The Sunday Mail
Religion Writer —
Popular radio show – Star FM Gospel Greats – which is aired on Sunday nights, now has a new presenter after the departure of Napolean “Napstar” Nyani.
Yvonne Karichero now rocks the airwaves between 6pm and 9pm every Sunday.
Gospel Greats was pioneered by Leander Kandiero in 2012 before he moved to Mutare based Diamond FM last year after which Napstar took over until his departure to Zimpaper’s Capitalk.
Karichero is passionate about the show.
“I feel honoured to be part of this show as I come from a solid Christian family background and I love gospel. I want to reach out to people through the messages that we will be sending out about God.
“It is also a new experience for me and I am ready for the challenge. I hope to learn a lot from both young and old listeners,” she said.
The 31-year-old Harare born journalist chronicled her journey in life saying through passion, she decided to undertake journalism and broadcasting after acquiring her A-Level education.
“I was more of a dramatic person in high school, someone who would read novels in class, always in the drama club and I am strongly convinced that it influenced my decision to study journalism. I studied media at Midlands States University but dropped out due to financial constraints. Eventually, I did a diploma at Umma Institute,” she said.
A mother of three, Karichero said after studying journalism, she did her attachment at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) in 2006 in the arts department under Terence Mapurisana, Mercy Pote and Patrice Makova.
“These people were the first to identify my talent and passion in arts and entertainment news, unfortunately when my attachment ended, I was forced to leave ZBC.
“I couldn’t get a journalism job, so I decided to go into something else. I worked at a fast food outlet for some time and in 2010 l joined ZBC’s Channel 2.
When Star FM advertised in 2012 she applied, went for auditions and got the job.
“I got the job as a Shona news presenter. I am a news oriented person. I didn’t have the skills that DeeJays have.
“But then as I grew with Star FM and last year was my big break because we started doing news and current affairs programming. It was then that my bosses realized my good command of English and Shona.
“They tried me on a number of programs and when Napstar was about to leave for Capitalk. I was invited by Mr Comfort Mbofana, Ishmael Ndlovu and Nyaradzo Makombe.
“I tried and my bosses liked it. Eventually the show was handed over to me. I was mentored for some time, we would co-present the show together with Napstar, he showed me the ropes.
Karichero, a member of Divine Grace Ministries International, said Gospel Greats is now her “first church”.
“Now that I facilitate the communion between God and His people through music, I promise that I will be equal to the task.”
The radio personality is married to James Karichero and the couple is blessed with three children.
