13 Jan 2020

There are perfectly good reasons why entertainers at music festivals often get booed by crowds while on stage. 

 Even the usual favourites or so called household names, sometimes get the same treatment.But of course one cannot just crawl up the stage drunk to the gills and expect to give a performance worthy of respect even from ones staunch followers. It is this disrespect that rightfully disappoints and frustrates revellers at festivals, and in Botswana, it has become quite a norm.

But there is a distinct artiste-type who presents a shred of hope, and a level-headed approach to entertainment industry.

Gouveya Mutasa, a.k.a DJ Gouveia, who is a radio personality - cum - DJ - cum actor with years of experience and has grown to a household name, is one such a person.

DJ Gouveia has been headlining various festivals before and during the 2019 festive season. The festivities this time took him to places like  Moshupa, Kanye, Kgomokasitwa,  Jwaneng, Mankgodi, Molepolole,  Serowe, Tutume, Sowa, Shakawe and Maun, Gaborone included.

“It was quite a hectic schedule, which I enjoyed immensely,” Gouveia said.  His stage appearance will always be a must-see thanks to his dedication.

It was at primary school that this pioneer of art had an inkling of his career. He realised that he enjoyed arts and crafts and joined drama, art, dancing, poetry and singing clubs and went on to win competitions. Gouveia perfected his artistic world of art by taking part in creative events in and out of school.

This saw the multi-talented DJ on a quest to achieve everything on his path.

Introduced to dee-jaying by a fellow DJ, Bunz 22 years ago, Gouveia still shoots from the hip as one of Botswana’s top entertainers. He does not forget that success is an ongoing quest to achieve the best at what one does, be it in career, business, personal development or relationships.”

Success is a quest for balance in life”,  asserts Gouveia.

Now an overall entertainer, his daily 9am to 12pm show in RB2, Semausu (the tuck shop) is an inspiration to many.

One dedicated music lover, Rebatho, who is part of DJ Gouveia’s show says he will like to hear this muso’s voice every day. Asked, which song he likes most in RB2, Rebatho mentions DJ Gouveya’s  Mpulele track in which he features Amantle Brown. 

He says he truly loves the song because it is an inspirational piece that discusses facts of life. Thuso of Gaborone wishes to see how the video of the song in mention will look like.

On the other hand, a 10-year-old, student Malcom wants to meet DJ Gouveia face to face to thank him for always catering for him and his peers.

 “During school holidays, all I could listen to when I took a break from studying, was my favourite DJ on my number one show, Gouveia right inside the tuck shop. He must be a heaven-sent!” said Malcom. Apparently, Malcom is over the moon with the Semausu comedy.

Although most people think that it is a norm for royalty awarding companies to not favour Djs because of their ‘not so original’ creativity, manuals and flyers on tariffs for use of protected works tell it as is. The booklets can be helpful to educate most of us.

Copyright Society of Botswana (COSBOTS) is also there to assist.

A DJ would remix another person’s music, often keeping a tiny part of the original track.

But with advancing technology, many DJs decide to make their own tracks.

Many did this by sampling rather than originating their own sounds. It became known as producing rather than writing.

Well with this DJ, everything falls under his wing as his passion drives him to take it all. Maturity in the arts industry can not be taken for granted. It comes slowly, even to the most dedicated.

That is why one can not ignore people like DJ Gouveia or what he does.  This festive season DJ Gouveia’s Mpulele, left people lapping up for more.

Everything from the strumming of the guitar, the percussions, the hooks in the lyrics, leaves the game wide open.

The song, amongst other DJ Gouveia’s creations, has found a place in the hearts of those who can relate.

It is a cry from a lover who wants to give warmth, love, understanding to someone who on the other hand does not communicate well with the hurting lover.

Mpulele was first written and composed in 2014.

The featured artiste, Amantle Brown recorded the following year in 2015.

After full four years, Mpulele was revisited,  in November 2019.

DJ Gouveia expressed how he wished other artistes and creative people in general should always take their time to perfect their craft and not rush and deliver half baked products.

DJ Gouveia says it is not prudent in the music industry to always rush to release.

Releasing a song every week doesn’t make an artiste any skillful or productive.

He gave examples of great legends like Michael Jackson who would take his time to cook up a storm, and have a convincing hit. Even a person of a statue of Steve Harvey who has actually visited the RB2 tuck shop was pleasantly surprised by the rare talent of Gouveia and predicted a bright future in DJ Gouveia. ENDS