By Kevin Kamati

Born in Zamibia 20 odd years ago, due to the unrest in our country at the time,  Walla W Bwalya  and his family soon returned after independence and settle in Windhoek. Walla would attend the Elim Primary School where he discover the sports of hockey and exceled in it.
"As a young boy I was very smart and did well in mathematics but at the same time was sportive and enjoyed playing hockey. I continued playing hockey into high school at Centaurus, and went on to captain the Namibian national hockey team coached by Johan Veyer at the time."

Hockey paid off for Walla and was shipped off to South Africa, Potchefstroom where he enjoyed a two year spell learning and perfecting the game. Walla's returned to the Land of the Brave, and hockey in the country not developed then, he stopped playing after high school.
"Growing up with a single parent is not easy and we had to pull our weight to help out. I started working straight after high school at a local restaurant to help out at home. I worked there for a couple of years before moving to the Coast where I used to manage a local establishment."

Walla at the time invested some of his money into opening a bar that he closed down at the end of 2011 as the burden from commuting from the Coast to Windhoek would prove to more than the young Walla could imagine and shoulder. He would return to Windhoek that December and consulted a local television producer at the Namibia Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC) on his chances of pursuing a career in the media industry.  He was advised to start at radio and working his way up. Not long after he was fortunate to meet Azeal "Cheese" and get an audition. He aced it landing himself a job as Radio Disk Jockey.

"I like to believe that everybody is good at something and at radio I have found something I am good at. Although being very outgoing and talkative, I am a very shy person but behind the mic I can be who I want to be and it works for me."
Walla runs an event management and clothing line company that has been doing well thus far. He runs it with his brother and has been behind some of the finest functions, parties and shows in Namibia, and to add to their résumé are behind the American artist Eve coming to Namibia where Walla will be the Master of ceremonies.

With the clothing company due to drop a summer line within this month. "The summer line is hot and people would like it, it is something totally different to what is out already in the market, I am planning a big release but everybody will know once it has dropped."
Walla is currently at Fresh FM making waves and tackling hard topics on the air that were either too sensitive or taboo. He only started in January this year and shows so much growth and determination to make it. Fresh FM is much a part of his life. Before going to sleep he would think about possible topics and waking up to do some research before going to work and putting it on air.

"I am proud to be a pioneer on radio to be tackling what some would say are controversial topics but topics that are at the back of the minds of most youth and but are only scared to voice. Before I started on radio I asked myself what I would like to hear on it. Besides the music it was not a lifestyle or part of the listeners’ day to day life and I came to Fresh FM and we achieved. Today I just want to say thank you to the people that stood by me and to my listeners that gave me a chance to touch them."
Circumcision: is it good or bad? Was the topic on air at the time of interview. "I think it is very simple, I am a realist and basically want to financially secure my future as I am a father and be able to provide for my family. I would like to grow in my current career and touch people over the air. My other investments would be a part of me and I will be pushing them to greater heights. "

"For the youth it is never really easy, I come from a very hard life and worked hard with dedication to achieve some of my dreams. At a point in my life Fresh FM was my dream and I started doing it. Close your eyes and dream and wake up and go live your dreams. Find something that you are good at and work on it. As I talk a lot I always told myself I should do something that involves talking and here I am.   Be realistic and take action, work towards your dreams and make it happen for yourself."