iHeartMedia Modern AC “Cities 97.1” KTCZ-FM Minneapolis has announced the return of Naima to co-host mornings alongside Brian Oake.
The UK native previously hosted nights at the station from 2012 to 2016. Since then she has been based in the United Arab Emirates most recently co-hosting mornings at “Radio 1 UAE” with current “Q102” WIOQ Philadelphia evening host Sam ‘Nugget’ Dababneh.
Oake returned to KTCZ-FM as morning host in May 2021. He previously worked at the station from 2001 to 2012 in afternoons and then mornings. He has also hosted mornings at Alternative “Rev 105” from 1994-1997, successor “Zone 105” from 1997 to 2001, and AAA “89.3 The Current” KCMP from 2016 to 2019.
iHeartMedia Minneapolis’ Cities 97.1, Uniquely Twin Cities, announced today that Naima will join “Brian Oake in the Morning,” effective immediately. “Brian Oake in the Morning” broadcasts weekdays from 6 – 10 a.m.
“Brian Oake in the Morning” features Oake’s signature irreverence and quick wit while he banters about music, popular culture and all things Minnesota.
“It’s always great when I can bring back a prior employee who our audience loved,” said Rich Davis, Program Director of Cities 97.1. “Naima’s infectious energy both on and off the air and her unique accent make her instantly recognizable. She’s the perfect talent to help anchor our Uniquely Twin Cities music mix along with the one and only Brian Oake.”
“I’m ecstatic to be rejoining Cities 97.1 and returning home to where it all started for me. Plus, I’m beyond chuffed to be partnering with Brian Oake to wake up the Twin Cities! Massive thank to Rich Davis and the Twin Cities management team for welcoming this weird Londoner back into the fold once again,” said Naima.
Naima joins the Minneapolis market from Radio 1 in the United Arab Emirates, where she most recently served as Morning host. Prior to that, Namia worked at Gulf news as a Digital Content Editor for their radio stations and as a Production Manager at Swerve Entertainment both in Dubai. She began her career at Cities 97.1 in 2012 as a board operator and part time host and eventually graduated to hosting the weekday night show. She has a BA Hons degree in television and theatre production from Buckinghamshire University in England.
