Owen Madondo

1. Personal background and early life

One of the most significant parts of his background is his upbringing. In an August 2022 interview with H-Metro, Madondo revealed that he was raised by his grandmother, who took him into her care when he was just nine months old. He grew up in rural Zimbabwe before moving to Harare in 2007. He attended Zengeza High 1 School after relocating to the capital. He also spoke about growing up in difficult circumstances, including limited financial resources and a strained relationship with his parents. His grandmother, Gogo Cathrine Chindowa, has remained an important figure in his life. In May 2026, he spoke publicly about her influence, describing her as the woman who shaped his character and supported his development. 2. His journey before becoming a radio personality Before becoming a recognised broadcaster, Madondo reportedly took on several jobs to support himself. He told H-Metro that he worked as a clothing tout in Harare, directing customers to shops. His first employer was reportedly Biggie Chinoperekwei of Divine Assignment, where he worked at Bush House along Cameron Street. He later moved to another shop at the corner of Chinhoyi and Albion streets. These early experiences illustrate the challenges he faced before entering the broadcasting industry.

3. His breakthrough at Star FM.

His major career breakthrough came in 2012 when he auditioned for Star FM Zimbabwe. According to his account, approximately 2,800 people attended the auditions. He made it into the final eight candidates. He began his radio career on 25 June 2012, becoming one of the station's early presenters when Star FM launched. During his 11-year career at the station, he hosted several programmes, including: Madhonza The Breeze The Diaspora Link After Drive On The Spot His interviewing style and ability to engage guests helped him build a recognizable broadcasting identity. 4. Awards and professional recognition One of his major professional achievements was winning the Outstanding Journalist (Radio) award at the 2023 National Arts Merit Awards. Star FM also recognized his contribution to the station, describing him as one of its pioneering presenters.

5. Leaving Star FM and starting his own podcast.

In November 2023, Madondo announced his departure from Star FM after more than 11 years at the station. His resignation took effect on 13 November 2023. He announced the decision live on radio, explaining that he wanted to pursue new opportunities and grow his personal brand. Following his departure, he launched The Ollah 7 Show on YouTube, which later developed into The Ollah Podcast. In his farewell message, he thanked Star FM for giving him the opportunity to establish and develop his broadcasting career.

6. The Ollah 7 Podcast and business ventures. The podcast became an important part of his transition from traditional radio to digital broadcasting. Its content includes: Interviews with musicians and entertainers. Conversations with politicians and public figures. Discussions about Zimbabwean social issues. Celebrity stories and personal experiences. Trending topics and entertainment news. The podcast's official website describes its mission as creating a platform for meaningful conversations and giving different voices an opportunity to be heard.  His business interests The podcast's website identifies Owen Madondo as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Giant Media Pvt Ltd. The company is presented as a media business involved in content creation, brand partnerships and media solutions. This information is published on the company's own website and has not been independently audited. 

7. Expanding his brand across Zimbabwe In March 2024, Chronicle reported that DJ Ollah 7 had embarked on a city-to-city campaign to promote his podcast. The campaign included visits to: Harare Chitungwiza Marondera Mutare Bulawayo Gweru Masvingo Chivhu The initiative combined entertainment events, performances and audience engagement. He explained that the objective was to increase brand visibility and connect with audiences across different communities. 

8. Controversies and public attention DJ Ollah 7 has also attracted public attention through some of his celebrity interviews. One notable example was his March 2025 interview with rapper Holy Ten, which generated considerable discussion online. Following the interview, iHarare reported that Madondo had spoken about receiving death threats. The report attributed the threats to the backlash surrounding the interview.  His interview style has also generated debate about the boundaries between entertainment journalism, celebrity gossip and public-interest reporting.

9. His latest professional recognition in 2026.

In February 2026, Chronicle reported that The Ollah 7 Podcast had been nominated in the inaugural Outstanding Podcast category at the 24th National Arts Merit Awards. Other nominees included Zigo Podcast and Pass and Move Podcast. This nomination marked another milestone following his 2023 radio journalism award.

10. Family and personal life.

Madondo has spoken publicly about the important role his grandmother played in his upbringing. In May 2026, he revealed that he continued living with Gogo Cathrine Chindowa and regularly celebrated her on social media. He also spoke about her influence on his faith, discipline and personal decisions. I have not found sufficiently reliable independent documentation to establish his wife's identity, children's details, date of birth or complete family history. These details should be confirmed before publication.