Boat celebration: It was five years ago when Dembe FM’s Talk and Talk show went on air and although the team has changed over the years, the show seems to be growing bigger. To mark their fifth anniversary, the show will be broadcasting live on a boat cruise that is happening tomorrow.
It was one evening in 2011 when Isaac Katende, aka, Kasuku sold an idea to then Dembe FM programmes manager Joel Isabirye about a programme focusing on the local entertainment industry. Because Radio and Weasel’s Talk and Talk track was hitting at the time, they decided to name the programme Talk and Talk. The programme that started airing on July 26 2011, would look at the good and the bad in the entertainment industry. Among the panelists was Joel Isabirye as the programmes director, Jenkins Mukasa, an artiste, Julie Erusa, an artiste manager and Claude Muhigira, a seasoned journalist. At some point, Straka Mwezi, a TV presenter, also joined in but as time went by, some people left the show, while others were forced out due to unavoidable circumstances.
When Julie Erusa, Claude, Straka and Joel Isabirye left the show, the radio station was taken over by Aga Khan, hence becoming a Nation Media Group company. Kasuku and Jenkins Mukasa were joined by Eddie Sendi and Batt Badru and the four have been driving the show since then, winning award after award for the show and making it one of, if not, the best talk show in Uganda.
Kasuku
He calls himself the ‘Boss’ of the show because he is the brain, engine and face of the Talk and Talk programme. And true, the show started with him and his role is to gather the topic of the day, which the whole panel has to discuss. He is also in charge of contacting artistes to be hosted on the show that he moderates. Because of his enthusiasm, Kasuku has often been involved in wrangles with artistes, most notably Eddy Kenzo who physically attacked him a couple of years ago, but the presenter emphasises that he will never stoop low for anyone and that his words are always based on facts.
Eddie Sendi
He is a brother to actor Andrew Benon Kibuuka and was chosen to be part of this panel because of his immense experience in the entertainment industry. He has been a stage actor with different play groups, a panelist at many events and functions, as well as an events promoter. His vast experience makes Talk and Talk the most trustworthy show on radio when it comes to matters in the entertainment industry.
Jenkins Mukasa
He is an artiste who says he took a break from performing, after just two albums on his name. Jenkins has been there and seen it all, especially when it comes to performing arts. He has rubbed shoulders and knows even the smallest details about most artistes. He is humorous and brings life to the show. With him around, the listeners are rest assured that no artiste hosted on the show will exaggerate what they have, in terms of assets and what they have achieved in the industry.
Batt Badru
He is probably the least known among his counterparts, but Batt plays a huge role on the programme. He is the one in the field and does a lot of research, especially on matters that have to do with international information.
Most memorable moment
• Our greatest achievement was the day we launched Talk and Talk live at Bat Valley Theatre.
We hosted Kato Lubwama and Bobi Wine and Lubwama, now Rubaga South MP, told Bobi Wine how he was not a musician and that he should always stick with Nubian Lee because he brings out the best in him.
He also advised him to start rearing pigs and in his defence, Bobi kept telling Lubwama how rich he was.
The show was a success, it sold out, to a point that they had to put speakers in the parking lot of Bat Valley to enable everyone listen to what was going on. If there was a time we ever doubted we had listeners, then that time put all the doubts to rest.
THE BOAT CRUISE
The show hosts will be celebrating their five-year milestone in style, with a boat cruise to mark the milestone.
• Fee is only 50k and the programme will be aired straight from the boat. Do not miss surprise performances from artistes who have been roasted on the show before.
