Focus Media (Kigali)
28 October 2009
Growing up as a young boy in Kenya and Uganda, James Gwiza stood out among his friends. While they had their nose in their books to become doctors or engineers, James plugged in his earphones, listened to music and dreamt of becoming a DJ. And it seems that, for the now 25-year-old DJ Focus, the dream has come true. Yet he is not yet satisfied, and wants to reach higher.
James says he has always been into music which, combined with a love for nightlife at a later age, drove him to aspire to become a DJ. He set out on that career path in 2003, when he started working at a club called Spot After in Kampala. He then came back to Rwanda and quickly made a name for himself, first at Carwash and later captivating the patrons in clubs such as Comrades, Hollywood and 'B' club. Regular partygoers will tell you that the name DJ Focus stands for great and extraordinary music.
James Gwiza has been lucky, though: whereas most parents would frown upon such a profession, his late father has always encouraged him to achieve what he wishes. "My father was very supportive of me and my work; if he would still be alive today, I am sure I would have been much further with my career," he says.
Music is like second nature to DJ Focus, although he admits it has not always been an easy and smooth journey, which has forced him to set up what he calls Mobile Disco, which basically means moving around with his equipment to entertain people at parties and other events. "The music industry here is still far behind, which is disappointing for us the artists; the people we work for don't really value the music and don't respect DJ's, which is very discouraging."
According to James, people should stop judging a book by its cover. "People tend to judge me by my looks; when they see my dreads and worn-out jeans, they think I'm lousy, but at the end of the day I am not my clothes."
However, such setbacks do no prevent him from being determined to make it as a DJ; for, instance, he is currently preparing a big party, which should be some kind of revived Jungle Party. "The Jungle Party was my greatest experience in Rwandan Music. Although it's no longer organized, we are planning something similar which is going to be even better, and which will be called The Comrades," James says. So mark your agendas for October 31, it's going to be hot.
Although DJ focus comes across as someone very sophisticated at first sight, once you get to know him you realize that he is actually down-to-earth as well as quite funny. He describes himself as a simple and kind man, in whose dictionary the word short-tempered does not appear.
"People tend to think I'm rowdy, but I think I'm actually a gentle who always tries to avoid trouble, even if someone is provoking me."
That seems to be borne out by the fact that he has his share of friends, whom he says give him the strength to go on. Apart from that, he admits he's a ladies' man. "Life would be so hard to live for me without the music and the ladies. I love women, in fact the music I play in a night club depends on the ladies who are there."
And he has time now to do some dallying, after the break-up of a four-year relationship. "I'm taking my time right now," he says. The single ladies will be glad to hear it.
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