Channel O’s sexy and beautiful Nonhle Thema found a minute to answer a few questions. Did you know Nonhle actually means ‘beautiful’? Below is the transcript of the conversation we had with her about African music. She was just chosen to host the upcoming Channel O Music Video awards and talks a little about Channel O in the interview.

Museke: How are you?
Nonhle: I’m great. God has been good to me so I cannot complain about anything... I feel blessed everyday to do what i love and passionate about and get paid for it.

Museke: Can you tell us about your background and family?
Nonhle: Wow, I come from famous parents; my mother "Cynthia Shange" was the first black beauty queen allowed to enter the Miss world pageant in 1972. She’s also an actress and my biggest inspiration. I do everything to carry on my mother’s legacy. My father (Derick Thema) was a renowned journalist and so I have the best genes and characteristics in me. I always tell them I’m sooo blessed to have been created by them. Ha ha.

Museke: How did you get interested in journalism and why in the music industry?
Nonhle: Well I didn’t choose my career, it chose me. Since I was a young girl I was always into music. I knew every song and artist and I always watched Channelo after school. I always Knew I wanted to work there. Thank Goodness God had the same plan.

Museke: How does one get to be a veejay on Channel O?
Nonhle: I had to audition with a thousand other hopefuls.... other people have to do the same. It’s not easy, you have to prove your worth.

Museke: How long have you been at Channel O and how has it changed over the years for you?
Nonhle: I’ve been there for 4 and half years. It has grown soo much over the years with the inclusion of new shows like my international hit "O access", 1 drop, Street bangers and Oboma and so many more. The Channel is in a great position at the moment and is the most watched music channel in Africa.

Museke: What is your average day at Channel O like and which programs do you present?
Nonhle: I host a few shows 'O Access" which is the show I record in the US chatting with the world’s biggest celebs, 'Street Bangers" which I also shoot in the US, it’s a countdown show, and then in South Africa I host our daily live show called "O Boma" and I also do 'O News" and channel O Radio and lots of voice overs. So my day at work is always hectic but Fun.

Museke: Do you do any radio shows?
Nonhle: I do Channel O radio. I’m looking forward to joining a national radio station here at home. Only time will tell.

Museke: Have you recorded any music?
Nonhle: No, I’m no singer although I have been offered recording contracts. He he, it’s very flattering.

Museke: Which African musicians did you listen to growing up?
Nonhle: I loved Boom Shaka, they were my favourite. I always say the late Lebo Mathosa was the greatest.

Museke: May she rest in perfect peace. Which African musicians do you idolize or admire (presently)?
Nonhle: So many I can’t really say. I’m exposed too soo much. I love them all.

Museke: What African music collaborations would you love to see?
Nonhle: D’banj (Nigeria) and Jozi (South Africa)

Museke: What is your take on African music videos? What percentage of those you've seen are truly excellent and what can we do to make better ones?
Nonhle: The standard of music videos has really improved over the years. Im so proud of my fellow African brothers and sisters. They really have stepped it up and can compete internationally. I love it.

Museke: You seem to be a big star. Is the South African press easy on the paparazzi/gossip? How do you handle that?
Nonhle: I’m very strange in terms of all that. I don’t get influenced by the press which most have been so supportive as they recognise that I’m putting South Africa on the map. I fear God and no man. So I’m in a good place.

Museke: I've seen you on the covers of a few magazines. Any photoshoots we should know about? Are you also a model?
Nonhle: I started my career as a model and beauty queen. I won a few pageants in my early days and was therefore recognized by modeling agencies. I then started commercials and endorsement deals and I was always working despite my short height. I was determined to be a success after all that it lead to TV and one day I auditioned for Channelo and the rest is history.

Museke: How does it feel to be in the FHM magazine (South African version)?
Nonhle: Being on FHM is a real honour. Especially since it’s a predominantly white magazine. It makes me proud to think I have crossed over and I’m appealing to whites and blacks. That was always my plan in this business.I want everyone to like me and relate to me. And I’m achieving that. It’s proven after being voted 17th sexiest woman in the world out of 100. It’s a blessing. The reason is because I’m Gods child.

Museke: How many cameos have you done for music videos?
Nonhle: I just did my first video yesterday for Danny K and Kabelo. It was for a good course fighting crime. So it was for charity. It felt good being part of something positive trying to uplift our country and stop crime. I have been offered other videos just never had the time to do them.

Museke: You've met a lot of celebrities as part of your job and the program 'O Access'. Who were your favorite musicians to hang around?
Nonhle: .....50 cent, Pharrell, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Neyo, John Legend, Tyrese, Larenz Tate,Jermaine Dupree, Nelly Furtado, G Unit, Bow Wow, Joe, Meagan Good and soooo many more. They were all so cool I felt like I was their friend just asking questions. That’s how I like my guests to feel.

Museke: Congratulations on getting to host the upcoming Channel O awards. How do you feel about it?
Nonhle: It’s an honour for me to be representing my African people at such a prestigious event. Celebrating being African and African unity. I’ve worked hard for this moment. I feel like now I can breath and say wow hard work pays off....it’s a blessing.

Museke: Is Krazy Boy (Kabelo 'KB' Ngakane) really that crazy? What should we expect from the ceremony and festivites?
Nonhle: KB is the best. I have learnt so much from him over the years. He's the best. Us together should be explosive. Will make it rain, ha ha, my swagg and his combined will be explosive.

Museke: How are the nominees for the Channel O Music Video awards categories chosen?
Nonhle: There is a panel of judges....including Channel O's General Manager Yolisa Phahle.

Museke: Tell us who will win at the Channel O MVAs. We want to break the winners first. Just kidding 
Nonhle: I can’t predict the future. People must vote for their favourite artists on the channelo website that’s www.channelo.co.za if they don’t vote then they must not complain if their favourites don’t win.

Museke: Missing from the nominees are those from Francophone Africa countries. What happened there? Doesn't Channel O have a presence on those countries?
Nonhle: We’re all over the continent. sometimes artists from other countries don’t have the best quality videos. The awards are based on video quality and popularity.

Museke: Why don't we see the Youssou Ndours, Angelique Kidjos, Salif Keitas, Oliver Mtukudzis on Channel O? Is the channel focusing on younger African musicians? Or do African youth not really pay attention to those kinds of artistes?
Nonhle: We play all music on the channel. All the artists you’ve mentioned we play. Maybe you just haven’t seen them. We always respect and recognize our older artists who paved the way for all of us. African music wouldn’t be the same without the likes of Salif and Angelique having set the foundation for it all.

Museke: What is your take on the many reality pop contests going on in Africa? Do you think it is encouraging young African musicians to take up more 'foreign' types of music?
Nonhle: Reality Pop Contests are really great as they unleash potential and talent we never knew existed. I don’t think at all it encourages musicians to take up foreign music. At the end of the day, a contestant might sing a Beyonce song but at the end of the day when they record an album, they have to reflect their heritage and be true to themselves and their people or else it won’t be a success. No one wants a fake Beyonce.

Museke: How can African music expand and sell outside?
Nonhle: They need to firstly be promoted in the US as most people don’t know about the talent we have in Africa. That’s why through my show O Access I try to educate as many people about African music and how if given a chance could blow up in the states. They need to start playing our African videos on their music channels.

Museke: How can an artiste get his or her video in Channel O's rotation?
Nonhle: They just need to contact Multichoice (MNET) and all will be explained.

Museke: What are the challenges facing the South African music industry?
Nonhle: Plenty. People don’t see the music industry as a business. It’s not like in the States where a singer has a publicist, manager and marketing team and people that take care and believe in them. Here at home, artists have to hustle for themselves and market their own albums sometimes. It’s hard, but hopefully, we will eventually get to that level of professionalism.

Museke: What kind of community service is Channel O involved in?
Nonhle: I’m involved in a few. I do motivational talks all over the country at schools and I also have a Nonhle's Angels Program named after my late aunt 'Khanyisile Angel Shange". I Invite students to meet with me once a month and I mentor and advise them on all matters affecting them. I’m like their big sister. And Shout Out to my students at Cida University who are my angels and who make this program happen.

Museke: How many languages do you speak?
Nonhle: A few. I speak Zulu, English and Sotho.

Museke: Do you have any present engagements and works other than working for Channel O?
Nonhle: Channel O takes up all my time at the moment. I’m in no rush to conquer the world as yet. I don’t want to be all over the place so I choose my jobs carefully but I MC at a lot of functions and I’m always doing voice overs and I’m working on my Marketing Degree and growing my Nonhle Thema brand not forgetting my Angels program. So I’m always busy. I dont really sleep much.

Museke: What are your hobbies and pastimes?
Nonhle: I read a lot...and I’m addicted to the internet.

Museke: Do you have a website?
Nonhle: Yes, it’s www.nonhlethema.com. That’s where people can find and interact with me and also get to know what makes me tick and my reasons for living and beliefs are.

Museke: Give us your Parthian shot – last words.
Nonhle: I always live by this motto "Don’t ask yourself what the world needs - but ask yourself what it is that makes You come alive....and then go out there and make it happen because the world needs more people that come alive.