Joseph Simon Misa, better known as DJ Joozey, is a 26-year-old disc jockey who performs at 1245 Lounge, one of the best nightclubs along Chole Street in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Recently, he embarked on an extraordinary journey to fulfill a dream: to perform on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the highest single free-standing mountain in the world, to promote it to a global audience.
On February 28, DJ Joozey began his climb and reached the summit on March 2. “When I reached Gilman’s Point at an altitude of 5,756 meters above sea level, I cried because of the freezing temperatures. There was almost no oxygen,” he recalled, amazed at seeing clouds below him instead of above.
This was DJ Joozey’s first time conquering Kilimanjaro, where he played the Tanzanian national anthem and Singeli, a new-generation local dance music, in Kiswahili, the national language. “I plucked up my courage to perform for 16 minutes in freezing temperatures with the mission of promoting the country’s tourism locally and globally,” he said. “The biggest challenge my team and I faced was the changing weather and mountain sickness as we moved upwards.”
Performing on Mount Kilimanjaro was a realization of his long-time dream. DJ Joozey was inspired to promote the mountain globally and his music business after traveling abroad and hearing that most people only knew Tanzania for Mount Kilimanjaro. “Anyone can dance to Singeli music even if they don’t understand Kiswahili,” said DJ Joozey, who has performed in Dubai, Uganda, Kenya, and Burundi.
DJ Joozey’s performance on Kilimanjaro was reportedly the first ever in the mountain’s history. It served the dual purpose of promoting Tanzania and its famous mountain, as well as Singeli music. Annually, about 50,000 climbers from around the world attempt to reach the summit, known as Uhuru Peak.
After his 16-minute performance, DJ Joozey was advised to stop to avoid the severe effects of the cold and altitude sickness. His value and integrity as an artist soared, and his mentality strengthened. Posting his performance on social media brought positive reactions from many, including ministers and diplomats. “They have labeled me a hero for promoting Tanzania from the top of the mountain without any persuasion or payment,” he said.
DJ Joozey’s journey to stardom was not easy. Born in the Kishapu district of Shinyanga region, northern Tanzania, he lost his father at a young age and faced hardship when his mother became paralyzed. Dropping out of school due to lack of fees, he moved to Dar es Salaam in 2013 and did various odd jobs to support his family.
Despite the struggles, including a spinal injury from a fall at a construction site, DJ Joozey persevered. His fate began to change when he found work at a music and movie library, where he learned to use a computer. “When you are limited in life, it doesn’t mean you have failed. It means you get a chance to try again,” he said.
DJ Joozey encourages fellow youth to take pride in their country and promote local and international tourism by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He believes that Tanzanian youth in the entertainment industry can be ambassadors of tourism, highlighting attractions like Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, and Zanzibar Islands.
