Langelihle Dube [email protected]
FOR Bulawayo DJ Sida, returning to the Outstanding Club DJ category at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAAs) is more than just another nomination. It is recognition of years of hard work, consistency and growth in an industry where staying relevant requires constant dedication.
Having previously been nominated in 2023, Sida believes his latest recognition shows how far he has come, both as a DJ and as a brand.
“The 2023 nomination was me being introduced. This one feels like confirmation. In 2023 I was still proving myself, in 2026 I feel like the city is saying ‘we see you, we see the consistency.’ It tells me the journey was not a moment, it was growth,” he said.
The DJ, whose sound is rooted in Afro House and Afro Tech, said he had embraced technological advancements and changing musical trends without losing his musical identity.
For Sida, keeping up with changes in the industry does not mean abandoning one’s signature sound, but finding new ways to develop it.
“New software, new sounds, new genres, I learn them, I study them. But my identity has always been Afro House and Afro Tech, that deep Bulawayo soul. I can play a new sound, but I will still play it like SIDA,” he said.
Reflecting on his career, Sida said talent alone was not enough to sustain a DJ’s career. Discipline, professionalism and consistency were equally important in building a lasting reputation.
“Talent will get you booked once, character and consistency will get you booked again. The biggest lesson I have learnt is discipline,” he said.
He also welcomed the emergence of a new generation of DJs in Bulawayo, describing their energy and talent as encouraging for the city’s entertainment industry.
However, he believes established DJs have a responsibility to help upcoming talent grow by sharing knowledge, offering mentorship and creating opportunities for them to perform on bigger platforms.
Sida also drew a distinction between popularity and technical ability, arguing that a good DJ must do more than play popular songs. Understanding an audience and creating an enjoyable experience, he said, are among the most important skills behind the decks.
Turning to the challenges facing local DJs, he identified poor remuneration, limited access to major platforms and a lack of recognition as some of the industry’s persistent problems.
“Sometimes DJs are treated as background, not as artists. Remuneration does not always match the work, the preparation, and the equipment we invest in,” he said.
He believes the industry needs greater professionalism, increased investment in local talent, more festivals and better representation of Bulawayo DJs on major entertainment line-ups.
Sida added that DJs also had a role to play in improving their working environment by supporting one another, producing original music and organising their own events instead of waiting for opportunities to come their way.
Looking ahead, he hopes to take Bulawayo’s Afro House sound to international audiences through music releases, collaborations and performances outside Zimbabwe.
He also wants to mentor upcoming DJs and build a legacy that will outlive his performing career.
“This nomination is not the finish line, it is motivation to go even bigger,” he said.
