Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
Twenty-one-year-old Amapiano, Afro Tech and House DJ Japan, who hails from Gwanda, is slowly carving his name in the music industry and is fast becoming one of the rising stars, leaving an indelible mark in the United Kingdom.
Born Thandazani Khumalo in the gold mining town, DJ Japan has become the in-thing behind the decks. He draws inspiration from South African heavyweights DJ Shimza and DJ Kyotic, and says their discipline and stage presence shaped how he approaches his own sets.
Recently, DJ Japan kept attendees at the oversubscribed ZimFest glued and dancing as he dropped hit after hit. The set turned heads back home and abroad, and for many in the diaspora it was the first time they heard a Gwanda name being chanted on a big UK stage.
Chronicle Mat South Edition Showbiz desk caught up with the talented youngster, who narrated a journey to stardom that has not been a walk in the park.
“I have worked with various promoters across England, including PianoRepublik and ZimFest. They have given me opportunities which I never thought I would have at such an early stage of my career,” he said.
For DJ Japan, the biggest challenge right now is building consistency. Amapiano, Afro Tech and Gqom are growing fast in the UK, but they are still niche compared to mainstream genres. That means more hustle for bookings, more demos sent, and more nights proving himself in rooms that are still learning the sound.
“As a DJ, you need to stay ahead of the music because new tracks are released all the time. It’s important to have your own style rather than playing the same songs as everyone else, even though the UK crowd mostly listens to the trending songs from TikTok,” DJ Japan explained.
“Being a good DJ will only take you so far. You need to build relationships with promoters, artistes and people in the industry. For me, it’s all about staying authentic, being consistent and creating experiences that keep people coming back.”
He said that mindset is what earned him the ZimFest slot and that it was his first time both attending and performing at the festival, and he treated it like a statement moment.
“Playing at ZimFest was an amazing experience. I had a 55-minute set, and I made the most of every minute. The energy from the crowd was incredible, and it’s definitely a performance I’ll always remember. I’m really grateful to PianoRepublik for giving me that opportunity and believing in me,” said DJ Japan.
Back in Gwanda, friends and family followed the livestreams and clips. For a town known for mining, seeing one of its own command a diaspora festival crowd has become a source of pride.
The DJ said he carries that responsibility with him every time he travels to a gig. He wants young people from Matabeleland South to see that it is possible to export local talent and still stay rooted.
His dream now is bigger than the UK.
“If I had to choose one thing, it would be to build a career that’s recognised not just across the UK, but internationally as well. I want to be someone that the biggest promoters trust and think of when they’re putting together major events,” he said.
“At the same time, I’d love to inspire the next generation of DJs by showing them that with consistency, hard work and staying true to your sound, it’s possible to achieve your goals. If my journey can motivate upcoming DJs to believe in themselves and keep pushing, then that’s something I’d be really proud of.”
DJ Japan is already working toward bigger stages and has his eyes set on Piano People and Afro Nation, two of the UK’s biggest platforms for African electronic music.
He said those are his major goals, and he is going to keep putting in the work until he gets to the Promised Land.
In the meantime, he is in the studio digging for new tracks, testing edits, and building relationships with producers back home and in South Africa. He believes the future of the sound lies in collaboration — Gwanda melodies meeting UK basslines, and Zimbabwean stories told over Amapiano drums.
For DJ Japan, the journey from a mining town to UK dancefloors is proof that talent plus persistence can travel. And as the beats get louder and the crowds get bigger, he is determined that the name Gwanda will keep ringing out wherever the music plays.
