Rwanda Premier disc jockey Hassan Sakubu, commonly known on the decks as Bisoso, features in a well-selected lineup of DJs cooking the best of ‘only old school music’ for their audience ahead of the much-awaited Oldies Music Festival slated for December 3, at Canal Olympia, Rebero.
Organisers of the show, which will take place for the second time, selected a host of DJs who have been on the scene for years and some young DJs whose talent in music selection has won the hearts of music lovers in recent years.
With MC Lion Imanzi confirmed as the festival official host, Bisoso leads the DJs lineup that also features the likes of DJ Emery, DJ Khadir, DJ Karim, DJ Mike and DJ RY, the youngest, the best among Kigali’s best, of all from the roster.
The DJs will ensure to bring the adult audience’s memory lane back to the best of music of the 70s, 80s ,90s and early 2000 (2000-2010) playing songs that dominated the charts in the world of music from clubs to radio and TV stations.
It will clearly be a festival with music that re-lives the memories of adult’s partying lifestyle back in the days.
Here is what you need to know about each of the DJs on the lineup:
DJ Bisoso
At 42, DJ Bisoso is regarded as arguably the most popular DJ in Rwanda given his DJ service that shaped his career at big concerts and other events that attracted thousands of people.
Bisoso started disc jockeying professionally in 2004 and Huye was his starting point. Months later, he shifted to Kigali at Planet Night Club (KBC) where he spent 8 years. He is the champion of the Kigali DJs Battle 2010.
Bisoso’s deejaying skills attracted the attention of big event promoters who were seeking his services. He entertained music enthusiasts at big gigs like all the eight seasons of Prius Guma Guma Super Star, the third edition of Primusic in Burundi while he was also the leading DJ during the RPF Inkotanyi presidential campaigns.
Bisoso is not new in clubs either, having entertained club goers at Pili Pili in Kigali and Club Lounge in Kampala, Uganda.
He served as a radio DJ for the first time in 2004 at defunct Contact FM and is now the lead DJ at Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA).
DJ Karim
Born Abdul Kalim Mungarakarama, the 37-year-old is one of the longest-serving DJs on the lineup with 16 years of experience.
Since he launched his career in 2006, Karim entertained music enthusiasts from a number of Kigali’s popular clubs like Casablanca (near Hotel Okapi), La Planete Club (KBC) and Quelquepart Bar, People Club (Kacyiru) and Sundowner (Kimihurura) where he currently works.
He also used to take his turntable to the southern of the country, precisely at Huye’s top clubs Safari Club (at former Hotel Faucon) and Melo Twist Club as well as Home Boys Club located in Nairobi.
Karim was a member of Ruff Cuts DJs led by DJ Kadir.
DJ RY
Born Yves Rwego, DJ RY is the youngest DJ on the lineup. Despite his young age, his routine playlists are inspired by old music.
He started his career in 2017 on national broadcaster’s radios (Rwanda & Magic FM) where he currently works. He is now the man behind the Throwback & Oldies Music show that airs on Magic FM every Thursday, since 2018, and the Club 2000s show on Radio Rwanda every Friday.
The 26-year-old is the official DJ at Molato Bar on Fridays, Marriott Hotel on Saturdays and Iwacu 250 on Sundays.
During the forthcoming Oldies Music Festival, DJ RY will focus on early 2000s music.
DJ Emery
54-year-old Emery Mutabazi, or DJ Emery as his stage name, is among the oldest DJs existing in the music industry.
The father of five started disc jockeying in 1987 in former Zaire where he used to entertain party people in Bukavu and Goma.
Some top clubs where he entertained include Zaire’s Calebasse, Boss Club, Valentino, Bodega and Ligablo
After the Genocide against the Tutsi, DJ Emery returned to Rwanda and started entertaining people across popular clubs in the country like Turbo Night, Millionaire, Sodevi in Gisenyi and a number of clubs in Butare among others.
He was behind the decks at big entertainment gigs like Liberation Party, End of the Year Party while he is also often seen entertaining international guests coming for conferences in Rwanda.
He will be playing the music of the 80s at Oldies Music Festival.
Mohamed Kadir aka DJ Kadir
Kadir’s passion for music stem from his upbringing which saw him grow up with interest in entertainment. Over the years, he has taken time to perfect his skills working with reputable names in the music industry in the region and in Europe as well.
In pursuit of his interest in Music and Entertainment, in 2001, Kadir Moved to the United Kingdom where he worked in a number of entertainment spots including the then popular Pier One.
After 5 years, in the UK entertainment scene, Kadir returned to East Africa to build a DJ unit and partner with Colleagues in the industry. He has played across the region in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
He is mostly known for his ability to play all genre of music from Old School to the latest music.
DJ Mike a.k.a Wake Up Sound
DJ Mike, real name Michel Matabaro, is the oldest DJ on the lineup of this edition’s Oldies Music Festival. The 57-year-old will obviously play the oldest music of the 1970s or later.
Mike is known at Kigali-based Wakeup sound studio from which he rose to fame.
The father of seven, knew he would make a name for himself behind the spins in 1988. He turned what looked like a hobby into a profession after the Genocide against the Tutsi.
He is among Rwanda’s longest-serving DJs alongside the likes of DJ Emery, DJ Geshi, DJ Band, DJ Carlos, real name Kennedy Mazimpaka, father to comedian Arthur Nkusi.
Currently, Mike does disc jockeying only at big music occasions like the forthcoming Oldies Music Festival where he will be specializing in the music of the 1970s and 80s.