Romeo Mudimu, or DJ Romeofoxy – as he’s known by fans and listeners alike – has the mind of an entrepreneur and a creative spirit that’s charting new territory in the Zimbabwean music industry. Born in Tshotsholo, a small community in the Matebeleland region of Zimbabwe, he later spent his childhood in Bulawayo – the second largest city in Zimbabwe. As a high-schooler, Romeo settled in Kwekwe – a town in the Midlance province. Now based in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, he continues to inspire confidence in other young Africans with his positive funky vibes through his radio and television program. Romeo plans to travel the world, collaborate with like-minded artists, and share his afro-beats through new platforms!

It’s been a few months since we first met in December while I was in Harare. I remember having some awesome conversations with Romeo that were both funny and meaningful. Being a musician myself, I understand the challenges that one has to overcome in the artistic sphere. I absolutely loved Romeo’s zest for life and his desire to influence and be a part of developing the emerging music industry in Zim. I remember listening with intrigue as he told me about the kind of music he fuses with his DJ-ing skills – what he calls “Afro-house”. Before going to Zim, I’d never heard of that combination in my life! I’m sure it exists in the world, but just probably not in Australia! (Laughs.) It’s basically an eclectic fusion of Afro-beats and House music. His brother – Kenneth Mudimu – played me some tunes from the genre, and I was pretty fascinated by its atmospheric nature and the crazy rhythms running through! If you never heard of this quirky sub-genre, be sure to check it out. In the meantime, let’s hear from DJ Romeofoxy…

Janielle | When did you discover the art of DJ-ing and what’s the coolest gig you’ve ever done?

Romeo | I have always loved music and spent a lot of time listening to cassettes when I was younger and sharing the music with my friends. Though DJ-ing was not something that I ever thought of for a long time, in 2003, I thought I’d share the music that I loved with people on a much bigger platform – so naturally, I thought of becoming a DJ. I put together what I call ‘Afro-house’, which has strong elements of African instruments, with emphasis on drums, wind instruments, mbira (a thumb-piano originating in Zimbabwe), and all these cultural samples which date back centuries ago – but I bring them back to life to suit the contemporary club context. 

Romeo | The coolest gig that I have ever done was recently this year, when I played music for a five year-old’s birthday celebration for free :) It was really special and challenging at the same time, but at the end of the party I felt really good seeing all the smiles on their little faces, and I was glad I did the gig!

Janielle | I love how it always begins with something you love doing. I think that’s what our first conversation was about! So, who inspired you to pursue the sphere of music – which I believe can be a lot tougher than settling for an ordinary job in Zim?

Romeo | My faith in God. Through His word, I am challenged to live a purpose-driven life and to serve him through the gifts that he has given me in the arts. 

Janielle | That’s so cool! I think it’s extremely rare to find guys like you who can see yourself using music and DJ-ing for God! At the moment, what’s a challenge facing upcoming musicians in Zimbabwe or Africa in general?

Romeo | In Zimbabwe, the biggest challenge that artists face is economic hardship – it is difficult and expensive to produce quality music and to make a living out of the industry. It’s also tough to gather enough support from the general public since the arts is thought of to be a ‘non-essential’ for people.

Janielle | That’s the reason why I believe in what you do. It may be ‘non-essential’, but I think every culture, and every society needs its own style of expression. Although it’s tough to get there, I think music is definitely something that can be used for a greater purpose! Amidst all the things in the media industry that could weigh you down, what’s the one thing that keeps you anchored?

Janielle | How simple and true! It’s that passion that keeps us going. So what’s next for you and where do you plan to travel in the future?

Romeo | Right now, I’m working on advancing as a DJ. While most other DJ’s focus on mixing music, I am going beyond that to focus on live video mixing – something that is not being done on the market, and especially in Zimbabwe.

As we speak, I have completed a pilot project in the form of a television program called InDaMix that’s being aired on national television. It is already receiving positive responses from the public and I intend to promote this by delving further into the area of video mixing. So far, I have ventured into producing Christian music and videos. I’ve also been involved on Zimbabwean radio where I’ve begun doing Christian dance mixes for the purpose of uplifting those who listen to my show.

In my plans to travel, I’d love to go to France, Australia, and the USA, and bring some Afro-vibes in those parts! 

I met Jordan (a.k.a Jomo) in 2012, then an aspiring creative writer on exchange at the University of Melbourne, where I was also studying my Bachelor of Music Performance. We met at a Planetshakers Urban Life group after being invited by a mutual friend and immediately clicked! Ah, you know that strange feeling? As you talk to this person you never before knew, you just have this gnawing suspicion that you must have known each other in another life! We soon found out that we had a few cool things in common: we were both the oldest of three sisters; shared different faith stories of the same transformative encounter with this amazing person named Jesus; and of course, loved going places, making local friends, writing about our experiences, and plotting new adventures! 
 

I’ve always wanted to feature this cool chicka' on Wayfarer By Faith because we share such similar sentiments behind the why of our travels. What better time than to interview her now as she embarks on her latest adventure into the world of travel writing!

Jordan road-tripping along the Great Ocean Road, Victoria.

Whenever I meet people who have also evidently caught on the wanderlust bug, I always wonder how and when it happened. It fascinates me, because the passion to ‘get out there again’ seems to hinge on the relationships and life stories that have marked us through our past travel experiences. For both of us, it seems like our families’ love for road-tripping was one of the defining things that sparked the fire in our little minds long before we realized this whole globetrotting affair would become so much a part of shaping who we have become and who we are becoming! I hope you enjoy reading snippets of conversations we’ve shared along our journey… 

Jomo | I’ve always liked to travel for as long as I can remember. My dad used to travel a lot for his job and our family would occasionally tag along. Let’s just say we took many a road trip and whether on a plane, bus, or car, I was turning around in my seat, attempting to strike up random conversations with whoever was behind me. I think traveling and specifically the journeys people take through life and the places they intersect, whether it be on the back of the bus or an airport terminal, have always intrigued me.

"As a creative writer, I only see people to love and stories to tell."

Janielle | I love how we both love to hear and share people stories! Do you make time to read when you travel? What are some of your best reads on the road?

Jomo | Oh, I love reading! I like to think of books as companions that provide knowledge, test our imaginations, and provide enough inspiration to shape our budding dreams. Plus, they help those plane rides to go by so much faster.

Favorite backpacking reads? This sounds boring, but I love grabbing travel guides for the area I’m in that tailor toward audiences “on a budget.” Just getting the inside scoop on the country I’m in is super helpful to me. Funny story, I actually found my copy of Australia: On a Budget in a quaint Cairns hostel with a book exchange. I have to say, I’m a big fan of the idea! As far as fiction, I remember having some spiritual breakthroughs upon reading The Shack by William Young while on a beach in Curacao. I couldn’t put it down even though tropical snorkeling was only a few steps away; literally, all I had to do was plunge my face into the water to find Nemo, but instead I came to understand the personification of the Holy Spirit in my life. I’ve never looked at the Trinity quite the same. Finally, even though expensive, I’ve found some great books just by grabbing what was advertised in airports. That’s how I discovered the first Hunger Games novel before it blew up; I finished it before I touched down in Atlanta! 

Sky-diving in Virginia, woot!

Janielle | We all love to hear quirky stories of others’ unplanned escapades – what’s the most bizarre thing you’ve done in a foreign land? 

Jomo | Ha, bizarre? I’ve found myself performing pop music I didn’t know the words to on a stage at Federation Square in front of a crowd of strangers in Melbourne; chasing Sydney possums in the middle of the night to see if the rumors were true that they’ll let you pet them if you hold out your finger (it’s true!); hitchhiking with an elderly couple in the Blue Ridge Mountains because the map wasn’t as easy to navigate as expected; and sleeping in a tent with four girls on the top of a mini-car we were road tripping the Great Ocean Road in. 

 

Jordan playing rugby for UNC, Chapel Hill. (Told you she was one cool chicka'!)

Janielle | Truly, it’s the spontaneously crazy moments in life that keeps us alive! However, in the tougher moments of solo travel and introspection, how's Jesus and your faith real to you when you find yourself in unfamiliar territory and among unfamiliar people?

Jomo | Aw man, Jesus is everything. He’s life. He’s the reason I want to travel to meet the people and places he’s created. I’ve been through some crappy times, that’s for sure – from sickness, to dangerous street situations, to almost stepping on one of the world’s ten most venomous snakes – but none of them overwhelmed me because of the rock I stand upon. Jesus reminds me I’m not alone, that I never have to earn his love, that all of my failures, even the ones to come, have already been forgiven because he paid for a burden too big for me to ever bear. That knowledge – it sets me free. It allows me to leap, even if it means leaving the security of a job, knowing that no matter where I find myself, he will always catch me. He also just happens to provide the best relationships I could ever ask for along the way. I live for the companions he places in my path and I am constantly in awe at how close I can feel to a person I’ve only met an hour ago. Like when we met, it felt like we’d honestly been friends our whole lives. That’s what Christ can do. 

Jordan embarking on a four-day trek in Tasmania, Australia.

Janielle | That, in my opinion, is truly the coolest thing about wayfaring by faith! Your path intersects with people you just know you were meant to meet because your hearts have experienced the same radical love, grace and truth beyond human comprehension. It’s the heart of why we’re on this journey – to love and inspire people we encounter along the way! Can you give us one sentence that sums the ‘magic’ of traveling for you? 

Jomo | For me, it’s people; I believe that all good things come from and are inspired by God, so every time I feel the warmth of someone’s smile, find myself on the receiving side of a stranger’s generosity, or stand in awe of a person’s faith and ability to inspire, I have experienced the love of God. 

If you loved the inspiring snippets shared in this feature, make sure you look out for our next interview-story with Zimbabwean DJ Artist and Radio Host Romeo Mudimu (a.k.a DJ Romeofoxy) of Harare. If you have any story suggestions of inspiring individuals in your life and city, shoot me a message!

Jordan enjoys good coffee, camping in remote places, and can occasionally be found climbing trees. Connect with her on Twitter: @PawprintsWeLeav. Photographs courtesy of JoMo. 

Never would I imagine that I’d have the incredible opportunity to meet and work with about 100 young people between the ages of 14 and 17 through songwriting and music at a Christian highschool in Kenya! What an amazing blessing it was to be connected with Christine Kamau, who is the worship pastor at Life Reformation Church (LRC) in Nairobi, Kenya. Through a Kenyan pastor and friend in Melbourne, I was placed in contact with Christine and her husband Paul Kamau, who is the associate pastor at LRC. They are hosting me for a week in Nairobi, and on the 18th of February, I was so blessed to be able to visit the school that they work at – Northgate School (NGS) in Kantafu, a Christian and values-based institution that was founded by LRC.

It is a boarding highschool, and all the students live on the campus like brothers and sisters, and one big family along with the staff and teachers. I was given three classes to run whatever program I had in mind. I learnt that with the Kenyan curriculum, the kids between Form 1 and 2 are only taught basic music theory and history. They are allowed to pursue instrumental music at their own expense, but in the schools, there’s no current syllables for examinable music subjects like they do in Australia where you have Music Solo Performance, Music Chamber Group and Music Styles and Composition (of which I completed all three as part of my final selection when I was at the Victorian College of the Arts School). Several of the students shared with me how they felt presently limited due to the fact that the school does not have an instrumental music program as of yet, for those who want to learn solo instruments like piano or guitar. I really hope and pray that in the coming years they would be able to do something about this, as they have great plans to start a school band for chapel services and to record their own music too!

In the classes, I got the groups to write choruses and compose songs together using experiences and Bible verses that have inspired them in their journey. Some of them never had a music class, much less an interactive music workshop like this in their entire schooling life, and they were so excited to ask me questions and share their songs, dreams and challenges with me. At dinnertime, one of the girls, Lorraine, came to me and shared that before coming to Northgate Highschool, she had never had a music class in her life. And up till my session with them today, she never knew that we could write worship and praise songs based on Bible verses, and she was challenged now to write her own too. I was so glad, and I felt pure joy welling up in me. This is why I am in Africa – at 21. This is why God planted this burden and desire in my heart to give my love for music and songwriting back to Him – so He can use me like this and pour out a new thing into the lives of other young people who have not had the opportunities I have had. This is why. And I felt it so deeply that I knew this is God answering the prayers I’ve prayed thus far – for vision, clarity of my mission, new inspiration, the ability to lead and teach others, confidence to speak to different kinds of people, the desire to reach orphans and widows and the youth of this generation.

It was amazing – what the students came up with in their groups of four, five and six. In 20 minutes, they composed songs and some really catchy choruses based on their favourite Scripture verses. One of my favourites was by a 17 year old guy named Moses Evans and his group of four – in between the song, he did a spoken word in Swahili about a friend of his who was an orphan and who found God in his teenage years. Another cool one was a group of four boys who wrote about the Psalmist David’s trust in God – the leader, who’s a brilliant drummer, got innovative and used his metal pencil box, a pen, pencil, and the wooden desk as a drum kit. Man, I was impressed – it really sounded so good! There were some really deep and meaningful lyrics that truly touched me when I reflected on how young some of them were. Indeed, just like I started writing my first worship song when I was 14 – you are never too young to sing about things that matter for eternity, because God himself says so!

All the time, I was moving around and helping the groups with musical ideas, melodies and harmonies while playing my ukulele! I really wish that they have a keyboard or piano, but at the moment there are no instruments at the school. After school, John Alex, one of the 16 year old boys, asked to speak with me. We had a good time jamming with a ukulele and guitar along with some of the other kids, and John had the chance to ask me some questions about how I pursued music. He really wants to go to a music institution after highschool and he desires to learn the piano or guitar while he is at NGS. Unfortunately at the moment, as the school has just moved to their new location in Kantafu, things are still developing and there are no instruments available on the campus. Another problem is also that the Kenyan system itself does not encourage or give opportunity for highschool students (in the final two years) to learn instrumental music at school. They are to focus only on the subjects that they are doing for national testing, and at present there are no music subjects at all. So these were some of the challenges that I learned about as I chatted with the students.

Mindblown. Again.

Today was another eventful day spent at the Hatcliffe township. We were going to visit a few families and pray together with them. I went along with Pastor Sean and Mr. Lovemore, a Zimbabwean who is currently living in Hatcliffe, pioneering the new church with Sean and serving the community by teaching orphaned children as well as using his skills as a physiotherapist to help those in the village who are elderly, crippled, bedridden and disabled. Now I have quite a few stories to write about, and I hope these incredible individuals and their God-inspired tenacity will challenge you out of your comfort zone too – wherever you are.

There’s Noma, who is a beautiful, ever-smiling young lady who runs a preschool for children living in Hatcliffe. She charges a minimal school fee and makes sure that the children have a hot meal each day, too. She and her friend Ellen was kind enough to cook us a simple lunch of rice, curried potatoes and carrots, with a chunk of meat – which is most certainly a treat in such places. We were honored to pray for their work and their amazing hearts and burden for what God is most concerned about – the orphans and widows.

Sean led us along the muddy fields to a brick-dwelling where we met Mama Maibana (I hope I got the spelling right!), who is one of the few midwives in the area. With the support of ONE Church, she has finally been able to construct a brick home and another extra room with two rickety beds and thin mattresses for the young women she will be helping. This month alone, she has already helped to deliver fifteen healthy babies! What a feat, especially in such difficult circumstances. Maibana also has a daughter named Progress (legit, that’s her name!) who recently started a pre-school in a makeshift hut they have constructed out of wood planks. There were ABC’s and some coloured drawings posted inside. At the moment, she has 15 children under her care, and the room is really much to tiny for that number – but she has a vision, and we prayed that God would enable her mission to raise and disciple young children for His glory and purpose. And that progress would come through this amazing initiative.

After that, we walked through a sort of market lane. There was a sadza stand, a paraffin-fill-up kind of hut, a furniture hut, a barber stand, a tuck shop selling air-time and other miscellaneous stuff, a rack selling tomatoes, a piece of cloth with a few pairs of slippers and crocs displayed for sale, and some others. But it was a strange sight indeed. Even in Harare, you would never see such a set up. It all looked very unofficial (obviously) and the uneven mud-path just made it hard to walk without having to look carefully where you’re stepping foot! Anyhow, we arrived at the hut of a girl named Evon. She was only fourteen years old, but she sat in a wheelchair and greeted us with a wave and handshake. Other children – her brothers, I presume – ran around, eyeing us and saying ‘howar yuuuuu’ incessantly. Lovemore explained that Evon was actually first bedridden in 2011, after an operation that remove a cancerous brain tumour. She wasn’t able to communicate, write or do anything, really. But one year ago, Lovemore started to help Evon with physiotherapy methods and eventually, she was able to walk very slowly with the help of a walker. Nowadays she gets around with a wheelchair (to be honest I don’t know how that is even possible on the muddy grounds). Lovemore, being a teacher, was also able to teach her English and mathematics. He found that Evon was a truly bright girl, and he wanted to invest more time with her. It was so inspiring to see how one person can make such a huge difference for a young girl who used to be bedridden and who had no hope of going to school.

We knelt down beside Evon while Sean prayed for her with a deep sincerity that struck me. He spoke words of life and encouragement to this beautiful girl. When he noticed that she was sad, he told her that Jesus loves her so much, and that she has people like us, Lovemore, her funny brothers, and her Gogo (grandma) who loves her and cares very much for her. Then he asked her what she wanted to become in the future. Evon had her chin rested on her arms, as they perched on the walker bar. She looked so doleful, it pained my heart. She didn’t want to say it. But then Lovemore asked her again, this time in Shona. Finally she replied him and Lovemore translated, ‘She wants to be a pilot.’

That broke my heart even more. Seeing her, unable to run, unable to go to school, unable to communicate freely with other children her age, her dream seemed an impossibility. But you know what, in that moment, Lovemore and Pastor Sean demonstrated a faith that I will never forget. Lovemore immediately said with the sincerest of smiles, ‘You know, Evon is a smart girl. She can become a pilot. She is clever, and she is so good at math!’

Sean picked up on that and said without skipping a beat, ‘How about we pray for you again, Evon? We will pray that one day you can become a pilot.’

At first I thought it was such a cruel thing to do – to give false hope. But then, when Sean started praying, I realized that it wasn’t false hope at all. It was faith-filled hope. I was mind-blown.

Sean prayed that God would enable Evon, fill her legs with new strength, give her the wisdom and resolve, the intelligence and the means, to achieve her dream. God knows she has it in her to be the first female pilot out of Hatcliffe. He prayed that every dark, doubtful thought would not bring Evon down; that depression and sadness and hopelessness would go in Jesus name. He prayed that light and inspiration would come to this place through a bright, hard-working young girl like Evon. It was a relentless kind of faith that I saw right before my eyes – in a place so dank and dark, where it can be so difficult to envision a future bright and beautiful. But that mustard seed of faith was there. I believe it infused a new spiritual strength into Evon. Sean told Evon, ‘Do you know, that you inspire and encourage me?’ Wow. It was true. This girl blessed us more than she could imagine by the life she has fought to live, by the pain she has fought to overcome.

I learnt something so important today. I learnt that I need to see as God sees. When I walk in these tough places, I need to see God’s light, and not be overwhelmed by the engulfing darkness. I needed to be encouraged by the constant reminder of God’s goodness and love through the redemptive work of Christ Jesus. I needed to fix my eyes on the hope that comes through him and not be discouraged by all the obstacles in the way.

The storm clouds were gathering and blowing over Hatcliffe. It started drizzling as we finished praying, so Lovemore told us we’d better hurry on to the last family we wanted to visit. Now as we were almost reaching the next place, only about 500 metres from it, heavy rain started pouring down cats and dogs. It was so heavy we didn’t risk running on the muddy path, so we ran into a shelter where a bunch of guys were already hanging out. It turned out that the guys had been drinking the local brew made out of sorghum alchohol. Anyway, they were actually quite friendly and jovial. We all introduced ourselves, and very soon Sean was joking and laughing along with them in colloquial Shona. Eventually, he actually asked them what they were doing, and when they admitted they’d just been lazing around and drinking, he told them point blank: ‘You know, there’s a verse in the Bible – in the book of Ephesians I think – that says, “Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with God’s spirit.”’

The guys laughed him off and demanded to know, ‘Where in the Bible does it say huh?’ Sean without hesitation whipped out his iPhone Bible and found the passage – but before he read it out, he asked the guys if it’d be okay to pray with them and commit this time to God. Amazingly, they were cool with that. I just smiled in awe at the sight. Here we were, filthy with mud splotched on our legs, rainwater in our hair, standing under a rickety shelter with a bunch of half drunk Zimbabwean guys, and Sean proceeded to read in Ephesians where it says, ‘Redeem the time, because the days are evil. Do not be drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, singing songs and psalms to each other at all times.’ He asked them, ‘Does what you’re doing look like making good use of your time?’ That obviously put them on the spot, but they got into a friendly (and rather funny) discussion about all that – through which Sean used every opportunity to share with them some business and entrepreneurship ideas based on Biblical principles (that he has been incorporating through his micro-finance initiative – NDEIPI – in Harare with unemployed or homeless youth).

Eventually though, the guys seemed pretty open to us. Sean asked if they knew who Jesus was and why he came. In the ensuing minutes, he shared the Gospel with them in such simple but truth-filled terms. He asked if anyone wanted to know Jesus more, not tomorrow, but today, right now. Amazingly, three of the guys – Herbert, Philip and Trust – put their hands up and nodded. So there we were, laying our hands on their shoulders, and we prayed together as Lovemore led these guys in a prayer to receive the gift of God’s love and salvation through Jesus in Shona. Wow. And guess what, just about then, the rain started to taper off and soon enough it was time for us to go since the storm had blown over. I truly believe it was by no small chance that we ran into that shelter just in the nick of time.

It was worth all the slipping and sliding in the mud, getting filthy and wet from the rivers of muddy rainwater. God knew where we were headed even when we thought we were just going to visit a few families on our agenda. I believe when we live a life surrendered to Jesus, there will be no coincidences. There might be accidents and troubles that come along our way, but as long as we fix our trust on Him, we can wade through these trials with our head above the mire – knowing that where we’re headed, God will refine us through the fire.