Terence Mukasa
Having only been in the music industry for nine months, Sonia Shaalukeni, otherwise known as DJ Yessonia, has landed a gig on a music cruise, popular with South African music lovers.
The Namibian DJ will be one of many disc jockeys who will be entertaining guests on the first-ever Amapiano cruise to the Portuguese Island aimed at embracing the arts and culture of the genre.
Set for March next year, the cruise brings like-minded people together on the luxurious MSC Orchestra ship, dropping the barriers between artists and the audience and creating a unique music festival experience at sea.
“To be the first Namibian DJ on the first-ever Amapiano cruise, and performing amongst stars and other peers in the industry from different countries is a testament that I am working very hard,” she told VIBEZ!
The DJ will be playing Namibian music as well, and urged artists to send her their latest Amapiano songs so that she can playlist them for the cruise.
DJ Yessonia has been moving mountains since she started turning tables and recently scored three nominations for the 2022 Zikomo Africa Awards scheduled to take place in Zambia in October. In addition, she was nominated in three different categories at the Afrimas.
For Zikomo, the categories are best female DJ, best music video for her song ‘Happy’, and best social media personality. For Afrima, the categories are best African DJ; best artist, duo or group in African Electro; and female artist of the year in southern Africa.
The music video for ‘Happy’ aired last month and has thus far reached over 300 000 likes on YouTube.
The singer-turned DJ described her nominations for a DJ that has not yet made a mark in the industry, as a blessing.
“I have been a DJ for less than a year and to be nominated in three different categories as a newcomer just inspires me to work hard and keep doing my best in the music industry,” she told VIBEZ!
DJ Yessonia also dropped a hit single titled ‘Siy’bonana Nini’ not so long ago.
She said ‘Siy’bonana’, which features the talented Juizee from Limpopo, is surrounded by the theme of love, “because love is a feeling that does not know borders or limitations”.
“The song is about longing to be with someone and putting in the work to bring them close to you regardless of how far they may be,” she explained.
“The song is amazing and captivating, it also has a Master Kg Jerusalem sound and has no age limit listenership.”
Swakopmund-brewed Amapiano DJ is known for her first hit single ‘Summertime’, which is currently at position 67 on a South African local radio station after DJ Styles from South Africa added his touch to the song.
Producer and owner of TNA Music Entertainment Shimbayu Chivuyo expressed his pride in her.
“People have no idea how much work, effort, time, and energy goes into this type of work. DJ Yessonia is very patient and hardworking and it’s showing,” said Chivuyo.
He added that credit must be given where it is due because not everyone knows that she has only been a DJ for nine months.
“Her work is amazing, the amount of work she has done is countless at this moment and she has the potential to put Namibia on the map and be a great ambassador for us,” added Chivuyo.
DJ Yessonia’s hard work does not end in the studio as she also focuses on gender-based violence initiatives and empowering vulnerable women to start up small businesses.
“We also have a lot of children who have been abandoned or at orphanages, so I spend a portion of my time seeing how I can make a change; one child at a time,” she said.
Meanwhile, TNA Music Entertainment is working on setting up a DJ school in Windhoek.
“The team is renovating a warehouse and has ordered the equipment for the school to set up a large studio for scouting new talent and grooming upcoming DJs in Namibia,” said DJ Yessonia, who is one of the founders.
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