Reverend Abel Sello Phiri was one of the most recognizable voices in Setswana broadcasting — a man who blended humour and compassion, sermon and satire. Over decades on the air, he became more than an announcer: he was a companion at midday, a consoling voice at funerals, and a pastor who moved listeners with both laughter and prayer.
This biography pulls together the known facts of his life — his early years, broadcasting career, ministry work, and the legacy he left when he passed away on Sunday, 15 September 2024 at age 82.
Sello Phiri Biography
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Reverend Abel Sello Phiri |
| Year of birth | 1944 |
| Place of birth | Koster, Western Transvaal |
| Career highlights | SABC announcer (joined 1974), Motsweding FM / Radio Tswana presenter, TV co-presenter of Lapologa, host of Agang Ka Ditlhaka |
| Ordination | Ordained deacon, Anglican Church (St Alban’s Cathedral, Pretoria) — 1988 |
| Famous programmes | Molemo wa Letsapa, Ditatolo |
| Age at passing | 82 |
| Passed away | Sunday, 15 September 2024 |
| Tribe | Not publicly disclosed |
| Wife | Not publicly disclosed |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed |
Early life and background
Abel Sello Phiri was born in 1944 in Koster, a small rural town that was then part of the Western Transvaal. Trained as a schoolteacher, he began his professional life in education, shaping young minds before a distinct vocal gift and natural ease with listeners led him to broadcasting.
Details about his tribal affiliation, personal net worth, and many private family matters were not publicly disclosed; Phiri maintained a measure of privacy around certain aspects of his life even as his voice became widely known.
From classroom to airwaves: entry into broadcasting
In 1974 Phiri joined the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as an announcer. He soon stood out for the deep, rich quality of his voice and an effortless ability to converse with audiences. Working in the Setswana service, Phiri belonged to a celebrated cohort of broadcasters who helped shape Black radio during that era. His style—part storyteller, part comic, part pastor—made him a natural draw for listeners across generations.
Signature programmes and broadcasting style
Phiri’s broadcasting range was unusual and striking. He could switch from light, irreverent humour on his midday show to solemn consolation for the bereaved. Some of his most notable on-air roles and programmes included:
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Molemo wa Letsapa — a midday programme where he mixed satire and everyday observations, poking fun at hangovers, hypocrisy, and the small ironies of life.
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Ditatolo — a solemn programme for the departed, delivered with a mournful organ and a voice designed to soothe grieving listeners.
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Lapologa — co-presenter on a popular Friday evening television show, showing his ability to work across both radio and TV formats.
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Agang Ka Ditlhaka — host of a widely-loved word quiz show that showcased his warmth and intellect.
Phiri’s humour was famously irreverent. He made light of many targets, including brief, joking barbs about preachers — yet the same men he teased were often moved by his Sunday sermons. This juxtaposition — comic broadcaster and beloved pastor — was part of his charm.
Ministry and ordination
In 1988 Phiri answered a spiritual calling and was ordained a deacon of the Anglican Church at St Alban’s Cathedral in Pretoria. His pulpit ministry became a defining element of his public life. Sundays, he could command a congregation with the same authority and warmth that had made him a radio favourite; his signature sermon, Ikhutsise Mowa Wame, Jehova (Calm My Soul, Jehovah), is remembered for its sincerity and power.
Even as he lampooned human foibles on-air, his pastoral ministry demonstrated deep compassion. That combination—sharp comic timing and a heart for people in sorrow—helped him bridge listeners from laughter into reflection and comfort.
Personal life and privacy
Phiri kept some personal details private. Publicly, information about his wife, exact tribal affiliation, and financial holdings were not disclosed. That privacy did not lessen his public impact; rather, it underscored how his work and voice were his most visible legacy.
Recognition and impact
Across his decades-long career, Phiri was celebrated not only for his on-air talent but for his role in building Setswana-language broadcasting. His presence during the formative years of Black radio in South Africa helped set a tone — conversational, witty, and humane — that influenced colleagues and listeners alike. Fellow broadcasters from the era were his contemporaries and collaborators, and together they helped make radio a central cultural space.
Passing and legacy
Reverend Abel Sello Phiri passed away on Sunday, 15 September 2024 at age 82. News of his passing was met with widespread remembrance from listeners, former colleagues, and congregants. He leaves behind programmes, recordings, memories of sermons and jokes, and a model for how public broadcasting can be both entertaining and spiritually nourishing.
His legacy lives on in the way few broadcasters manage to achieve: through affection and memory. Older listeners remember being soothed by his Ditatolo broadcasts; others recall laughing out loud at Molemo wa Letsapa. For those in his parish and beyond, his sermons and pastoral care remain part of his lasting contribution.
FAQs
Q: When did Sello Phiri pass away?
A: Reverend Abel Sello Phiri passed away on Sunday, 15 September 2024.
Q: How old was Sello Phiri when he passed away?
A: He was 82 years old.
Q: What broadcasting work was he known for?
A: Phiri was known for his work in the Setswana service, particularly programmes like Molemo wa Letsapa and Ditatolo, plus television roles such as co-presenting Lapologa and hosting the quiz Agang Ka Ditlhaka.
Q: Was Sello Phiri a religious leader?
A: Yes. He was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church in 1988 and served as a pastor, known for moving and memorable sermons.
Q: Where was he born?
A: He was born in Koster in the then Western Transvaal in 1944.
Q: What is known about his family and tribe?
A: Details such as his tribe, wife’s identity, and net worth were not publicly disclosed; Phiri kept certain personal matters private.
Q: Where can I hear recordings of his programmes?
A: Archival material may be held by broadcasting institutions that hosted his shows; local radio archives or public broadcasting libraries could be places to search.
Conclusion
Reverend Abel Sello Phiri’s life stitched together humour and holiness, radio banter and pastoral consolation. From a small town to national airwaves, he used a singular voice to entertain, provoke thought, and comfort. When he passed away on 15 September 2024, listeners across generations lost a familiar companion. His career reminds us that broadcasting can be both deeply human and deeply humane — a place where laughter and grief share the same microphone. Even where personal details remain private, the record of his work — the shows, the sermons, the jokes and the kindness — stands as a lasting tribute.
Disclaimer: The details shared in this biography are gathered from publicly available information and are meant solely for general informational purposes. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, certain facts may change over time or be open to interpretation.
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