CELEBRITY CENTRAL: DJ BOB

He is known around the entertainment circles as a DJ (Disc Jockey) that is dedicated in promoting Rwandan music. DJ Bob is a name that most Rwandans are accustomed to when it comes to local music. Ndayishimiye Jean Bosco aka DJ Bob was born in 1984 in Kanombe. He schooled in Camp Kigali primary school in Nyarugenge before moving to King David Secondary school for his A-levels from where he completed from. DJ Bob’s love for music started at an early age as a result of being influenced by his deceased two brothers who were themselves DJs in various night clubs around Kigali including Kigali Night which in the nineties was a hot spot for party goers in the country. DJ Bob says that his brothers’ influence on him was so huge that he wished to be nothing other than a dj when he grew up. He could sneak out to follow his brothers to discos only to be refused entry due to his tender age. However, this did not deter him from his passion in music and could regularly attend music shows that were organised at his school or his neighbourhood. His regularity at these events made him a popular person amongst his peers and soon he was to be a DJ of those particular parties. In the year 2000 he came across one Rurangirwa Jean de Dieu who was impressed with his dj skills and offered DJ Bob to pay him fees to do a course of IT at KIST which dj Bob gladly accepted. In the evening after classes he would join Rurangirwa at his studio called Taximan studio which was located at the former taxi park at the city centre and it was there where he learnt a lot about music and entertaining the crowds. After his course at KIST he joined Radio Flash in 2006 where he began ‘hip-hop game’ show which he co-hosted with Lil Pac and DJ Scream. The following year he moved on to Voice of Africa fm from where he continued his campaign of promoting local music. He also kept the Rwandan public informed on the billboard charts playing the top 10 latest songs on the top 100 billboard charts. All the work he was doing for local artists he observed was not enough, and thus he moved to the National television, Rwanda Television where he began a program that plays the top 10 videos of local artists. The show which airs on Saturdays from 4.00 pm enjoys popularity especially with the young audience. DJ Bob is so far satisfied with the level of local music. “Compared to the latter years, nobody could listen to Rwandan music but now people are requesting for Rwandan music at virtually every request program at various radio stations.” He says. “An example is the way Burundi and Ugandan music was sought for amongst Rwandans but this has changed as I can testify that we are now way ahead of our Burundi counterparts in terms of music and slowly closing In on the Ugandans.” He continues. He however says there is still a lot to do especially on the government’s side which he says is not giving enough support to the local entertainment industry compared to other disciplines like sports. He also cites the problem of piracy in Rwanda which is discouraging creativity. “Beginning January next year the issue of pirated local music and films will have ceased as we (djs and artists) are in collaboration with the National Police to stump out any form of piracy,” DJ Bob says. About his future prospects dj Bob says he won’t tire in promoting Rwandan music and intends to do so until it reaches the regional level where local musicians will, like their East African counterparts, be invited to perform in foreign countries and be able to pull crowds anywhere they go. “The last time Radio and Weasel were here, for the Tom Close concert, were astonished by the huge music potential we possess in our country” dj Bob laments. “It is therefore up to us to make it grow to its potentialCurrently he is working at his Isamanzi Art Studio popularly known as ‘street down town’ where he sells the latest Rwandan artist music and albums and also works on programs concerning local music in various radio stations in the country. There are three very important things in his life he says, “God, my mother and my girlfriend Bobete.” Apart from doing music, he loves being in the company of his family and... Yes you guessed it right, his girlfriend. dedantos2002@yahoo.com