With Deejaying and veejaying steadily proving big regionally, in Uganda, Joseph Kalisa, 21, who on stage is known as Veejay Spinny, gradually emerges as one of Kampala’s renowned Rwandan Veejay, whose passion, and entrepreneurship venture into events management has steadily picked up.

Kalisa’s love for music started way back in primary, while his love and effort for deejaying kicked off in 2009, when he was high school.

By then, he was a student at Lycee De Kigali, where he always oversaw most entertainment events, where he tried a hand in Disco Jockey.

Returning to Kampala in 2014, after accomplishing his secondary school, he was determined to carry on with his passion.

“I was doing it for fun, while in high school, but I wanted to make it a serious thing,” he said.

But Kalisa’s success to what he is today has been a tactical one.

From initially curtain-raising for prominent Ugandan Deejays at various Kampala’s prominent night clubs which included V-Lounge, alongside Dj Brian, Selektor J, who guided him.

He gradually performed at other hang out spots like Legends, Gurvnor and at several Purple Party Editions in Jinja district, “I wasn’t earning from it, since it was a learning opportunity for it really gave me exposure,” he said.

Promising

In recent years, Kalisa has stabilised to be among few promising young Deejays in Kampala. Currently, he is the Atmosphere Lounge’s resident deejay, where he also serves an an events manager.

A few years into the deejaying, Kalisa tapped into events organisation, with a major thought of further building his brand. Last year, Kalisa founded Spinny Events — a company dealing in events’ organisation and management.

Premiering the first edition of Rwanda Connect in February last year, which was headlined by Rwanda’s Charly and Nina, this further geared up his ambition into events managements. Kalisa has since then never looked back.

After saving $15,000 (Rwf12, 823,621), for close to a year, Kalisa purchased 300 pairs of Silent Disco Headphones. “I just wanted a possibility of staging a social event, without affecting people around,” he added.

Although Uganda has been known for freely ushering in any music events, surprisingly, hurdles have been introduced by law enforcers.

According to Kalisa, most out-door events are restricted due to the effective noise pollution laws, hence making it risky for organizers.

Silent Disco

Although the first edition of Rwanda Connect turned out a success, it also alerted the Kampala City Council Authority officials who nearly stopped the event due to the loud sound.

“Here, I realised how innovative it was venturing into Silent Disco business,” he recalls. By then, only Kellagram Events were the leading organisers of Silent Disco in Uganda, so Kalisa opted for acquiring his own equipment.

With this, Kalisa realises how the Silent Disco venture is steadily being adopted by audiences. “It’s a new trend, and people are steadily getting familiar with it. This keeps me going,” he noted.

Under Spinny Events, more events especially Silent Disco have been organised right from Uganda and a few in Kigali and Bujumbura.

Through his events, Kalisa has hosted musicians like Rwanda’s Deejay Pius, The Ben, Charly and Nina. Other are Ugandan musicians Bebe Cool, Sheebah Karungi and Tonix.

Mastering his craft, Kalisa admits how challenges exist too, “It’s not that easy making it in a foreign country, as it requires real hard work and initial self-financing financing of operations to prove to the public,” he explains.

Though not yet to where he dreams to be, Kalisa who apparently holds 800 pairs of headphones in investing back into the Silent Disco business as he wants it to grow beyond the region.

“I want to develop Spinny Events and Silent Disco into one of East Africa and Africa’s leading entertainment hubs,” he added.

Headphones in investing back into the Silent Disco business as he wants it to grow beyond the region, “I want to develop Spinny Events and Silent Disco into one of East Africa and Africa’s leading entertainment hubs,” he states.