Meet the face of ‘Click Africa’

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
The name Josey Mahachi-Agbeniyi might not ring a bell in the heads of ordinary Zimbabweans but those in touch with the region’s current affairs know her as the face of popular Dstv programme, “ Click Africa”.
Josey has an opportunity to chat with Africa’s influential people in the show that is directed by her husband and business partner Jede Agbeniyi from Nigeria.
“The show aims to tell the African story from a different perspective. There is a lot of good that happens on our continent but it seems some sections of the media are obsessed with the negative aspect. Besides Ebola, civil wars and poverty there are many great things that people from elsewhere come to see and hear.

The show is there to expose such things,” said the couple.
They seem to have mastered the art of completing each other’s sentences.

Josey is a talented journalist who has been making her mark in media from her six-year stay in South Africa and another year in Nigeria.
As “Click Africa”, they have travelled around Africa and managed to interview Africa’s most influential people including His Excellency President Mugabe.

“My interview with former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo can easily pass as the most relaxing for me. He hosted us for three days at his house and since then we have had a good relationship that saw him sending a congratulatory message on our wedding when he failed to attend,” she said.

On her most challenging interview, she spoke of the one she had with Andry Rajoelina the DJ who, at 35, became one of Africa’s youngest presidents after ousting Madagascar’s twice-elected president, Marc Ravalomanana in 2009.

“It was not easy to interview him. There was so much tension because we had just had another interview with Ravalomanana who had been ousted.
“There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes before the final product. You need to research intensively and ensure the content is both informative and refreshing,” she said

Jede also spoke on how they have managed to remain a strong team on and off set.
“Working together is really fun. The secret for making it great is understanding and tolerating each other. We accept each other’s shortcomings and most importantly we keep our work life strictly professional. We, however, miss our home from all the travelling we do,” he said.

The couple recently opened Gotcha Nyama restaurant in the capital that is fast becoming popular with diners. The launch of the restaurant was graced by South Africa’s royalty, Chief Zwelivelile Mandlesizwe Dalibhunga Mandela.

The couple has revealed plans of shooting a number of episodes for the upcoming sixth season from the restaurant and surprise guests of the “who is who’s” in the region will be a part of it.

Josey was born in Hatfield and attended Hatfield Primary and Hatfield High. She enrolled at Boston College in South Africa for a course in media studies before beginning her journalism career and eventually starting her own show.

She said her experience in journalism has helped her get strategic contacts for access to the top leaders and celebrities in Africa.