Lee Kasumba: Miking what she likes.
Ymag editor and DJ Leslie Nabunya Theresa Kasumba, popularly known as Lee, is a bit of an enigma. The only thing we really know about this sassy sister is that she has an undying love for the mic and hip-hop and that her presence on radio is not about bosses being politcally correct. Here, she tells Represent what spins her wheels.
…
How did you end-up in South Africa?
My parents moved here when I was young so yeah I moved with them
Do you consider yourself South African?
Yes I do consider myself South African I mean this is the country that raised me and gave me so many opportunities and friends and all. Though I do consider myself Ugandan too because as much as I grew up in this country my mom raised me in Ugandan ways and tradition etc. I never forgot or lost pride in who I am or where I am from. I guess it’s a little hard because both countries make up who I am in so many ways. But I am proudly Ugandan everyone will tell you and I visit Uganda often and when I am in Uganda I also rep for South Africa to the fullest. So to save myself going round in circles I guess I will put it this way, I love South Africa I am south Africa its the land that raised me, but in Uganda is where I would want to be buried because my family ties links are not here really outside of my dad, sisters and brother. My late mom was buried in Uganda and I would want to be buried there too, sounds sentimental but its true, as I have grown older I have discovered so much about who I am and why I do things the way that I do, that is because I am typically Ugandan, I even look like a typical Baganda girl! I am in the same breathe typically South African and am so humbled at the way the country has embraced me and the opportunities and I also have found new family here in the form of friends and also I am the god mother of a couple that is extremely Xhosa in culture and tradition which is so cool. But I guess I also have issues with borders etc and I am made up of so many different things so I am African first, think that is best. That’s how I view myself…
Do you ever get flack for being from Uganda?
Flack is an understatement! Yoh its craze growing up and thinking that you are like everyone else because you look the same (being black I mean) and being ridiculed and talked about because you don’t speak or sound the same, hectic. Or having a job offered then taken away when people discovered I was not South African- think the surname gave it away. Or being stopped and harassed about my papers or being told that I am taking people’s jobs or that I am stealing south African men blah blah blah, yes I have been through all that, and to an extent that still does happen but I am lucky not because I am in media and most South African embrace me as they own, which like I say is very humbling, but also I think its almost two fold. On one hand I do make more of an effort to be part of South African culture and learning more you know, that is very important, but on the other hand I realize people act that way because well previous government intended for that to happen. Like to avoid being all philosophical and deep its like you can’t blame people because prejudice and in this case Xenophobia comes because of what you have always been told or because you don’t know any better. And South Africa was so isolated from the rest of the continent and in within the country the previous government used the whole divide and rule scenario hence the whole fighting within different groups of people in the hostels, but this is also evident in other countries. Remember the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda? I just think that every time we as South Africans treat someone who is from another African country badly you are making the dead colonizers and the former apartheid government very happy because you may be free now physically but mentally they have succeeded. Am I making sense? In the same breathe South Africa must remember that a lot of our leaders including Thabo Mbeki who to me is the greatest president of all time was sheltered in other African countries but too often we are quick to give the States and England or other countries outside of Africa props for what they did to help with our struggle here at home. But how many of us are actually even aware of what happened in other countries to help the fight against apartheid, Thabo Mbeki spent a lot of time in Zambia, in Uganda there were MK Camps set up and how many of us know about Samora Machel from Mozambique? Okay maybe I have said too much but you asked.
Who changed your life?
An MC that really changed the way I view myself and my life is K’naan. I remember when I met him in Spain at the UN Global Hip-hop summit, he was selected as a messenger of truth and he had been late and missed the press conference because of his visa or something. His manager friend, Sol goes up to accept his certificate, and said “K’naan is a voice for the voiceless” and I was lucky enough to get to spend time with him right and we spoke. He told me about Somalia and his life but not to get pity but because he was just talking. He school’d me totally on the situation in Somalia and his experience it was strange, I was sitting in Europe and learning about my neighbour, cause Somalia is in East Africa as is Uganda, and I loved the fact that he was so focused on what he was doing. His name means the traveller and he lives that performance. His track Scoobax is amazing and talks to the gun lords like it’s a call to people to stop the war you know…I don’t even think I am making sense, but K’naan for me is an example of someone who just goes all out to help people and though he is enjoying success he is definitely remaining focused on where he is from. He is honest and doesn’t sell a story because oh consciousness and Africa is in fashion, he just tells his story and for me this poet, mc, musician, humanitarian, friend and beautiful human being has definitely help shape this continent and people’s lives, that’s what I think.
Why the love of hip-hop? and when did you fall in love with hip-hop (still remember the song?)
Haha! I expected to hear the hip-hop question at one point. Okay in terms of hip-hop, in my house 3 girls we loved hip-hop, like my dad bought us the music because we asked, like I remember he bought me blazhay blahzay, wu tang, the chronic etc I don’t know why I guess cause we asked I guess. So I cant really say when I “fell in love with hip-hop: as such, I just always remember listening to it, I am sure my older sister played a big role in it. I personally am drawn to the lyrical aspect, I love words put together cleverly and I love hip-hop tracks that are well written well constructed I love that about hip-hop. My understanding for hip-hop as an entire culture came when I was older then I learnt about the elements of it you know. Now I see it like a way of getting people to know one another because hip-hop (the music side of it has many genres) you can listen to a track from say Kenya hear the language, slang, or a message about their lifestyle there or whatever and you will learn more. It’s a key to understanding one another more in this continent. Because hip-hop is this global youth culture and there’s the foundation then in different countries it reflects the life in those areas- did I make sense. But yea I sorta think hip-hop appeals to all sides of me at all times, so if I could find a man like that…hmmmm!
How did you get into radio?
Haha through hip-hop actually. When I was at Wits University to cut a long story short I am in the canteen and there’s some nice hip-hop playing like not that radio stuff but nice stuff so I basically followed the beats when I got there some nice guy is playing and my shy self says ” I bet I could do this better than you” he kinda looks at me funny and I am shocked I said anything and there I am hosting the show with him, so I had to pay for registration and then he gets suspended, I then drag my friend to do the show with me. I really wasn’t interested especially cause he was now suspended from the radio station on campus. We used to bug out totally my friend and I. She gets job doing traffic with Fresh- Fresh called our show the Mad Chicken House imagine. Anyway Thomas heard my demo and I got the job. But I will let you know I was enjoying radio it seemed easy on campus and wanted to do it to make extra money for my music aspirations and tried to get into YFM, then my fav d.j calls me that was amazing!
Who are hip hip-hop’s next bright stars?
I can’t answer this because well before I am a radio d.j and editor I am a head to the core. And while on the streets I can say what I feel, on radio I must remember that unfortunately people take what I say way to seriously you know so I must just back away. I don’t like to influence people, besides with hip-hop so many people are doing well many haven’t even been heard…Sorry I must take the 5th amendment on this. Is that okay? I assume you mean in an SA /African context
Do you have a five-year plan? If so what is it?
Haha 5 year plan uh no…But talk Africa, Renaissance, Hip-hop, Music, together and you have me in a nutshell…
What should people that really want to get into radio do?
I really don’t know, I dont know if there is a formula, I think that is the key come to think of it. Have something to say, have your own plan and don’t follow anyone else’s formula…
How do you feel about Jozi?
Love it, its like the capital city of Africa for me. Like a melting pot of different cultures, yea man soon to be the world capital if its not already.
What do you love and hate about Jozi?
People in Jozi who just sit back and wait, like don’t you realize you are in a place that offers so much opportunity and right now like Kweli said Jozie is like New York in the 70’s lots of new ideas and trends being borne here. People who just complain or are complacent that bothers me a whole lot.
Best places, people in the city?
I honestly love my African cities, Jozi, Kampala, Nairobi oh my word so nice! Love it. If I had to leave this continent it would be New York I think because there are so many people from different places in the world. But me, I love that. One city I am visiting soon is Dar Es Salaam, in August actually, me I wanna go across this continent and chill in the main cities…Best people Africans who don’t get caught up in the African hype and understanding African is just about being as opposed to being all elites about it or trying to dress more African whatever that is.
12. What inspires you?
This continent and seeing people young people going against the odds and changing the future and shaping it. I just realized so many people I know will probably go down in history, the people I know inspire me, the people I meet inspire me, the hip-hop that talks of these people too, me I love that…
The best part of your job?
The people the travel, the people the travel…
Any thoughts on the South African youth culture?
Still evolving this is just the beginning, we are about to take over…
Catch Lee, Sanza and Bad Boy T weekdays on Yfm from 2-6pm.
