HARARE - Confident? Check. Sassy? Check. Energetic? Most definitely check. Livewire television and radio personality DJ Chilli has set previously drab local television screens alive with her weekly Woza Friday show. On radio she has amassed droves of fans who tune in religiously to her Power FM shows. Chilli is, without a doubt, one of the hottest properties in Zimbabwean showbiz today.
In an amusing reversal of roles, every Friday evening viewers who had long migrated to satellite television now turn off their decoders and tune in to one of Zimbabwe Televisions (ZTV) most popular shows at the moment, Woza Friday.
Well, what exactly is it about this hour-long musical variety show that has young and old alike scrambling for couches around the television? Its not really about the show, confesses Woza addict Kuda Maziwa, its more about the presenter.
Responding to viewer requests to revamp the iconic Thursday evening musical show, Mutinhimhira Wemimhanzi, in 2009 producers at ZTV decided to take a huge gamble. They not only changed the programmes name to Woza Friday, effectively rescheduling its screening from Thursday to Friday, they also changed its format by introducing international music. As if that was not enough they opted for an untried and untested TV presenter!
Hot, hot, hot
The crazy gamble has since paid off in ways no one could have ever imagined. Anchor DJ Chilli has risen to make the show, much like her name, hot, hot, hot!!!
With two National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) to her name, weekly prime time television appearances and an unrivalled status as Power FMs most popular DJ, everybody is asking, who is this in your face, verbally talented woman with of many accents.
Prior to her television debut on Woza Friday, DJ Chilli was just that, a DJ on the popular urban radio station, Power FM.
Interestingly while growing up the teenage Chilli, born Hazvinei Sakarombe in Mutare, never got to listen to radio much. Her strict parents would always ensure that she read books rather than indulged in the electronic distractions offered by television and radio.
These parental sanctions would later enable DJ Chilli to bring a refreshing take to radio presentation. Never having experienced radio legends like Tich Mataz and Peter Johns, she was unfettered by pressure to conform to their styles, opting instead to create her own unique flavour.
She consistently brushed of her friends nagging encouragement to audition for Power FM before curiosity got the better of her and she eventually gave it a shot in 2004. After acing an interview overseen by veteran broadcaster, Admire Taderera, a very surprised Hazvi entered the glamorous world of showbiz.
Chillis her name
She adopted the on-air name, Chilli, after the red-hot giant jalapeno peppers that friends likened her fiery personality to.
Being an urban station with a following of mostly young people, many presenters on Power FM try to use their best English accents on air. So does Hazvi, but she dared to do something other presenters on the station had never done, she mixed in copious quantities of Shona in her chiManyika home dialect. That made all the difference and soon became one of the things that made her stand out from other DJs- yes, along with her pet phrase “Chilli baby!”
Asked how this signature style came about, she says that in the early days of her radio career she was often mistaken for other lady DJs. Frustrated by this, the greenhorn DJ determined to find a unique way of presenting. The answer was much closer than she had initially thought. After giving the issue plenty of though I decided to just be myself and present my shows the way I talk at home, she says.
Over the years, party organisers, advertising executives and fans all started asking for “the girl who talks with the Manyika accent” or simply, Wasu.
She had a brief stint on the Power Gospel Show which saw many emotional listeners calling in after being touched by her down to earth and very accessible approach.
Currently DJ Chillis thrice-weekly broadcasts on Power FM culminate with the popular Saturday morning Power FM Top 20 chart show. Chilli collaborates with The Zimbo Jam to make sure we get the weekly charts for publishing on this website.
Infectious beats
Innovatively titled Zimnandi, DJ Chillis shows throw down infectious beats, from RnB to thumping house jams, while she chats happily away about everyday matters.
Away from the microphone and camera, DJ Chilli is a self confessed action movie buff. When the TV is off, radios bookworm buries her head in inspirational books citing Zimbabwean author, Jonah Mungoshi, as her favourite.
Time permitting Hazvi engages in community work, being a member of Junior Chamber Zimbabwe (JCI), a worldwide community of young people who undertake community development activities and undergo leadership training during the process.
Over the long term Hazvi, who is currently studying at Speciss College, would like to pursue a career in public relations. No doubt she will tackle this yet to be opened chapter of her life with her trademark energy and bubbling confidence.
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