air responses to stay connected. He supports local artists, hosts emerging DJs and mentors aspiring presenters.
He advises young people not to enter radio for fame. Looking ahead, Nedambale hopes to break into commercial radio, with stations such as Kaya FM, Algoa FM and Primedia among his ambitions.