Bongani Njoli has died at the age of 54. Njoli, a born and bred Capetonian and veteran deejay, is best known as the man behind the iconic voice of e.tv’s Friday Action Night promos.
@gosomewhereslow Bongani Njoli. A South African voice and legend that will always be remembered. #Fyp #fypsouthafrica #etv #blackexcellence #blackhistory #bonganinjoli #southafrican #southafricanlegend #southafricanhistory #southafricantv #etvonline
β¬ original sound – SLOW
From the early 2000s, Njoli reminded us time and again of the action-packed movie line-up. But beyond his e.tv voice-over gig, he was also on radio.
In 1990, while still a student, he was at UCT Radio and in 1994 Njoli became the first black DJ on Good Hope FM. He continued his career at Heart 104.9 FM between 2007 and 2009, and joined Cape Town’s Magic 828 in 2016.
Alongside producer Gabi le Roux, Njoli founded Embovu Entertainment and he also worked on two SAMA-nominated albums in 2000.
Even though his voice echoed in our homes on e.tv for almost two decades, one of his former colleagues spoke out the troublesome years leading up to his death in an interview with IOL.
“People loved his promos on TV. Then over the last few years he really struggled to get work, radio stations ghosted him and he was desperate.
“We spoke just last month about how difficult things were for him. He looked frail and old, a shadow of the man I remember.”
According to a statement issued by eMedia, Njoli worked with them on a movie campaign in December 2022, but the project was unfortunately put on hold because he was too weak to record.
The cause of Bongani Njoli’s death has not yet been disclosed, he leaves behind his partner of 21 years and a 24-year-old daughter.
Tributes pour in for Bongani Njoli on social media
So sad this morning about the passing on Bongani Njoli. It makes you wonder why there are so few black radio broadcasters in Cape Town and why Bongani was left out in the cold in the few years leading to his death.
— Gasant Abarder (@GasantAbarder) January 23, 2023
This one hurts sore.
— Rrrrobin Adams πΏπ¦π³οΈβπ (@RobinAdamsZA) January 22, 2023
Rest in power Bongani Njoli – friend, scholar, gentleman… voice of @eTV for donkey's years, famous for "toooooooonight on eeeeeee".
You Sir, were a cut above.
You are already missed.
And the amazing work you did for @UWConline will live on.
ππ½π pic.twitter.com/x9bl1Vf2ls
TONIGHT, ONLY ON e!β He was the voice that so many grew up listening to. A gentle soul no longer! I spent so many hours job shadowing at Goodhope FM and hours talking in person when we walked past each at the old Kloof Studios. RIP-ower #BonganiNjoli a UNIQUE voice no more. pic.twitter.com/Izro7OCzhK
— Gershawn Coetzee Β© (@gershawncoetzee) January 23, 2023
A golden voice behind eTV's on-air promos & a gentleman. #BonganiNjoli insisted he only wanted a few rand for "some beers" to record this amazing voiceover work for our old rock podcast Radio Spookasem.
— Graeme Raubenheimer (@GraemeRauby) January 23, 2023
Your voice lives on, bra Bongs. RIPhttps://t.co/bG8FpJUCQP
His voice still will forever be embedded into South Africans’ hearts. He is the legend you never knew that you needed to know.