Ginty, Contact F.M’s ‘Night Shift’ presenter talks love

Cynthia Umurungi a.k.a Ginty is a presenter on 89.7 Contact FM. She co-presents with Natasha on the ‘Night Shift’ show which kicks off at 9:30 p.m till 11:00 p.m weekly, from Monday to Thursday. The joyous and interactive Ginty was born on November 25th, 1985 in Burundi. She is the first and only girl born in a family of three. Together with her two other brothers, she is the daughter of the late Venuste Munyeragwe and Patricie Ngoga. Ginty completed her Primary School education at APE Rugunga before she joined the Institute de Formation Apostoligue Kimihurura (IFAK) Priest-Salesians. She later graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy at Kigali Heath Institute (KHI). In 2005 during her Senior Six vacation, Ginty was surfaced on Rwanda’s airwaves presenting on Flash Fm. She said that, this achievement was after taking advice from a friend who thought she would do great presenting on Radio. She was presenting the ‘Evening Drive’ and ‘Hot 7@7’ for two years before breaking off to pursue a university degree. “I had to take a break and purse my studies. The first year of the course was taught at Kibuye and it did not favour my budding career. In 2008 I bounced back and worked with Flash FM before moving to Contact FM,” Ginty explains. The love show presenter said her first encounter with listeners on air was scary. “Oh my God, it was scarily! I felt like people were looking straight at me. I was so nervous that I thought I was going to say something wrong. The next show was a disaster because I blundered during an advert but, with time I gained the flow,” she says. During contact FM’s ‘Night Shift’ show with co-presenter Natasha, they tackle relationship issues. The basic language used is Kinyarwanda although English and French chips in occasionally. “We let our listeners express themselves in the language they are comfortable speaking. We also translate if a caller speaks in English and French or translate difficult Kinyarwanda words,” Ginty explains.Interacting with her listeners is very crucial during her show. “It all depends on the subject matter, simple problems receive immediate answers while complicated one that require brainstorming, reflection and research are moved to Monday’s show,” she explains. In other words, they share a problematic topic with listeners who contribute their views through SMS or emails. Sometimes expert advice from doctors or social workers is sought after. Since February is considered the love month, Ginty says something special is brewing for the ‘Night Shift’ listeners.“We have started a love campaign because people kept informing us that they had run out of ideas on what to do on Valentine’s Day. We advise them depending on what suits our society and cultural traits,” she says. Ginty says that there are countless things one can do to show love. “Appreciating another is enough, for instance; spend Valentine’s Day at home and do something your spouse treasures, spoil them or try massaging them at the end of the day. “It’s not about ‘the money’ you spend; it all depends on the way you feel for each other,” Ginty emphasizes.Ginty defined love as; “caring, making an effort to understand and feel your partner and going the extra mile.” For the single blocks out there that are getting love-stricken ideas about the lovely Ginty, be wary because she is dating—and, she declines disclosing the identity of her lucky man. “I’m actually at that point in a relationship where I’m trying to find myself although, I would rather not to mention his name,” Ginty coos. Her Favourites Dish: Spaghetti fambon fromage with mushroom sauce Music: New Soul Artist: Tracy Chapman (International) Rafiki and Liza Kamikazi (local)Sports: Basketball and jogging Ends