Drici Amos James (he/him), popularly known as DAJ 2020 in the literary world, is an echo of the ghetto’s voice, hope and believe to the world. His indelibly rich, firm and deep roots proudly sprout from the slums of Africa. Born and raised in the Pearl of Africa, East Africa, he is the multi-talented and multi-award-winning author of “Emotions”, which earned him the moniker “God of Poetry” for his poetic genius.
A rare creative gem of light and brilliance who’s passionate about the act and art of creation, he’s a self-taught creative force and a self-published author, poet, model, artist, writer and publisher. Art has always been his oxygen of survival and a clay of redemption since puerility. An arsenal and an avenue that he artistically fuses to remember and surrender. Let’s roll.
Author Links:
Emotions Amazon link: https://a.co/d/8LyMw9n
Wattpad: /DAJ2020
Instagram: @daj_african_ug
Threads: @daj_african_ug
Twitter (X): @dajmatic
TikTok: @daj.african.ug.da
Music You-tube: @DAJ2020
Snapchat: @dafrican6
Pinterest: pin.it/1QXGfvdSl
Let’s talk about your poetry. When did you start writing poetry, and what (or who) inspired you to begin?
I started writing poetry in my primary one back in 2006. I was formally introduced to poetry by my class teacher Miss. Catherine. She made the whole class to stand up and recite the poem before the class and then after we had to write our own poems which she pinned on the class walls with marks out of ten. She kicked started my love for poetry and since then have been an avid reader, writer and an addict like Ganja.
My late dad also greatly contributed to me becoming an author. He has a mini home library with lots of books in different genres of literature. As an infant, I remember him giving me children’s books though I could not read nor understand what the words really meant. My favorite books being those of the children’s stories because of the illustrations in them that I loved shading with crayons when alone.
I never wanted someone else to read for me the stories so I had to learn how to read and write English when I joined school. I would spend hours reading the books that interest me and finished them in days making me a lover of libraries and any classic literature available.
I always find peace and joy in knowing something new. I read lots of children’s books, magazines and novels as a teen, which helped to polish and hone my writing skills in my secondary level of Education, where I was elected president of the News Agency Club where I wrote and edited the weekly News that was read on the general assembly for a period of two years. It earned me my first writing certificate.
I resumed writing poetry and other genres of literature during the global COVID-19 pandemic was when I started sharing my poems on Wattpad instead of procrastinating my author journey.
I grew a huge fanbase on the writing app from different countries and continents. Starting from the Caribbean islands in Jamaica, to Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, USA, India and many more. My journey to self-publishing my debut poetry collection was due to the high demand to have my work on the bookshelves by my fans. Emotions was written in the loving memory of my late dad and released as a tribute to his eighteenth death anniversary in 2023.
It has won twenty-eight plus awards from the award-giving communities on the platform. It was on this app that my artist vision was spotted, groomed and nurtured by the multi-award-winning, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com Top 100 bestselling author of “Call Her Queen Hatshepsut” and “The Law of Beasts” vampire series DAPHAROAH69 who wrote the Foreword for the book.
“Emotions”, was warmly received in the UK, Germany and USA, selling multiple copies on the official date of release earning a five-star review on Amazon for its emotional candor. Its now available on all digital book stores online, libraries and in paperback format for print worldwide. I’m living my childhood dream.
Your debut poetry collection, Emotions, is a multi-award-winning book with themes of pain, loss, growth and victory. Can you tell us about each of these themes and how they speak to you as a poet?
Each of the themes have written about in my debut collection speak volumes to me as a poet, artis, model, writer and publisher in various ways and aspects of life.
The poems in each theme strives to clearly explore the underlying emotions within each one of us. Most of the poems were written from personal experiences. I believe my author journey is as unique and remarkable as my life’s story.
The themes I tackled in this poetry collection basically serve as a beacon of hope and light from life’s darkness. From the void I rose. I wrote the book with ashes of self-doubt and fear so the themes entail my evolution from my humble beginnings to becoming a multi-award-winning poetic giant. From winning POET OF THE YEAR from the King awards in 2020 and God of Poetry award in 2021 from Banana Awards.
The themes break down my journey from all the emotions that I have ever felt, experienced and conquered.
Pain: It has triggered a significant change and growth in me. Have survived the worst of times and pain has been a master teacher that guides and redirects my back to my authentic self when I go astray.
Loss: It taught me how to value and leave in the present moment and to surrender what I have no control over like death of a loved one.
Growth: Have grown to conquer my fears and doubts. I have learnt to believe and trust in my institutions and to careless about people’s opinions about me.
Victory: This is self-explanatory because from the void I rose. At the start of my journey and career nobody really believed in me and my talents and gifts but now many aspire to be like me because I didn’t give up no matter the criticisms I received from friends, family and teachers. It’s my relentless determination to win that has brought me this far. Gratitude is a must.
Some readers may not be familiar with East African poetry and literature, so can you tell us a little bit about that, and how do your poems fit in the wider poetry traditions in East Africa?
East African poetry and literature is the same as any other literature but I think what differentiates it from the rest is the genius of the African writers, authors and publishers who tell the African stories from an African point of view and perspective as it is supposed to be told. I give credit to the founding fathers of African literature like Chinua Achebe who knew that a half-baked book would not achieve the desired goal if not rooted or based on truth, honesty and bravery. They called a spade a spade and not a big spoon. I’m walking in the footsteps of those who paved the way and raised the bar.
Being a proud son of the African soil and a black indie author living in East Africa, I think I know what message my people and continent need to hear, since my poetic eyes can bear witness to what is transpiring in these countries and region since their attainment of Independence from their colonial masters to the hustle and bustle of nation building and development. My poems echo the socio-economic, political, social and religious paralysis of the African continent as a whole. I’m a global citizen with no boundaries, and so are my poems. My poems embody the rich spiritual DNA of my people, ancestral knowledge, traditions and cultures thus fitting perfectly in the wider poetry traditions in East Africa.
How are your poems influenced by your birthplace?
I’m a mouthpiece for my birth place. My poems are generally influenced by my birth place because of the rich cultural heritage of my people, families, music, beauty, history, philosophy, beliefs, marriages, social norms and unique ways life. I was born and raised in the ghetto by a single mom of six siblings has also kept my vision and focus alive setting me apart from the rest.
In the ghetto where I come from, they prefer to call me a “Gift to the 21st century” for my vocal pieces of work which speak the minds of the common people. Poetry to me feels like am talking to my own self yet still being understood by those at the same wave length as me. I write to see, seek and feel.
I draw my inspirations from within and the world around me. I believe art speaks and reveals itself to an artist. All a poet has to do is to listen to the voice within them and write whatever its tells them to as it is without addition or subtraction.
I deeply resonate and acknowledge my ancestral roots and messages in all my poems. Without the influence of my birth, I might not have been a poet or writer at the first place. My birth place gave me the blue print of my originality. I know and have read many poets and poetesses who write good poetry but none can write like me and that’s what sets me apart and makes me special amongst the pack. I look ahead and try to explore themes and realms many are afraid to tackle. My poetry is unapologetically raw because I’m a firm believer that a poem a day keeps the nation awake. When truth strikes my poetic nerves, I let it speak its verses through me.
What is next for you after “Emotions”?
My second poetry collection titled “THE NAKED RACE” is currently undergoing editing and formatting for release this year in December. It’s my birthday gift to myself and my loyal fans. The book speaks volumes about the twenty-first century doctrines that span from religious paralysis to the common talks of the city. Themes like Love, politics, death, depression, trauma, spirituality, African heritage, religions, governments, philosophy and much more.
The book seeks to awaken and enlighten I hope it will deeply resonate with the human spirit and elevate them higher to a greater conscious and higher vibrations.
I’m also working on my first children’s book titled “UNCLE MOS MOS” which tells children stories from Africa and beyond and am supper excited to give back to my young self. The short stories in the debut collection contain mainly African bed time stories and tales aimed at entertaining and edutaining.
Of course, I love kids and dream of having many of them one day. It was inspired by my niece Andruga Nilsa Meave and I dedicate it to her. I dream of starting a merch and focusing on building my audience and establishing own my author brand beyond the borders of Africa since I’m a self-taught multi-award winning independent literary force and a self-published author and publisher.
Beyond the books, am also an emerging actor and director working on my first short film titled “THE LOST COIN” which was written, directed and acted by me. Acting is my new way of telling my stories as viewed and written from my own perspective. This story brings the struggles of a ghetto youth to light. The film was shot and edited by Charity James, a promising film maker and editor from the ghetto.
My first single song will also be released later on this year since am back in studio and recording new music with various artists, music producers and video directors for my debut music album.
I always tell myself “Greatness lies above the noise”. This is just the beginning for me. I believe the future is brighter for me and my ink if given a chance. I’m not here to proof my self and worth to anybody but to myself and my unceasing passion for my craft. I do this for me, myself and I because I believe in me. I am my biggest fan and cheerleader.
Share some reader responses to Emotions and let us know what they think! What has your favorite feedback been, and why?
Praise for Daj2020s ‘Emotions.”
“From Into You:
Mend my broken pieces. Baptize it with true love.
Enemy: You were a poisonous snake in the dark.
A sweet, flavored venom I drank.
Dude, you have this 6 ft 5-inch brotha in Miami, Florida screaming! I arrive at the moment I realize that DAJ2020 is a poetic genius. I never cried from reading someone else’s poetry, but “Emotions” took me through it! I laughed, sobbed and cried like a baby, especially with his “Father” poem. My dad died before I could find him. Great job. Perfect score of 10/10.”
A review from best-selling author THE KING OF EROTICA, DAPHAOROAH69. GOULDS, MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA.
“I’m that type of person who recognizes and comments when I see some great works. It’s emotional. I’m not the type of girl who sheds tears but trust me. I don’t even like my dad, and this poem, I want to spend my life with him.”
ASHANIE_ASH, AUTHOR, JAMAICA.
“You took the step and that’s the first start to believing in you. Your technique and flow is wonderful. Don’t ever think you’re mediocre. You’re darn good!”
BIRDEYZE, AUTHOR, JAMAICA.
“You are fabulous at what you write! Keep up the hard work and wonderful poems!”
DREAMINOFSJ, AUTHOR, USA.
“I cried. Thanks for writing such beautiful masterpieces. Your work’s worth it, keep making masterpieces. God bless.”
DARIEL CLAIRE, AUTHOR.
“This writer is so talented…. I was blown away by his work. I fell in love with each verse of each poem I read. I could relate to every line, and I literally shed a few tears. I loved everything about your work. Your words played on my emotions, and I applaud you for that. Great job.”
Review, From BANANA AWARDS (1st place)
All feedbacks are great, bad or good, but my all-time favorite feedback was from a fellow writer and a fan from Jamaica who commented and said, “I’m not the type of girl who sheds tears but trust me. I don’t even like my dad, and this poem, I want to spend my life with him.” when she read my poem titled “Father” which I had written and dedicated to my late dad.
Why her feedback? Because it made her to restore, reunite and love her living dad even more and she says she now wants to spend her life with him. I feel blessed that my words can act as a healing balm to souls and mend them. I’m just the bridge between the missing link. The book’s subtitle says, “Healing Comes through Believing.” I believe there is a poem and a message for each every and everyone of you in my debut collection.
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