ON THE COVER : DJ Scupaa

Born to be a star! Whether you recognise him as DJ Scupaa, the pioneer deejay on 101 FM in Rwanda, as an actor in Bakayimbira Dramactors (Uganda), or as famous DJ in Voodoo Lounge in Pretoria, South Africa, Scupaa is a force to be reckoned with. Born in Uganda, Scupaa realised early on that music was in his blood. “Singing and dancing was a thing I could do from childhood—it was inborn,” he smiles. This New York based, multi-talented artist hails originally from Rwanda. At age 10, he already knew that he wanted to become an international entertainer. At age twelve, Scuppa won the dancing and performing school competition which led him to Waka Waka band, then New Generation band, and even to Bakayimbira Dramactors where he did some acting. He moved to Rwanda with his family when he was in senior five and continued to develop his talent. While at Rwanda International Academy (currently Kagarama High School), Scupaa secured a job on 101 FM and soon became the youngest and most popular and famous radio DJ and singer in the country’s entertainment history. His first record, ‘Muteteri’ was the most played song on radio. He confesses that South Africa’s songbird, Yvonne Chaka Chaka is the major influence to the success of his music career. “She is my great inspiration and she is the person, who opened for me opportunities to exploit my talent,” Scupaa said. “I remember performing with her on the same stage at the Amahoro stadium in the late 1990s.” Chaka Chaka invited Scupaa to South Africa, while there he played in two famous clubs, Vodou in Pretoria, and Florida in Johannesburg. He also worked on the 11 FM station, presenting a programme called ‘The World Chat Show’It was during that time in South Africa, when Scupaa recorded a demo, which he then sent to his world sponsors in New York. After his sponsors reviewed the demo, he was invited to New York and later joined the Institute of Audio Research, majoring in music production. After graduating, Scupaa started to work in big studios in New York, including Sony studio as a music producer/engineer. When asked why he took so long to put out an album after he left the country 10 years ago, Scupaa said he wanted to master his producing skills first. “When I do something I want to do it big,” he says. “I feel now I’m in a comfortable zone as a producer that’s why I can manage to live in Manhattan, the number one city in the world and be able to save a dollar.” Talking about saving a dollar, Scupaa bought a house in Manhattan last year. He is married to a Rwandan and is a father to two beautiful daughters. Scupaa describes music as the world of happiness and therapy. “Music is great! It liberates a person from stress and troubles,’ he says. “Politicians too, they go to bars and lounges to listen to their favourite music after work.” Scuppa has worked with international music stars, the likes of Shaggy, Ziggy Marley, Kofi Olomide, P.J. Powers, Ivonne Chaka Chaka, Jean Jones, Nas, Fabulous and Alicia Keys. Ends