Joy the DJ’s joy
The success story of the country’s entertainment industry cannot be told without a mention of radio and club disc jockeys (DJ) who form an integral part of it.
One such personality is Joy Nathu, a disc jockey (DJ) with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). He is a gem of his class and this explains the reason he scooped the best DJ award in 2016’s Urban Music Party (UMP) Awards.
Nathu said winning the award was one of the humbling moments in his life.
“I mean, I have been in the entertainment industry for 13 years and this is my first professional award,” said Nathu, popularly known as Joy the DJ.
He acknowledged that he was up against Malawi’s best DJs and radio personalities; hence, no need to take the triumph for granted.
“I would say the award is a product of a long journey of learning, hard work and dedication,” said Nathu.
He described his 13-year journey as both exciting and challenging with so many lessons and surprises.
He recalled: “The time I was starting deejaying in the country, things were not as it is today. DJs had exclusive music, the audience didn’t have it and this was highest score for the DJs. But today, the audience has music that the DJs have and this needs a different approach to get proper attention.”
Nathu, who comes from Balaka District, said he is motivated by his passion for the radio and music and this has been a driving force behind his successful career.
“I mean, I love everything about my job. I don’t regret the day I started to take this passion seriously,” he said.
Nathu further said there are many technological advancements that have come to pass and have redefined the entertainment industry. Thus, to him, it has been a journey of adapting to the times.
“My job is not just pressing the play button, it is more than that. It involves the invitation of thousand souls in one place with a universal conversation currency which is music,” said the DJ whose radio show Made on Monday has become a household name.
He also enjoys promoting local music and meeting with emerging musicians, saying: “This is also an interesting part of my job because I am able to see the growth of these artists and to get recognised for it, it’s an honour.”
Asked about opportunities in deejaying career, Nathu said it was a matter of being creative and unique to come up with a convincing brand and demand for it.
“Opportunities are many; it is an issue of being creative enough to exploit the ever growing industry. This goes to every other industry in the country, opportunities will not come begging for your attention rather we have to make those opportunities work to our advantage,” he said.
Nathu, however, noted that Malawi is a small country with less resources, as a result, it is not easy for youths to pursue their dreams.
However, he advises DJs to dream bigger because nothing is bigger than a person’s dreams.
