EAST Coast Radio weekend DJ Samson Oduntan has a maturity that belies his 20-something years, probably based on an upbringing that saw him being born in the UK and living in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria before his family settled in South Africa.
As a medical specialist, his father had travelled around the world for his calling – and clearly instilled the same laudable values in his children. Samson studied publishing at the University of Pretoria and was sufficiently attracted to radio to apply as a news reader for the campus station Tuks FM.
Six months later station management remonstrated with him for wasting his talents, pointing out he should be a DJ - not a news reader. He spent the next four years hosting shows to his fellow students. Thereafter came a stint on Highveld Stereo in the overnight slot before he followed his parents to the East Coast several months ago.
For the past three months, Samson has co-hosted the chart shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with Kyleigh Lazarus from the station’s Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World studio and says for him the attraction towards the medium is the people. His work enables him to meet and talk to a myriad different people from across life and he believes anyone who indulges in “exclusive me-time” opens himself up for disillusionment and being cut off from everyday life.
“Being in touch with people helps you to be in touch with reality. People open up when they discover what I do for a living, but that means I have the opportunity to get people to open up on their life experiences … people make you a personality, not you,” he says.
During the week Samson edits for legal publishing house LexisNexis and believes his future holds the opportunity to work (or own) a media house embracing a host of mediums – print, radio, television. He seeks challenges in the media currently considered as “dying”, viewing the social media platform as saturated.
Samson already spends a fair amount of his weekends at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World, but believes the relaxed, family atmosphere makes the complex the ideal place for entertainment. Regardless of the day or time, there are always families walking around and the place offers something for everyone.
It is also “the only place” where he watches his movies, a pastime for which Samson has a particular affinity.
In his downtime Samson loves sport, either watching it or talking about it; has a passion for music across the genres and a fascination for information technology, reading as much as possible to get a handle on this fast-changing subject.
Coming from a tight-knit family, this element remains critical and he holds reverence for his parents, older brother (a doctor) and younger sister (currently completing a master’s degree in psychology). He is presently single, but “always keeps his eyes and mind open to opportunities”.
“If I were an animal, it would be a tortoise, because slow and steady will always win the race. There is no need to rush,” Samson concludes.
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About Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World, Durban
Influenced by the Art Deco style of Miami South Beach, Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World is Kwa-Zulu Natal’s leading gamer-tainment destination. It boasts unparalleled atmosphere from its location on Durban’s stretch of palm-lined beaches known as the Golden Mile and is within walking distance of the new Moses Mabhida Stadium built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
SUNCOAST is the largest casino in Durban at over 7000m2, with coinless SMART technology, 1330 slot machines, 50 gaming tables, and an exclusive Salon Prive called 77 Ocean Drive for higher limit slots and tables.
SUNCOAST’s leisure, dining and retail options include 18 restaurants and fast food outlets, over 20 retailers, a grassed SUNDeck and Boardwalk leading onto the Indian Ocean, a kids’ entertainment arcade, the 8-screen Nu Metro cinema complex and the SUNCOAST Zone theatre facility.
The SUNCOAST Durban complex also includes 5-star conference and eventing service plus superior accommodation at the sea-facing Suncoast Hotel & Towers, with its Balinese-style spa and stylish Riviera Restaurant.
Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, Durban, is owned by Tsogo Sun Gaming.