SHABBA


Shonisani Aubrey Muleya, known as Shabba, gets his YFM listeners laughing every time he is on air. He has been making people laugh since he was 10 years old at school assemblies. Shabba enrolled at Technikon Northern Gauteng, for a diploma in Civil Engineering. This is where he got the name Shabba, for having the same haircut as the ragga artist, Shabba Ranks. He was part of a student delegation that approached the Independent Broadcasting Authority for a community broadcasting license for Radio Technikon Northern Transvaal and was Technical Manager of the station.

In 1999 he and his sister Elelwani Jacqueline formed Maud Productions, named after their mother. That same year he joined YFM in their Production Department and quickly moved on to Club Y, a music only show. Shabba's tea-room and hallway jokes caught the attention of Programmes Manager Greg Maloka, who decided to put him on air. His character Ashifashabba is brought to life to celebrate the power and magic that comes with some of the South African indigenous languages. Shabbalingo ingredients are seSotho, sePedi, seTswana and Tshivenda.

Shabba entertains indigenous South Africans in the languages they best understand. "There are enough of English comedians in the country, they do not need me but my people do", says Shabba. He recorded a comedy show at Arena nightclub in Midrand, which is available on CD.