It’s not every day that a media darling trades the studio mic for academic textbooks, but for Mpumi Mlambo purpose has always been her guiding light.
Mpumi, known affectionately to fans as “Skado”, is stepping back into the spotlight with the highly anticipated third season of The Encore, her genre-defying music show on Metro FM.
Broadcast Saturdays from 12pm to 3pm, The Encore is more than just a radio show; it’s become a cultural movement. With its listenership doubling since the previous season, Mpumi’s platform continues to spotlight rising voices, many of whom have since made their mark on global stages.
“What makes my journey more remarkable is what I'm doing off air. Between recording interviews and styling for the black carpet, I'm also deep in my honours [degree] studies in clinical psychology, a full-circle moment, considering my broadcasting career began at Voice of Wits FM while I was studying psychology. It’s a move that speaks volumes about the sort of legacy I'm building — one rooted in empathy, depth and impact beyond the microphone,” she said.
Radio is just one piece of the puzzle. Come May 3, Mpumi will again light up the black carpet as the host of the Metro FM Music Awards — a role she’s made uniquely her own. Last year she charmed viewers with her backstage presence. This time she takes centre stage co-hosting again, a reflection of the industry’s trust in her charisma, experience and musical insight.
“Coming off the back of my role as host of the prime time TV show Ushuni Womhlaba, I continue to be a familiar face on SABC screens and airwaves. My return to the black carpet of the Metro FM Music Awards and The Encore is a natural continuation of the story I've been telling — one of elevating young talent and creating space for fresh voices in the industry.”
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