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DJ Ganyani

Lungelo Ndhlovu  Entertainment Correspondent
EVERYONE is talking about DJ Ganyani being out-classed by the local DJs at the Bohlingers Woza 2014 show in Bulawayo. That is a fact; indeed the South African hit maker was upstaged.  Ganyani, who was honoured for his exceptional skills in 2002 by Castle Loud and given an Achievers Award speaks to Lungelo Ndhlovu (LN):

LN: Who is DJ Ganyani?
DJ Ganyani is a simple guy from Soweto, who happens to be a DJ. He likes entertaining people and a lot of people think that Ganyani is a stage name, but it is not a stage name. I was given this name by my grandmother.

LN: What’s your real name?
My name is Frederick Ganyani Tshabalala and I was born on the 19th of January 1969 in Soweto.  I’m also a founder and chief executive officer of Ganyani Entertainment.  Ganyani Entertainment is a music operation and equipment company that has an established urban and contemporary pop and house collection.

LN: Who introduced you into music?
I never went into a formal school for deejaying.  I come from a family with a background of music. My mum and dad loved playing music but not professionally. He used to collect jazz and Shangani disco music but he was not a DJ himself.  I got into deejaying on my own and it happens to be something I love most.

LN: Then how did you manage to make a name for yourself?
It was not easy, coming from Soweto and breaking into the market. I came a long way, from selling demos in the dusty streets of Soweto, mixing gigs in Johannesburg, taverns, institutes, football matches involving soccer teams and private gigs.  SABC 1 recognised my potential in 2001 and I managed to put up my two albums, Simunye House Grooves Vol.1 and 2.

LN: Are you teaching other DJs to produce music?
Yes, I used to back then, but now I don’t have that time any more. There are a lot of DJs that I have mentored and introduced to music. The likes of DJ Mbuso, DJ Slender, and DJ Bradley just to name a few. Now I don’t have time to teach others, hands on, because there is a lot on my plate.

What I can do is to give the up-and-coming artistes advice about the deejaying industry. The reason is that we no longer concentrate on deejaying alone. I now do music production as well, producing tracks for the label Ganyani Entertainment and other labels who want to use our stuff.  I have to compete also out there and hence I need to focus.

LN: What advice can you give to those who want to be DJs?
For those who want to take up Deejaying as a career should work hard all the time because there is competition out there. Those who are into this profession should work on music production. Music production can elevate you into the market.