Award-winning South African broadcaster, voice artist, MC and facilitator Ntombi Phiri, popularly known as Ntombi The Voice, is turning nearly two decades of experience behind the microphone into an opportunity to nurture the next generation of storytellers.
Phiri will sponsor and present the inaugural Ntombi Phiri Broadcasting Award at Parktown Boys High School, recognising a learner who has made a significant contribution to the school’s growing podcasting programme. The award carries the citation “The Most Significant Senior Contribution to Podcasting” and is set to become part of the school’s senior cultural awards.
The initiative comes as podcasting continues to create new opportunities for young people to communicate, tell stories and develop their own platforms. At Parktown Boys High School, podcasting was introduced three years ago and has since become an important part of the school’s creative and communication environment.
For Ntombi, the decision to establish and sponsor the award is deeply personal. Having spent close to two decades working in radio and broadcasting, she understands the power of having access to a platform and the confidence that can come from learning how to use one’s voice effectively.
“When I heard about the school’s new podcasting award, I immediately felt that this was something I wanted to support personally,” Ntombi said in the media statement.
Her contribution goes beyond recognising technical podcasting ability. The award is intended to acknowledge a learner’s contribution to the development and success of the school’s podcasting programme, while encouraging young people to understand that their ideas, stories and perspectives have value.
“I love that this award is not simply about being the best speaker or having the best podcast. It is about recognizing a learner who has made a meaningful contribution to the culture of podcasting at Parktown Boys,” Ntombi said.
The award also reflects the changing nature of broadcasting and media. For generations, young broadcasters often had to rely on traditional radio and television platforms to reach an audience. Today, podcasting and digital platforms have lowered some of those barriers, allowing young creators to produce, distribute and build audiences around their own content.
“The microphone is no longer confined to a radio studio. Today, young people can create podcasts, build audiences and tell stories from anywhere,” Ntombi said, highlighting the importance of giving young people the skills, encouragement and platforms to develop their voices.
Her relationship with Parktown Boys High School has developed through her work with Radio 2000 and her involvement in supporting the school’s podcasting initiative. Through that relationship, she has seen the importance of creating pathways between schools and professionals working in broadcasting, media and communications.
The annual award is therefore intended to be more than a once-off recognition. By naming it after Ntombi, the initiative seeks to establish a lasting connection between her broadcasting journey and the young people coming through the school.
“For me, having my name attached to this award is incredibly special. I hope that one day, when a learner sees the words ‘Ntombi Phiri Broadcasting Award’, they will understand that it represents someone who believed in the power of their voice and wanted to invest in them,” she said.
That message is particularly relevant as the creative economy continues to expand beyond traditional industries. Podcasting, digital journalism, voice work, content creation and online broadcasting have created new spaces where young people can experiment with storytelling and develop professional skills.
For emerging creatives, however, access to equipment and platforms is only one part of the journey. Mentorship, encouragement and opportunities to have their work recognised can also play an important role in helping young people see creative work as a legitimate pathway.
Phiri believes young people have more opportunities than ever to create and distribute their own content. Her focus is therefore not simply on celebrating her own broadcasting career, but on using the experience she has gained to open doors for others.
“I have been incredibly blessed in my broadcasting career, and I believe that success becomes even more meaningful when you can use it to open a door for someone else,” she said.
The establishment of the Ntombi Phiri Broadcasting Award places that philosophy into action. It creates a space where a young person’s contribution to podcasting can be formally acknowledged while also encouraging learners to take their communication and storytelling abilities seriously.
For a creative sector that constantly speaks about developing the next generation, initiatives such as this offer a practical example of what mentorship and legacy can look like beyond conferences and conversations.
Ntombi The Voice’s journey from behind the microphone to creating opportunities for young broadcasters demonstrates how professional experience can be transformed into something that benefits others. Through the award, her voice is no longer only being heard through radio, events and broadcasting platforms, it is also being used to encourage young people to find and develop their own.
As the inaugural recipient prepares to receive the Ntombi Phiri Broadcasting Award, the significance of the initiative may ultimately extend beyond one learner or one school. It represents an investment in the idea that young people deserve platforms where they can speak, create, experiment and be heard.
And perhaps that is the most meaningful part of Ntombi The Voice’s growing legacy: not simply being recognised for having a voice, but helping others discover the power of their own.
