Tembisa’s DJ on the airwaves

There are a number of young people who strive to make something of their lives in Tembisa.

In trying to inspire young people, The Tembisan goes out in search of these individuals to give them a platform to inspire other young people.

This week, The Tembisan caught up with a Tembisa DJ who works for Y-fm, a leading youth radio station in Gauteng.

Tembisan: Many people know you as DJ Thabi Thabs. What is your real name?

DJ Thabi Thabs: My name is Nompumelelo Thabisile Bothelezi.

Tembisan: In short, tell us about yourself.

DJ Thabi Thabs: I am 26 years old. I refer to myself as a social butterfly. I’m a passion-driven person and more than anything else, I’m a believer of my craft.

Tembisan: How did you come up with your stage name Thabi Thabs?

DJ Thabi Thabs: It is derived from my name and surname. I shortened my name Thabisile to Thabi and Thabs refers to my surname.

Tembisan: Where were you born?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I was born and raised in Tembisa. I completed my high school in KwaZulu-Natal.

Tembisan: What keeps you in Tembisa?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I was born here and besides, there are people who are making a positive mark and ensuring that something positive is being said about Tembisa and I am one of them. That simply means we have inspiration.

Tembisan: How did you become a DJ?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I used to be a dancer. I started dancing at the age of six but I believe I always had a thing for music. I grew up in a vibrant family, my father was a family person who ensured that there was always joy in the family, so music automatically became part of the family . When I reached tertiary education, I joined a DJ society in the hope that a woman can be as good as a man in the art or even better.

Tembisan: What kept you going?

DJ Thabi Thabs: Back then people in the DJ society always encouraged female DJs to stand firm. One of the reasons they did that was because we a had a minimum number of female DJs. I grew from there.

Tembisan: In 2012 you won the Gauteng Carnival DeeJay competition. How did the win contribute to your career?

DJ Thabi Thabs: It has contributed to my career in a huge way. Firstly it gave me strength, in a way it encouraged me to be strong and keep going. I happened to be the only female DJ at the top. That gave me my first international gig, “Miami invasion”.

Tembisan: International tour, how did you feel?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I felt blessed but that feels like an understatement. If there was any other word to explain it, I would use that.

Tembisan: Do you think you have a responsibility to represent Tembisa and raise the flag?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I believe it is everybody’s responsibility to make an effort and means to raise the Tembisa flag.

Tembisan: People say Soweto has enormous talent, what about Tembisa?

DJ Thabi Thabs: Talent is a God-given gift that nobody can take away from you. How you choose to live from it is a self driven decision. By that I mean some people fail to see their talent because their energy is focused on all the wrong things.

Tembisan: What is your advice to female DJs?

DJ Thabi Thabs: There’s a thin line between fame and passion. Passion comes with passions, it has the nature of aligning stars for you. Fame is the opposite, you get everything you want now and have nothing tomorrow. As a woman, dignity is one thing that can never be taken away from you. Keep that and your fighting spirit and your dream will become a reality. Be in the music industry for the love of music, not all the glitter that comes with it.

Tembisan: Where do you stand?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I didn’t get into the music industry because I saw a gap. For me it has never been about money but I’m doing what I love. In that way I always strive to be the best not because I’m competing but because I feel a need to stay relevant and on top of my game.

Tembisan: Have you reached your destination in terms of career, or do you see yourself venturing into other things?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I cannot limit myself to one space, as any other woman I have bigger dreams than most people.

Tembisan: Do you see yourself mentoring any female DJs from Tembisa?

DJ Thabi Thabs: I see myself mentoring hundreds of DJs once I find stability. I have a goal of changing a child’s life in Tembisa. That’s my lifetime goal.