Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube, [email protected]
VETERAN composer and producer Doctor DJ Doan is back in Bulawayo to pass on the knowledge and experience he has accumulated over nearly three decades in music to a new generation of local talent.
Born Edward Luphahla, Doctor DJ Doan has already left a mark on several artistes and creatives he mentored, with Bulawayo radio personality Mjox and producer Kompozitioner among those he regards as success stories from his years of grooming young talent.
Other artistes that the producer, who specialises in 21 genres, has worked with include Hwabaraty, Khoikhoi, Kidd Eggo, Otis Ngwabi, South African musician Mlindo the Vocalist and Street Niggaz.
After spending more than a decade in South Africa, where he continued offering free music lessons to aspiring producers, he now wants to bring that mentorship experience back home.
His return to Zimbabwe follows his departure from South Africa last month amid anti-foreigner marches and protests in major urban centres including Johannesburg and Durban.
“I’ve been gone for 13 years actually. The Abahambe thing got me back home. It didn’t sit well with me considering the work I’d done for South Africa, grooming their talent for free.
“So my goal is to continue what I was doing in South Africa in Zimbabwe – grooming music talent,” he said.
Doctor DJ Doan’s passion for nurturing musicians dates back to 2002, when he established Underground Studio in Nkulumane after beginning his musical journey in 1998 following his graduation from the Zimbabwe Academy of Music. He had earlier learnt beat-making from Killah
Flames, and soon began passing the knowledge on to aspiring producers.
Among his early students was Mjox, who stayed at his house for almost a year while learning beat-making, music video production and recording.
Today, Mjox is a familiar voice and DJ on Bulawayo radio, a progression Doctor DJ Doan takes particular pride in.
“Mjox, my number one student, is the one on radio. I’m very proud of what I instilled in him because he took that to the next level by finding his path. Today he’s Bulawayo’s beloved DJ on radio,” he said.
Another former student, Kompozitioner, also went on to build a career beyond Zimbabwe, moving to Australia before settling in Cape Town, South Africa, where he has worked with prominent artistes, including Sjava.
For Doctor DJ Doan, such journeys demonstrate the value of investing in young creatives and giving them the technical foundation to find their own paths.
His mentorship programme expanded significantly after he relocated to South Africa in 2009.
There, he co-owned Byo Studio with Bro Chico Gumede, a former SABC employee who worked on programmes such as Generations and Isidingo.
Doctor DJ Doan later established a soundproof studio in Allandale, where he spent more than seven years offering free music lessons to young producers, often paying for the initiative from his own pocket.
“My biggest achievement was being able to set up a full-fledged soundproof studio in Allandale, South Africa. I had free music classes for young producers for over seven years in that place. I taught a lot of young talent there from my own pocket and was featured on a number of radio stations because of the promotion of young talent.”
The initiative also saw him writing three music-based audio books aimed at educating and promoting emerging musicians, while his work earned him exposure on several radio stations.
However, he said funding remained one of the biggest challenges facing young musicians, particularly after they had acquired the necessary skills but needed resources to turn those skills into sustainable careers.
He believes Bulawayo has talent capable of competing internationally, but needs stronger structures and partnerships to help artistes turn their creativity into sustainable careers.
“Unless Bulawayo artistes learn to incorporate and work with the business community, it’s going to take a long time to do wonders in the global music industry,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence in music, arguing that while the technology has made processes such as songwriting, mixing and mastering easier, it could undermine creativity and genuine musical talent.
As he begins rebuilding his presence in the local music scene, Doctor DJ Doan also has several recording projects waiting to be released. Among them is EMafletsini’s Finest, an unreleased album with Mjox recorded in 2007/08, which he describes as a futuristic project. He also worked on an album with Otis Ngwabi with assistance from South African composer Donmobas. Both projects are reportedly complete but have yet to be released.
His immediate focus, however, extends beyond his own music. Doctor DJ Doan is preparing to release new music on September 15, with a music video in production.
With the support of his wife Tsitsi and their two children, Alex, 21, and Ciara, 16, he is now settling into a new chapter, one in which his greatest contribution may be measured not only by his own music, but by the careers he helps build.
