I first heard Mapeni’s voice on Kati FM. It came through the statics of a cheap radio speaker, crisp and larger than life. To everyone that listens to him, he was the voice that brightened early mornings someones, full of quick with endless drama and hilarious stories that could make a crowded room laugh all at once. He named himself ‘Mapeni M’fuuli wo koshimbuba’.

When you hear someone on the airwaves every day, you build a picture of them in your head. You assume they carry that same grand that they are untouchable and living strictly in a world of studio lights. Then came the day of the Girl Guides and Scouts gathering.

I remember standing under the white event tent, wearing my baggy jersey. I was feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as a young journalism intern and then boom, MAPENI walked in. He was simply wearing his full Scouts uniform, complete with his green beret and a sash pinned with badges.

As he stepped over to talk to us, the larger-than-life radio persona faded away, replaced by something much bePer; genuine warmth. He didn’t treat the moment like a meet and greet with a famous broadcast host. He pulled us in, smiles effortlessly for the camera, singing and talked to us as equal members of the community. Listening and seeing him chat wasn’t like listening to a celebrity, it was like talking to an older mentor who genuinely cares about the people around him.