DJ Phobia was mentored and trained by Black Coffee and DJ Christos. Picture: Viberate.com.
In a telephonic interview with Diary Series of Deaf People, DJ Phobia, real name, Bongani Mbambo (38) from Bethlehem in the Free State said being able to do things that everyone else could do, also made it difficult for him to understand why they said he is blind.
He can take pictures and videos of himself while deejaying and post them on social media. He can also cook for himself.
DJ Phobia was mentored and trained by South Africa’s much-admired deejays such as Black Coffee and DJ Christos. He lost his sight when he was three months old after being diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer that begins in the retina. According to information derived from Mayo Clinic, retinoblastoma commonly affects young children, but rarely occurs in adults.
He explained to Diary Series of Deaf People that he was indeed not cognisant of his blindness and he was only made aware by other kids. “When I was growing up, other kids used to say things like “hee, bona ke sefofu” (hey, look he is blind) and I used to wonder, ‘why are they saying that.’”
Phobia who is also a producer and sound engineer said, it was difficult to accept what was said about him because “I was doing things that they were doing. I used to ride a bicycle and play soccer with other kids.”
How did he manage to ride a bicycle?
“I must be familiar with the area first, then I can move around with my bicycle. I use my ears as my eyes to navigate. Once I am familiar with the area, I move with ease. The same applies when I go to the gym; I pay attention to sounds to navigate and get to my destination. I listen to any sound around to know whether there are any objects in my way.”
He added, “When it comes to soccer, we put the ball in a plastic bag so that it makes a sound as it is kicked around.”
He said this is done, “So that I can hear when the ball is coming toward me or if I have to run after it. At school I used to play cricket as well. In order to play cricket, I would pay attention to the sound of the cork inside a cricket ball. So, I am able to hear the cricket ball when it comes near.”
But he stopped playing soccer during his high school years in 2003.
Going to the Gym
“I go to the gym three times a week. But it also depends on my schedule. If I am not very busy, in a week, I can go five days, then I rest on weekends and do other things. I do most exercises at the gym and I even lift weights. Mondays and Tuesdays, I work on my chest and back; Wednesdays, I rest; Thursdays, I walk on the treadmill and work on my legs; and Fridays, I work on my shoulders and forearm,” said DJ Phobia.
People do not believe he is indeed blind
“Some people do not believe that I can do all these things, whilst others believe.”
The Editor-In-Chief of Diary Series of the Deaf People also could not believe that DJ Phobia is blind. This was when he replied to the WhatsApp media enquiry through voice messages as well as in writing.
He explained that he uses Google Talkback on his phone to respond in writing to his callers. He also uses NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) screen reader on his PC and a webcam to record videos for his radio shows or music production and to take selfies.
At his current age, some people find it difficult to understand how he is able to deejay.
“I cannot explain how I do it. A person would have to watch me in action.
Some spectators get amazed whilst others try to place things in front of me to test whether I am truly blind. When they see that there is no reaction from me, they start believing that ‘no, this guy is truly blind.’ My friends around, would alert me if someone is placing things in front of me to check whether I am blind or not.”
Being called names used to offend him
He said he used to be offended when people called him “sefofu” because he did not understand why he was called “names and stuff like that.”
Around the age of five, six or seven, his mom, Meisie Mbambo explained to him that he was blind.
“At first, I did not believe it but I later accepted.” As he reached the age of 12, he began to understand why people classified him as a blind person. Afterward, “I just lived my life normally like the other kids.”
He started playing the keyboard at the age of five
DJ Phobia’s love for music commenced at weddings and music festivals that he attended with his mom when he was young. Mostly, they attended music festivals of the late Brenda Fassie, Chicco Twala, Mercy Pakela and Rebecca Malope. His mom realised that he loves music and she decided to buy him a keyboard so that he could start teaching himself how to play it.
“When I was five years old, my mom bought me my first keyboard and I taught myself how to play it. That was when I decided that I am going to be a producer.”
He has recorded and produced his own songs and they are “out there on all platforms.” He is currently working on his own album, which will be released late this year. He has his own podcast called TheFunkyExperience and YouTube channel which he records by himself.
Rise to fame
In 1996, he attended an event around his neighbourhood in Bethlehem and he met DJ Mbuso and DJ Claude.
“I heard them playing on the turntables and scratching. I was enjoying what I was hearing. That is where the deejay idea came from. I decided that I want to be a deejay and producer,” said DJ Phobia.
In 1999, he met DJ Christos at an event held at Bohlokong stadium.
“I told him that I want to be a deejay and he told me that I must first finish school and take it from there. And in 2004, after my matric I then studied sound engineering. I did the certificate level at Athlone school for the Blind in Cape Town.
“In 2005, DJ Christos invited me to the very first South African music conference while I was staying at his house for the duration. And, in the same week, I also met Black Coffee and he also taught me a few things. I started deejaying in 2005 with the help of DJ Christos and Black Coffee.”
He decided to be a deejay and music producer because of his love for music. “I have been loving music since I was a baby. So, I have been deejaying since 2005 and I performed almost all over South Africa. I also played in Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique.”
His unique style of deejaying sets him apart from the rest and it has earned him the Hansa Beeg Dreamer Award in 2013.
The Durban July
Not blowing his own trumpet, he said people shed tears when they heard him deejaying at the Durban July. He said that he performs at this prestigious event, annually.
“I go there every year to deejay and I get a standing ovation. People shed tears and they always want more.”
Future Dreams
“My dream is to be one of the best deejays in the world and to help others to achieve their dreams. I want to be known as one of the best Deejays in the world and I am slowly getting there.”
