Wednesday 1 March 2023

Unathi Nkayi gets ready to cook up a storm

When one thinks of Mzansi celebrities affected by cancel culture, there are several who have come to experience it.

 And it's hard not to include Unathi Nkayi and Gareth Cliff on that list, as they both have had their fair share of being "cancelled".


So Nkayi was the perfect first guest for Cliff and award-winning comedian and writer Eugene Khoza's new initiative, which is designed to engage and provoke debate: Gareth Cliff uncancelled.

Having launched Cliffcentral almost nine years ago for uncensored, unscripted, unradio, the irreverent Cliff is now expanding the offering to include a live monthly event with an audience.

The new current affairs and entertainment series will open the floodgates to pent-up views on everything from life without electricity through to hilarious human behaviour.

Cliff explained: "It's about the most topical issues in South Africa and around the world, and to get people talking! We want to encourage progressive thinking and spark debate – whether they agree or disagree!"

The first guest on Uncancelled is embattled broadcaster Nkayi, who was fired from Kaya 959 in 2021 after an alleged argument with a colleague.

This is Nkayi's first proper interview in a very long time, with all the controversy she had faced in the public eye, choosing silence rather than to spill the tea.

Nkayi recently hung up her mic at the community radio station, Star 91.9 FM, where she and Justin Toerien have been co-hosting All Star Drive for the past year.

The conversation between Cliff and Nkayi took place before a live audience at the new Cliffcentral house in Sandhurst.

Nkayi, who goes way back with Cliff, the two having worked together on Idols SA, was comfortable opening up to her friend.

In 2022, after 10 seasons of being an Idols SA judge, Nkayi was let go from the popular singing competition show, something she found out about through the media.

She addressed her very controversial exit from Kaya FM, and shared that she has begun her legal battle against the commercial radio station, which is costing "six figures".