LYNN — Mukala Kabongo arrived in America in 1993 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He’s been in Lynn ever since, and what a name he’s made for himself.
A 2006 graduate of Lynn English, Kabongo grew up in a sports-crazed community.
“The people I grew up with, we were just always playing sports,” Kabongo said.
He went to Salem State for his undergraduate degree in communication before graduating Emerson College with a master’s in journalism.
Fast forward to 2016. One of his friends, English coach Mackenzie Charles, asked him to take photos during a game. Little did Kabongo know what it would lead to.
“Then, after that, I figured I got this degree in journalism and I’ve learned all of these production tools,” Kabongo said. “I might as well start recording, doing interviews, and putting this degree to use.”
Kabongo can now be seen at local sporting events with his camera and microphone, providing colorful, personable content to viewers on the North Shore.
“I’m an all-cameraman, I do the interviews, the pre-production, and post-production,” Kabongo said. “Everything you see is all me.”
When asked why he’s stuck around all these years, Kabongo put it simply: “I love sports.”
“This is what I always wanted to do growing up,” Kabongo said. “When I started, it was more so just doing highlights, and then I started to do the interview aspect.”
He now hosts “After The Whistle,” a sit-down, talk show-style program featuring local players and coaches. He started the program in 2018 alongside former Executive Director of Lynn Community Television Brian Dorrington.
“It was just two guys that like sports,” Kabongo said. “Let’s just talk sports and see what’s going on. Then, we incorporate the interview aspects to get the players on and add another dimension to the program.”
He added how much he enjoys giving high school athletes a platform.
“Especially those that have aspirations,” Kabongo said. “This is the stuff that happens when you keep on going and going to the next level.”
Kabongo used the word “buildup” to describe his young career on the North Shore. That word can be applied to his skills, following, and even his Twitter followers (1,261).
“It’s been a buildup since I started,” Kabongo said. “It’s just been me putting the highlights up, the interviews up, and then it got the attention of some of the coaches.”
Most of the time, it’s Kabongo reaching out to players and coaches. Sometimes, it’s the other way around.
“Some of the coaches became interested and then they’ll ask me to come [to games] if I have time,” Kabongo said. “Sometimes, it’s just me seeing what’s on the schedule. If I have time, I’ll check it out.”
He gives back, too, and will sometimes bring students to tag along.
“They’re interested, so I just bring them along,” Kabongo said.
When asked how else students can learn, Kabongo recommended starting small and getting involved.
“Start small at your local public access station, community television, and work your way up from there,” said Kabongo, a Mass Access award-winner. “That’s pretty much how to do it.”
With high school sports returning this week, look for Kabongo, well, everywhere.
“I do it all,” Kabongo said.
