CHILD star Mzambiya (pictured) is making his way back into South African’s lives after a long hiatus.
Named as the new host of the SABC1 dance show Jika Majika, Mzambiya is ready make his mark.
“The biggest show on SABC1 is coming back again and I happen to be the host and I am really excited about that. I auditioned and waited for a call back and luckily I got the call. The rest is history,” he said.
However, to most people, Jika Majika is a show that was made popular by Thembi Seete. It helped that she could dance, but her personality and love for uplifting children showed in the way she handled herself. There is a strong chance that people will compare her and Mzambiya.
“To be honest, I think that sis’ Thembi has been a loyal presenter on the show and has done very well. I remember the show when it started and she was with Prokid. I think I am going to be filling the big shoes, but so far I’m impressed by the episodes that we have shot. It’s always good to be on set and people should look forward to us coming back on TV with a new set and different energy, but still showcasing 100 percent local content,” he said.
“Jika Majika happens to be one of the few shows that is as old as it is and yet it still has a lot of fans and I was attracted to that,” he added.
One of the requirements for the job is to be able to dance so that there is a symbiosis between the host and the contestants. Seethe did it well and Mzambiya thinks he can, too.
“I have been a dancer where I could. I hold choreography routines very well. More than anything I think it’s merely grooming upcoming dance enthusiasts. They get advice from the judges who are very critical, but also fair. I am really happy to be a part of the show as I love dance.”
And apart from his lucrative music career to back it up, Mzambiya has also starred in a dance production as a lead character.
“In 2004 I featured in a movie, Pantsula Christmas, for SABC1 as the main character so I have dance moves in me,” he said.
What most talent shows do is take some talented people, show then to the world and then dump them. Mzambiya feels Jika Majika is different: “I think for contestants, it goes beyond being just on Jika Majika. You never know who is watching you. We advise them to be persistent so hopefully some will end up as something thanks to being on Jika Majika,” he said.
As a kid who was discovered on another SABC1 show, Jam Alley, when he was only 12, it makes sense that Mzambiya believes in talent shows. He has since grown up to be a businessman in his own right.
“I have established my own studio so I am more instrumental when I play. I am also looking at producing some artists and will be shooting another show under my own name,” he said.
• Jika Majika airs on Fridays at 7.30pm on SABC1 .