Commissioner DJ Wysei, Nigeria’s fast-rising female DJ, eyes top spot

Nigeria’s versatile disc jockey, Commissioner DJ Wysei, leaves no one in doubt that she is here to stay and will make a lasting impact on the DJ scene.

In a year scarred by the Covid-19 pandemic, she sustains her upward trajectory with a recent superlative performance on SoundCity Virtual Concert, Amazon in the Mix and a May 2, 2020, release of a 100-minute mixtape.

So far, 2020 has been a good year for her, affording her the opportunities to continues to entrench herself as a force to reckon with and leaving her fans in no doubt that the new kid on the block is already a contender for the top rank of the female DJ club.

The multi-talented entertainer, easily recognised for her clout, on account of her versatility, not only produce scintillating beats but also can sing and dance–– and is especially adept at drumming which earned her the accolade “Drummer Girl.”

She is also noted for being prolific and stands out as one of the best playlist curators on the continent. This she has proven with no less than four mixtapes to her credit. What’s more, she is not confined to a particular genre of music, leading to critics labelling her style as “magnanimous” because of the wide range of songs in her compilations.

Though young, Commissioner DJ Wysei is no pushover, neither is her achievement a flash in the pan, neither is she afraid of competing in the fiercely competitive Nigerian music industry. “Professionalism works better when you are well-grounded in what you do. You can represent anywhere. So, thriving as a DJ is nothing to be worried about; that is why I choose that path,” she submits.

Already, rated by CNN and BBC as one of the top five female disc jockeys in Africa, she is focused on sustaining the momentum. Earlier in the year, she represented Nigerian DJs at the International Women’s Day. And in February, her story made it into Malimbe, the glossy in-flight publication for a string of airlines including Arik, Aero and Dana Air.

For a DJ who is less than six years in the industry, she has grown rapidly to become fans’ delight. “Sometimes, my fans get so emotional about my performance that they attempt to make physical contacts or ask for one in the heat of the moment,” she says.

From a relatively unknown entity who started her gig as her institution’s (NOUN) radio in-house disc jockey in 2016, Commissioner DJ Wysei has come a long way, winning awards along the way including 2016 Gbedu Awards for Best Female DJ in Nigeria and 2017 Best Female DJ (Eastern Nigeria) at the Biggy’s Awards for Entertainment.

Having climbed to a higher pedestal through hard work and creativity, she is not yet ready to rest on her oars.

In her words, “there are still miles to go.” And she is ready to do the hard work. “The truth is that there is no easy path or shortcut to success. You have to keep working harder every day to be at the top of your game, and you have to keep believing in yourself,” she says.