Veteran broadcaster Dan Moyane pens an interesting book about his career and life in exile

Review:  By Rolland Simpi Motaung

Author: Dan Moyane 

Title: I Don’t Want To Die Unknown- We Need To Listen to Our Inner Voice Publishers: Tracey McDonald (2021)

 In one speech the great motivational speaker Les Brown invites his audience to imagine themselves lying on their deathbeds surrounded by ghosts. Now before we call the Ghostbusters, these ghosts are rather friendly as they represent one’s ideas, dreams, abilities and talents given to them by life or the universe. 

The punch line delivered at the end of the speech was: that if you were to die today, what unfulfilled ideas and dreams or unutilized abilities and gifts would die with you?

 Part memoir and part legacy, I Don’t Want to Die Unknown, is a modest yet powerful story of Dan Moyane’s enduring spirit to fully utilize his abilities and leave no ghosts behind. Written with a clear timeline, this latest offering relays Bra Dan’s early childhood in Soweto and an invaluable journey in various aspects of the media industry both in Mozambique and South Africa for over 30 years. However, before I conjure up a resurrection of my late grandparents to administer hard smacks for calling my elders “Bra”, I will resort to Ntate Dan.

 Pursuit of a purpose oriented life

From starting his media journey at Mozambique News Agency (AIM) and Radio Mozambique English Services (SERM) in the 80s where he was also a BBC correspondent, Ntate Dan has worked tirelessly to not die unknown. This media giant has had his fair brushes with death however. At 14 years old amidst the tear gases of the seventies is where the author’s political awareness and activism emanated after the introduction of Afrikaans at his primary school. 

Attempting to look for refuge in a neighbor’s outside toilet during a march that turned chaotic, the author states “I saw a brown boot and as I looked up I saw a tall white policeman, his rifle pointed at me”, luckily no trigger was pulled. Not wanting his existence to be a blurry footnote in history, this incident and amongst others led to his decision to go to exile in his father’s birth country, Mozambique. “It was a very clear, calm choice: either I left or I died” states the media veteran. Another brush with death came in 1986 when an airplane carrying President Samora Machel and other media colleagues from Radio Mozambique on a meeting to Lusaka crashed. Held up by family engagements the author was unable to travel at the time. 

As he dealt with a flood of calls across the globe, one thought kept flashing through his mind “I was supposed to have been on that plane.” These death strokes gave the author conviction to pursue a purpose oriented life. “What I do know is that I don’t want to be lying on my deathbed one day, wondering why I didn’t raise my voice, why I did not contribute to a much better future where my grandchildren will prosper.”

 Versatile career path

This former informal trader of green apples at taxi ranks during high school is currently an air presenter on eNCA and a chair of Momentum Metropolitan Foundation.  Ntate Dan’s career trajectory has been versatile, easily traversing in between media and corporate spaces, light-years away from his initial dream of being a pediatrician.

 As someone who gets bored easily with monotonous work, the author mentions “all of this meant that instead of having a linear career, I have always been involved in several hustles.” Though it wasn’t his chosen career, above everything and at least for now, news broadcasting remains the author’s sweet spot. To this the author states, “I feel like current affairs are in my blood, even when I worked in corporate I read the newspapers every day.” Clear as our HD screens at prime time, this is testimony that the proverbial radio bug had indeed bitten deep and would propel him to new heights in positively affecting people’s lives. 

Socio-politics and unifying people

A socio-political environment has a way to shape one’s path, and it’s no different for the author. Moyane has lived a vibrant life filled with enriching experiences; from sharing supper with his hero Chris Hani who also attended his wedding, jamming with Mariam Makeba to soaking up premium political education from the likes of Oliver Tambo as a junior comrade in exile. He also gives fullest praise to his forefather’s home country for opening the door to an extraordinary career in media: 

“If it hadn’t been for Mozambique I would never have become a journalist” says the author. However, upon his return to South Africa in the 90s, feeling uncomfortable with questionable behaviors of some comrades, the author ceased his political activities. 

Moyane sought to be self-reliant on his own skills in contributing to rebuilding the country even though it came with its own personal challenges. For instance the author indicates that his tenure at Radio 702 was rather tough both as presenter and senior management. 

The author dealt with feeble criticism due to long-held mental models from some white audiences and colleagues. With a long multi-ethnic lineage that includes the Bantu, Khoisan, Goan and Dutch; the author saw himself as a voice towards unity through telling his authentic story. 

Undeterred and armed with his wife’s support, Odete, the author mentions he converted his anger to energy and used his growing influence on the radio as a transformative platform to educate listeners and his peers. It’s this authenticity along with relatability that has made this gentle media giant- who also taught 65 000 fans to sing Shosholoza at the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final- have a sustainable career. He doesn’t see himself as an intellect but a servant leader who doesn’t shy away from showing his vulnerabilities, 

“I find that it’s when you’re not afraid to show your real self that you are able to connect with people” the author affirms. 

Conclusion

 Beyond appealing to budding media practitioners in radio, television and the corporate communication space, this book is also connected with media enthusiasts wanting to learn more about how our socio-political events influence the output of news we consume. To this, the author argues that today’s mainstream media needs to regain its credibility, to be more responsible and produce accurate reporting. He empathizes that the “click and send culture” has damaged the public’s trust in mainstream news media. 

To this a thought is given to the latest #Thembisa10 saga and other arrays of fake news propagated by social media. Akin to the invaluable media jewels embedded in Jeremy Maggs- 

My final answer (2021), this memoir is a colossal treasure for present and future generations. Small wonder is also given to how the late Xolani Gwala and Vuyo Mbuli- media veterans gone too soon- would have captured their experiences in the media industry. 

One suspects that their stories would have stood shoulder to shoulder with Ntate Dan’s experiences. Thus this indicates the undeniable fact of the importance of penning our stories in order to reflect, preserve and inspire the next generation. With ghosts at bay due to a rich and purpose-driven life, Ntate Daniel Tsakani Moyane’s living legacy has been immortalized. He is heard, seen and very much known. 

Rolland Simpi Motaung is a Joburg based writer and entrepreneur.