Mahikeng FM is taking its role beyond broadcasting with the launch of #MakeMaftownGreatAgain, a cultural and community movement designed to connect Mahikeng’s talent, businesses, creatives and communities to audiences, markets and opportunity.

The initiative marks a strategic evolution for the community radio station, positioning Mahikeng FM not only as a broadcaster, but as a dynamic platform for culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, talent development, community storytelling and economic participation.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, sustainability within community broadcasting requires a more innovative, diversified and commercially sustainable approach to cultural and community impact, for long-term institutional growth, and this must be anchored in purpose.

For Mahikeng FM, this evolution does not mean moving away from its community mandate. Instead, it means expanding what community broadcasting can do.

Through live experiences, radio programming, digital storytelling and community engagement, #MakeMaftownGreatAgain aims to strengthen Mahikeng FM’s role as a connector between talent, audiences, businesses, communities and opportunity.

The movement will come to life through five strategic platforms designed to translate the station’s purpose into recurring cultural, business and community experiences:

·       HHP Thursdays: A biweekly hip hop and creative expression platform driven by Hip Hop Pozie (HHP) with Collen Costa, taking Hip Hop and Motswako from the airwaves into a live cultural experience that circle back to in-studio interviews, airplay, live experiences and digital content.

·       Soul Garden Experience: A lifestyle and music experience featuring Mahikeng FM DJs, outside broadcast talent and guest performers, bringing together music, lifestyle and community.

·       Creativity Without Barriers: A platform creating visibility and opportunities for artists and creatives with disabilities, providing a space for their talent, stories and creative expression to be seen and heard.

·       The Art of Business: An outdoor podcast and market experience connecting entrepreneurs, creatives and business leaders to exchange ideas, build networks and contribute to the growth of the creative economy.

·       Village to Village: An ongoing community outreach and storytelling initiative taking Mahikeng FM deeper into villages and communities to identify stories that can become long-form radio, digital and documentary content. The platform will also support the station’s news and community outreach mandate by creating opportunities to identify challenges and facilitate meaningful, fair and impartial conversations around possible solutions.

Mahikeng FM CEO, Karabo Kgokong, says the movement speaks directly to the station’s responsibility to contribute to the continued development of the community from which it emerged.

“This initiative speaks directly to the station’s responsibility to its home. We were born out of this spirit, and we have a responsibility to contribute to the advancement of our home, not simply by celebrating its history, but by creating opportunities for its future. We have an opportunity to use the platforms, reach and influence of Mahikeng FM to contribute meaningfully to the development of our community, while creating spaces for our people to participate in shaping the future of Mahikeng.”

Mahikeng once experienced a period when children had numerous outlets for creative and academic expression, while businesses actively participated in initiatives that contributed to community engagement and job creation.

While Mahikeng has continued to evolve, there is an opportunity to intentionally strengthen the relationship between culture, creativity, business and community development.

Mahikeng FM aims to play a deliberate role in this space, recognising the creative economy as an important avenue for artistic growth, talent development, entrepreneurship and economic participation, particularly as the community continues to navigate the challenge of unemployment.

“#MakeMaftownGreatAgain is not simply about hosting events. It is about creating an ecosystem. The initiative creates opportunities for businesses, brands, artists, entrepreneurs, government, development organisations and community stakeholders to participate in strengthening Mahikeng’s creative economy and reclaiming a strong creative legacy that Maftwonians are known for,” says Chief Growth Officer, Mmamutle Moche.

 Mahikeng FM has a unique position because it sits at the intersection of media, community, culture and business. #MakeMaftownGreatAgain gives them an opportunity to use that position more intentionally to build partnerships, create platforms and connect people and ideas to opportunities that can have a lasting impact.

As a leading community radio station in the North West, Mahikeng FM continues to evolve with its audience while remaining rooted in its community mandate.

#MakeMaftownGreatAgain represents the station’s commitment to move beyond telling the story of Mahikeng to actively participating in shaping its next chapter.

#MakeMaftownGreatAgain