Money didn’t influence my career choice of DJ — Commissioner Wysei

Background

My name is Ebere Iwuagu, but I’m popularly known as Commissioner DJ Wysei. I am from Mbaise in Imo State. I am the last child in a family of eight. I grew up with my mum who was a nurse and midwife. I think I was too attached to her, to the extent that I would go to the hospital with her. She saw me as a mini-her and envisioned me becoming a doctor. When I was 18, she trusted me to change drips or assist with basic tasks. Everyone assumed I would follow in her footsteps, but I didn’t know what I wanted. I just went along with her expectations—until I discovered football.

Education

I attended St Theresa Missionary School, Obowu, Imo State. I graduated from the National Open University, where I studied Information Technology. I am currently undertaking my master’s degree at the EI Business School in Barcelona, Spain.

Inspiration

While growing up, I always told myself that anything I wanted to do, I must do it well. I try to be unique with my performances and every other thing. I always motivate myself. Before going to perform, I think of what I would do onstage.

Music

I play all genres of music just to accommodate different crowds and age brackets. When I see Gen Zs, I know what to give them. When I see our fathers and mothers, I know what to give them as well. But personally, I love reggae.

Football

I broke my mum’s heart for football. My coach and school supported me, saying I was really talented. I was even a “head player” at school games. My mum didn’t let me pursue it, because my elder brother had lost a leg playing football, and she feared that something similar could happen to me.

After secondary school, I moved to Lagos, joined a team, and became the captain. I played outside the country, in Côte d’Ivoire, and even scored a winning goal at the game. When I came back to Nigeria, my mum was still against it.

Then in 2014, I had an accident, which changed the whole story. I fell from a three-story building while playing football with friends on the balcony of the building. It was a usual spot for us, but the balcony collapsed. My best friend died, and I survived but was hospitalised for over six months. I had broken bones and spent additional time at an orthopaedic hospital. It was devastating. I couldn’t play anymore. Lying in the hospital, I felt miserable—not just because of the accident but because I knew my football career was over. It was after the accident that I decided to go into entertainment. I was also in another accident recently where I injured my hands and wrists. I am supposed to go for surgery.

Career

Initially, I started as a singer, and I even produced a song for my mum, just to please her, because she did not want me to follow another career path. But, one day, I told myself that I was not getting it right. I did not like my voice, perhaps because I was still a teenager then. Anyway, I went out one day and saw a DJ performing, and I liked what he was doing. Prior to that time, I did not like DJs, because I felt they usually appeared tattered and unkempt with little pay. While schooling, I started trying to acquire the skill. I went to several DJs to learn from them, but I was not satisfied. I felt that I needed to learn more. While doing that, I was also making short videos and posting them online, just to let people know that I was a DJ. I wasn’t after money; I just wanted to be good at it. In fact, I didn’t see myself making money from it. I figured that after graduation, l would get a job, and be using my DJ skills for fun in my house. But, everything changed after I met DJ Switch.

DJ Switch

I used to follow DJs for gigs, and I even helped out once in a while for free. I was doing that until I met DJ Switch, who was with P-Square at the time. According to her, she liked my swag. She told me, “You don’t buy swag from the market and you have it”. I told her I wanted to learn more, especially in the area of right and left-hand scratch, that I used to see in videos. She then asked me to show her the videos and I showed her a Russian DJ on YouTube. I told her that I had seen her do what he was doing on her social media page, and I wanted to learn from her. She was excited, and she told me that though she had never accepted to teach anyone before but she liked me and would put me through. True to her words, she put me through and taught me to be a professional DJ. She was trying to make sure I would be bigger than her. She often told me that she would be proud to see me grow bigger than her. She really wanted to see me win.

Breakthrough

I was still with her (DJ Switch) when CNN came for five female DJs in Africa. They saw my video, and I was selected among the five. That and a feature by BBC were the turning points for me.

Challenges

It has not been easy because this is a male-dominated field. Initially, I wasn’t well-accepted. There was a time I was told I couldn’t play at a party because I was a female DJ. But, I didn’t give up. I had to prove myself and deliver amazing performances. I Many people doubted my abilities just because I am a woman. Some radio stations even wanted to take advantage of me before allowing me to perform. However, I stayed focused and kept pushing forward. Today, people appreciate me and want to see me.

Family

Everyone in my family is proud of me now, including my sisters. Unfortunately, my dad is late, so he didn’t really see the bigger side of this journey.

Style

My friends tell me my hair is more popular than my name and that’s true. Whenever my hair is covered, most people don’t recognise me. They have to look twice to be sure it’s Commissioner DJ Wysei. But when you see my hair, even from afar, you would already know it is me.

Also, the way I perform and entertain people sets me apart. I usually dance on stage. Even if someone is not ready to vibe, I would go to them and make them vibe. I am not a DJ who just stands on one spot to play, and people like that vibe, and charisma I come with.

May Edochie

My story with May started years ago. Many people don’t know but we have known each other for more than 10 years, back when I was schooling and working to sponsor myself. I was supposed to work in her boutique when I was looking for money to pay my school fees. I went to her and she employed me but I did not start the job. She got angry at the time, but years down the line, we are sweet now. Our sisterhood is blossoming now. She is an amazing woman.

Social media

Initially, I wasn’t active on social media. I didn’t even know the strength of social media until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. I started a social media live-streaming party, and I was able to reach many people in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. I don’t take social media for granted anymore. I have almost three million followers on Facebook.

Cyber bullying

I have not experienced cyber bullying. I feel like people on social media love me too much. Although I see comments like, “Please change your hair”, or “Change this hair”, I see them as normal comments. I feel like if you don’t get such comments, you are not doing anything right. I have never “trended” online for negative reasons.

Memories

The most defining moment of my career was the very first time I hosted the Commissioners Festival. I had never thought of hosting my own show. However, I did it for the first time in 2023, and it was amazing. Over 7,000 guests attended, and it was so emotional. Another defining moment was the first day I saw myself on CNN. I called my brothers in the United States and Mexico (for them to watch it). It’s a day I’ll never forget.

Fame

I don’t like the fact that I am popular. It was not something I wanted. I know people around me who wanted to be famous but I never bargained for it.  It feels weird anytime I say it, but I am not living the life I want to live. I cannot just go to the market and bargain for things; or move around freely in public. I always have to maintain my composure. Most times, I just want to dance like crazy, but whenever I stand up, all cameras are on me.

Fans

The only thing I have to say to my fans is that “I love them”. I love the fact that they are supporting me. Actually, they keep me going. A lot of things happened, especially in 2024, that made me want to give up severally. I lost a lot and I had many reasons to quit; but I couldn’t do that because of my fans. I love them so much. As they keep supporting me, I will keep making them proud.

Advice

I don’t believe in sitting around and waiting for the government to do everything. As a youth, what are you doing for yourself? Are you just sitting and waiting for money to fall from heaven? You can start in a small way, just like many of us did, because we did not start the way we are now.

Current projects

In the next five years, I see myself acquiring more skills as a DJ and showing the world different styles. I also want to change the narrative of DJs in Nigeria and take the Commissioners Festival outside the country.

Hobbies

I love playing football and snooker.

Relationship

I get a lot of interest from people, but most times, I don’t know which ones are real and which ones are fake. It could be confusing. Sometimes, I don’t even know if it’s love or something else. It makes it hard to navigate relationships while focusing on my career. So I am on my own. I am just being careful so no one will jeopardise my heart.

Food

My favourite food is oha soup with any “swallow”.

Relaxation

I don’t really relax. I am an introvert and I don’t go out that often. You can only see me outside when I’m performing. I am the quiet type; forget what you see online.

Fashion

I like to put on something I am comfortable in. I don’t like big clothes.I like people to see that I’m tiny. For my hair, I wanted to look unique, and that was how I arrived at this Mohawk style.