DJ Fita explained

DJ Fita
Birth Name:Kelvin Peter Wanjohi
Birth Place:Thika
Origin:Kenya
Genre:Electronic, Afro House, RnB
Occupation:DJ, Record Producer, Music Journalist, Broadcaster
Instrument:Digital audio workstation, Keyboard
Years Active:2014 - Present
Label:Sound Safari Records
Associated Acts:Fitemba, Dan Aceda, Makadem,DJ Nruff

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]

Early life and education

DJ 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

DJ Fita uploaded an unofficial remix for Kookoo by Elani on SoundCloud in 2014. He subsequently joined EDM Kenya, 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. Shortly after, he participated in the Chemistry remix Challenge by Tetu Shani. The challenge featured 36 producers from around Kenya,[8] making it one of the defining tracks of the Nu-Nairobi Movement[9] and one of the biggest songs on Kenya's SoundCloud in 2016.[10] [11] [12] 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.[13]

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.[14]

In 2018, he was invited to play three major Kenyan Festivals, Africa Nouveau Festival,[15] Ongea Summit 2018 and Earthdance Music Festival[16] as well as going on his debut tour, Break It All Apart Tour.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]

On 15 March 2019, DJ Fita appeared as the special guest on Adoveli Podcast season 3 episode 11. 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[20]

2020: Name of Love EP

In 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.[21] [22]

Fitemba

DJ 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.[23]

Fitemba teamed up with Hendrick to produce a single on DJ Nruff's album which was released on iTunes on 25 September 2017.[24] The track features Dan 'chizi' Aceda. Fitemba were listed on the Kenyan EDM Artists of 2017 by Internet Radio LionAfriq.[25]

Redux

In an interview with Rae Kiragu[26] and DJ Kafi on May 20, 2018, DJ Fita premiered a Dubstep remix for Ten Toes by Kenyan-Norwegian rapper STL.[27] 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[28]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResult
2015Stylus DJ Awards VJ of The Year
2022Cafe Ngoma AwardsAlternative DJ of The YearNominated

Tours

Headlining

Notes and References

  1. News: The Dish: Ankole Grill. Daily Nation. 28 November 2018.
  2. Web site: A. Keyes. 2020-10-12. Sound Safari. en-GB. 2 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202161339/https://www.soundsafari.co.ke/author/djfita/. dead.
  3. Web site: Opinion: Eric Omondi thinks Kenyan music is boring - He is wrong. 2021-11-30. Mpasho. en-ZA.
  4. Web site: 10 EDM Remixes of Popular Kenyan Songs You Need To Hear. EDM Kenya. 28 November 2018. 18 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200118104841/http://edm.co.ke/remixes/10-edm-remixes-you-need-to-hear-4064. dead.
  5. Web site: Ado Veli Podcast dives into Kenyan EDM in New Episode. Aipate. 2 December 2018.
  6. Web site: Stylus DJ Awards. 28 November 2018.
  7. Web site: Finally an Award Ceremony to Celebrate DJs. Ghafla.
  8. Web site: Nairobi Underground: Exciting, Innovative, Disruptive – KenyaBuzz LifeStyle. en-US. 2018-12-18.
  9. Web site: What is ‘Nu Nairobi’ and who is behind it?. 2018-09-30. Aipate. en. 2018-12-16.
  10. Web site: Meet Tetu Shani: The Man with the Biggest Song on Kenya's SoundCloud. 2016-08-01. wgNetworks. en-US. 2018-12-16. 16 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181216164955/https://wgnetworks.tv/2016/08/01/meet-tetu-shani-man-biggest-song-kenyas-soundcloud/. dead.
  11. Web site: Tetu Shani and surge of alternative music. May 18, 2017. Business Daily. 2018-12-16.
  12. Web site: Tetu Shani's Remix Challenge. Nairobi Underground. 28 November 2018. 14 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190114192520/http://www.nairobiunderground.co.ke/tetu-shanis-remix-challenge/. dead.
  13. Web site: How Epic Are These Two EDM Remixes To Tetu Shani and Mayonde’s ‘Chemistry’?. Homeboyz Radio. 28 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152307/http://hbr.co.ke/how-epic-are-these-two-edm-remixes-to-tetu-shani-and-mayondes-chemistry-listen/. 3 December 2018. dead.
  14. Web site: Weekend Breakfast with Rae: Introducing DJ Fita. 2017-02-10. @HomeboyzRadio. en. 2018-12-16.
  15. Web site: This Is What Nairobi's 'Africa Nouveau' Festival Looked Like. Okay Africa. 28 November 2018.
  16. Web site: Earthdance Nairobi at Ngong Racecourse. Resident Advisor. 28 November 2018.
  17. Web site: DJ FIta & Twist - Live @ Kubamba FM 91.6 (01.09.18). Mixcloud. 2018-12-25.
  18. Web site: Makadem & The Electrique Bengaloo. Africa Nouveau. 28 November 2018.
  19. Web site: dj fita on Instagram: "Come meet my friends on #BreakItAllTour #ssrcollective". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BmssQ6VFYld . 26 December 2021 . registration. Instagram. en. 2018-12-25.
  20. Web site: Aipate Mashup: New Burna Boy EP, Seyi Shay in Kenya, Warner Music coming to Boomplay, DJ Fita. 2019-03-22. Aipate. en. 2019-03-22.
  21. Web site: DJ Fita Releases New RnB Single ‘Ghetto Love’. 2020-09-04. KenyaBuzz LifeStyle. en-US.
  22. Web site: Wanjiru. Penninah. 2020-08-21. DJ Fita shares "Ghetto Love" featuring Poly Joe and Hendrick Sam. 2020-09-04. Aipate. en.
  23. Web site: Fitemba - Untitled EP [SSR 002]]. SoundCloud. en. 2018-12-24.
  24. Web site: Dj Nruff releases 'calling' with Fitemba, Hendrick ft Dan Aceda. 2017-09-14. Biggest Kaka. en-US. 2018-12-24.
  25. Web site: Who are your Kenyan EDM Artists in 2017?. www.lionafriqradio.com. 2018-12-24.
  26. Web site: TAKE 5: Rae Kiragu. Daily Nation. en. 2018-12-24.
  27. Web site: HBR w/ HR - @djfita. www.instagram.com. en. 2018-12-24.
  28. Web site:
    1. JSHBR
    . Kiragu. Rae. 2018-05-21. @Iamthe_Rae. en. 2018-12-24.