By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Former top Radio 3 presenter Felix Nganjo has paid tribute to the late legendary Jamaican reggae presenter — Dennis Wilson — who died last week after succumbing to Covid-19 in Harare aged 66.
The United Kingdom-based Nganjo affectionately known on radio as the Happy Smiler described Wilson as ‘the soul of the party’ and ‘a legend’ on the airwaves.
In an interview with Classic 263’s Terrence Mapurisana on the programme Reggae Talk, the Happy Smiler reminisced how he met Wilson before they became close friends on and off the radio.
“Sadly we meet again at the passing on of another radio giant Dennis Wilson but I knew him sort of five to six years before he knew me because he was a club DJ back in the 80s together with his brother in law Obadiah Moyo also known as the Mighty Biscuit. So as you do, you always go to your club DJ and sort of want to rub shoulders with him and just ask a silly question like ‘what was the name of the song you played there’ just so you could have a chat with them.
“That’s how I knew him then but our paths crossed again in 1990 when I became a presenter on radio 3. It was on his show that I hitched hiked and had a stint of 30 minutes with Dennis Wilson.
“He was a generous person wanting to share his experiences with you helping you navigate that desk. “We became bosom buddies over the years and visited each other’s houses and would share our experiences as presenters and I learnt a lot from him. I tapped a lot from his knowledge of music of reggae, soul and RnB and one time he was coming over to London for a holiday and he called upon me and said Felix: ‘can you do ehh 3 weeks of my shows on radio and I said No! I couldn’t do that you know I don’t wanna disappoint your listeners I said to him’
“And then he says Felix you can do it and I said ok I will come over to your house and get some nice reggae tunes and he said ‘No No. The reggae that you have in your house is good enough Felix I’ll tell you one thing its good enough go for it and I did.
“And for three weeks it was an amazing experience playing reggae on radio 3 for him and the listeners liked what I played but that was the man Dennis Wilson. He would give you confidence to do things where you thought no I couldn’t do it.”
He continued: “He had a larger than life presence. He was the soul of the party. Whenever he arrived everybody knew Dennis had arrived . . . He was the man for me. And his, of course infectious laughter just filled in the room he was a legend as far as I’m concerned.
“Radio changed when he came to be the presenter for reggae (it just) he had that oomph, that energy that vigor it was Dennis Wilson. We have lost a man who was among the greats for radio the foundation guys for radio it is Dennis Wilson.
“We created some memories with this man and let them be blessings to all of us and his legacy carries on. Dennis I love you, go well and sleep well!”
Wilson was buried last Wednesday in Harare’s Warren Hills Cemetery under strict Covid-19 regulations. His family who flew from Jamaica also thanked well-wishers for assisting in the funeral in a WhatsApp message which reads: “We the family of Dennis would like to than Noreen Obadiah and the people of Zimbabwe that took part in Dennis funeral we really and truly appreciate how he was well laid to rest may his soul rest in peace. God bless you all and thanks a lot. Aunt Daphnie.”
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