Zororo vs Evans: Battle of the talk shows

Bruce Ndlovu
In June, talk show host Zororo Makamba was celebrating three years of his Tonight With Zororo (TWZ) talk show which debuted on Zambezi Magic in November last year after making waves online a few months prior to that premiere. A�

When the show debuted many heralded the official arrival of a new face on the Zimbabwe talk scene, although his show, showing on Zambezi Magic, would not be available on a platform that is accessible to all Zimbabweans.

Zororoa��s approach to talk TV was more than a breath of fresh air, as it signalled that the winds of change were blowing in full gusto and the countrya��s new generation was ready to take TV broadcast to the next level.

Now almost exactly a year later, another Zimbabwean is ready to showcase his talent to the continent when his own talk show debuts on Zambezi Magic on Saturday evening.

Bulawayoa��s Arthur Evansa�� Arthur C Evans Show debuts on the station on Saturday. Since the station opened its arms to embrace Zimbabweans rendered destitute by their national broadcaster, talk shows have managed to crack the standards required at Zambezi Magic. This perhaps shows that the countrya��s conveyor belt of eloquent young men and women who can hold a conversation on camera is working at full tilt.

As eloquent young- men of style and grace, Makamba and Evans evoke inevitable comparisons.

Both have managed to create a groundswell of support because of their mastery of the Queena��s language and composure on stage or in front of the camera. The two are also seemingly equally comfortable on radio as they are on the small screen.

Past their obvious similarities, perhaps the main difference between the two is that while Makambaa��s interview subjects were drawn mostly from the countrya��s capital and its environs, Evans gives fair airtime to those from the southern half of the country.

During Evansa�� run, Bulawayo will for a change be able to watch some of its notable personalities grace their small screens.

Evans draws inspiration from some of the leading talk show exponents in the country and beyond.

a�?My role model is Ryan Seacrest who is simply incredible. The ease on screen of Graham Norton and our local Mai Chisamba are hosts that have made their shows their own. In terms of people that I respect and applaud, although not spoken of much I rate highly Macdonald Gurura and our home boy, the Ndebele Rock Star a�� Babongile Sikhonjwa,a�? he said in an interview.

As both an accomplished TV and radio man, former American Idols presenter Seacrest seems to be the thread that connects the two new stars of talk TV. For Makamba, his current talk show is also the continuation of a family tradition as he also draws inspiration from his father, mogul James Makamba.

a�?My father has been a huge influence on my career, he was a successful commercial DJ, he founded the countrya��s first independent TV station in JOY TV and during dinner we used to watch him host his own talk showA� a��Makamba at Night.a�?

a�?Today Shane Smith of Vice Media has influenced my vision moving forward, especially when it comes to disruptive, youth-driven content in the online media space. Ryan Seacrest too, as he has proved you can beA� a successful on air and as a TV personality but also run a thriving productions company,a�? he said in an interview.

While focus will be on how the two managed to get both their shows aired on Zambezi Magic, it is also important to note that while the end product will come out on DSTV, most of the seeds of their success were sown on online platforms.

a�?A regional audience means regional opportunities to showcase my skills in other countries. This has been a well structured move that I have planned over the past two years with the help of ISNC World who power my official website www.theaceevans.com,a�? said Evans.

For his part, Makamba acknowledged that new technologies had simply put power in the hands of artistes, as armed with such basics as a camera phone, they could dispense with the begging bowl. .