Kelvin Peter Wanjohi (born 21 August 1994) professionally known as DJ Fita, is a Kenyan DJ,[1] music producer and music journalist[2][3] from Thika. He is best known for remixing Kenyan pop music[4] into upbeat electronic dance music. DJ Fita is also a member of Fitemba[5]. He was nominated for the VJ of the Year 2015[6] during the annual Stylus DJ Awards and Alternative DJ of the Year 2022 at Cafe Ngoma Awards.[7]
DJ Fita | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kelvin Peter Wanjohi |
| Born | 1994 (age 29–30) Thika |
| Origin | Kenya |
| Genres | Electronic, Afro House, RnB |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, Record Producer, Music Journalist, Broadcaster |
| Instrument(s) | Digital audio workstation, Keyboard |
| Years active | 2014 - Present |
| Labels | Sound Safari Records |
| Website | djfita |
Early life and education
editDJ Fita was born in Makongeni Estate Thika. He graduated with a diploma in IT from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and a degree in Information Security & Forensics from KCA University.
Career
editDJ Fita uploaded an unofficial remix for Kookoo by Elani on SoundCloud in 2014.[8] He subsequently joined EDM Kenya Archived 15 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine, a community-based website that promotes House music artists from Kenya.
In July 2016, DJ Fita released back to back remixes first releasing an official remix for "Doing It Right" by DJ Nruff on 11 July 2016.[9] Shortly after, he participated in the Chemistry remix Challenge by Tetu Shani. The challenge featured 36 producers from around Kenya,[10] making it one of the defining tracks of the Nu-Nairobi Movement[11] and one of the biggest songs on Kenya's SoundCloud in 2016.[12][13][14] DJ Fita's remix is the first track to feature two consecutive weekends on The Undercover segment on the Weekend Breakfast show on Homeboyz Radio; he only shares this record with Hendrick.[15]
On 27 January 2017, DJ Fita released a remix for Mungu Pekee by Nyashinski which was made available for free download on his SoundCloud account. The remix quickly gained traction in the club scene and was soon picked up by radio leading to an on-air radio interview on Homeboyz Radio in February.[16]
In 2018, he was invited to play three major Kenyan Festivals, Africa Nouveau Festival,[17] Ongea Summit 2018 and Earthdance Music Festival[18] as well as going on his debut tour, Break It All Apart Tour.[19] He performed with legendary Benga Music artist Makadem. Makadem & The Electric Bengaloo is an Afro-electronic live band that fuses Benga sounds of the Nyatiti with electronic dance music elements. During the shows, he changed his usual DJ set-up adding an Akai MPD18 Midi Pad Controller and Ableton Live.[20] On 20 August 2018, DJ Fita released his debut official artist single which features Groove Awards nominee, Twist, supported by a 4-stop tour in Kenya and Kigali, Rwanda.[21]
On 15 March 2019, DJ Fita appeared as the special guest on Adoveli Podcast season 3 episode 11.[22] Later on the same day, a new Afro-tech track titled "jackals" by DJ Fita was given its first airplay on African Moves, Drums Radio, UK by DJ OneDown[23]
2020: Name of Love EP
editIn August 2020, DJ Fita announced his debut EP, Name of Love, which was released in November 2020. The first single, Ghetto Love, features Poly Joe and Hendrick Sam and was noted for varying from his previous work.[24][25]
Fitemba
editDJ Fita's first full-length project was with Brian Mahemba under the guise of "Fitemba" (a portmanteau of Fita and Mahemba.) The duo released their first EP, Untitled EP on 19 August 2016.[26]
Fitemba teamed up with Hendrick to produce a single on DJ Nruff's album which was released on iTunes on 25 September 2017.[27] The track features Dan 'chizi' Aceda. Fitemba were listed on the Kenyan EDM Artists of 2017 by Internet Radio LionAfriq.[28]
Redux
editIn an interview with Rae Kiragu[29] and DJ Kafi on May 20, 2018, DJ Fita premiered a Dubstep remix for Ten Toes by Kenyan-Norwegian rapper STL.[30] DJ Fita revealed that the remix was a collaborative project with DJ/Producer Pinch 254 for their new project called Redux.The remix has never been released to date[31]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Stylus DJ Awards | VJ of The Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | Cafe Ngoma Awards | Alternative DJ of The Year | Nominated |
Tours
edit- Headlining
- Break It All Apart Tour (2018)
- Sound Safari Tour (2023)
References
edit- ^ "The Dish: Ankole Grill". Daily Nation. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "A. Keyes". Sound Safari. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Opinion: Eric Omondi thinks Kenyan music is boring - He is wrong". Mpasho. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "10 EDM Remixes of Popular Kenyan Songs You Need To Hear". EDM Kenya. Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Ado Veli Podcast dives into Kenyan EDM in New Episode". Aipate. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Stylus DJ Awards". Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Finally an Award Ceremony to Celebrate DJs". Ghafla.
- ^ Elani - Kookoo(Dj Fita & Medly Remix) [RAW], retrieved 16 December 2018
- ^ Listen to "Doing It Right (Dj Fita & Chief Medley Trap Remix) Explicit Version" posted by DJ Nruff on Apple Music., retrieved 16 December 2018
- ^ "Nairobi Underground: Exciting, Innovative, Disruptive – KenyaBuzz LifeStyle". Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "What is 'Nu Nairobi' and who is behind it?". Aipate. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "Meet Tetu Shani: The Man with the Biggest Song on Kenya's SoundCloud". wgNetworks. 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "Tetu Shani and surge of alternative music". Business Daily. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "Tetu Shani's Remix Challenge". Nairobi Underground. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "How Epic Are These Two EDM Remixes To Tetu Shani and Mayonde's 'Chemistry'?". Homeboyz Radio. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Weekend Breakfast with Rae: Introducing DJ Fita". @HomeboyzRadio. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "This Is What Nairobi's 'Africa Nouveau' Festival Looked Like". Okay Africa. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Earthdance Nairobi at Ngong Racecourse". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "DJ FIta & Twist - Live @ Kubamba FM 91.6 (01.09.18)". Mixcloud. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ "Makadem & The Electrique Bengaloo". Africa Nouveau. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "dj fita on Instagram: "Come meet my friends on #BreakItAllTour #ssrcollective"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ Ado Veli Podcast - DJ Fita Kenyan EDM Vibes, 14 March 2019, retrieved 22 March 2019
- ^ "Aipate Mashup: New Burna Boy EP, Seyi Shay in Kenya, Warner Music coming to Boomplay, DJ Fita". Aipate. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ "DJ Fita Releases New RnB Single 'Ghetto Love'". KenyaBuzz LifeStyle. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Wanjiru, Penninah (21 August 2020). "DJ Fita shares "Ghetto Love" featuring Poly Joe and Hendrick Sam". Aipate. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Fitemba - Untitled EP [SSR 002]". SoundCloud. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Dj Nruff releases 'calling' with Fitemba, Hendrick ft Dan Aceda". Biggest Kaka. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Who are your Kenyan EDM Artists in 2017?". www.lionafriqradio.com. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "TAKE 5: Rae Kiragu". Daily Nation. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "HBR w/ HR - @djfita". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ Kiragu, Rae (21 May 2018). "#JSHBR". @Iamthe_Rae. Retrieved 24 December 2018.