ELISHA
From: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Age:23
Living in Denmark for 8 years
Musician, signed record contract with Sony in 2017
Fled DRC at age 9
Elisha’s story of finding refuge in Denmark is one of seeking stability, contemplation, perseverance and aspiration for the future.
"My goal is to become the best musician I can be and to replace the 'King of Pop'. I plan to work as hard as I can to take that spot. Music has always been a tool we utilize to raise us up in our times of sorrow and celebrate in our times of happiness. When life is tough, music can uplift us and change out worst nightmares into a joyous day."
Childhood in Africa
Elisha’s story begins as a young boy growing up in the violent area of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, close to the Rwandan border on Lake Kivu. He remembers, “I had a childhood, just like every kid. You don’t really notice how bad things are. I remember hearing a lot of guns shooting in the background outside, but I didn’t know what it was. I thought this was how the world works. Apparently there was a lot of conflict in my area, but I was not aware.” Elisha’s parents kept him well sheltered from the violence, and often sent him away to live with distant relatives for years at a time in safer places within Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. While living in Uganda, Elisha noticed that is was quiet without gunshots in the background, and he realized then that the hostility in Bukavu was not normal.
Being moved around a lot as a young child created a sense of instability for Elisha, “Every single time as a kid I would move to a new place, I would feel completely shattered, but then I would pick up the pieces and put them together and move on. Often, I was moved without knowing the reasons of why I was being moved, and I wouldn’t see my parents for years. Then I would be moved again. At that point I built my immunity. I had to find my inner strength.” School was also a challenge for Elisha, as the different countries he lived in spoke and taught in different languages including Swahili, French, Rwandese, and English. When Elisha moved to Kenya with his father, English became his dominant language and he was able to attend school there from the age of eleven to fourteen. From Kenya, Elisha’s father found help from the United Nations High Council of Refugees (UNHCR), who resettled the family to Denmark on February 7, 2011 when Elisha was 14 years old.
Resettling in Denmark
After Elisha got the news that his family was being resettled in Denmark, he said, “I was excited. I didn’t know how it would be. The moment we arrived it was snowing. It was the first time I ever experienced snow and the cold, and I was like, ‘Why? Why did you do this to me? This is unbearable. Are we living in a refrigerator or something?’ Then I realized it was seasonal and the weather would change. Now I am used to the cycle of the seasons.”
Elisha started attending a Danish school and learned the language, although it took some time for him to really understand the culture. He remembers, “There was a lot to learn. My response to that was to jump into everything I had ever wanted to do. As a child I always wanted to learn how to ride a bike. In Congo I used to sneak out with my pocket money (I used to sell mendozi, a fried bread) and go to a local school that had a long track. Kids came with their bikes, and I would pay them to ride their bikes. I taught myself how to ride a bike. I would try and try. I fell so many times, but I believe, never give up until you get what you want! The first thing I did in Denmark was to ask my father to get me a bike. He got me a second hand bike (we didn’t have much money) so I would ride my bike to get everyone in the asylum groceries. I also started playing football and joined a team. In Africa we used to make a football with paper bags, so the experience here was new. I wasn’t skilled, but I was fast and determined. After a while I tried boxing, and I started playing American football as a running back until I broke my leg. I tried so many sports. Of course, music had always been there. I just didn’t pay attention to it. The ability to sing and interest was always there. I was always singing.”
Discovering Music
A teacher who Elisha met at his Danish boarding school when he was 17 years old saw his musical talent and encouraged him, ultimately referring him to Sony Music, “When I got down there to the studio and saw what they were doing it seemed very easy. If you have the knowledge and the ability to create melodies and find the words to fit it and try to find a message within the music then you can actually have a song finished by yourself. They helped me a lot with that. They gave me a mini keyboard that I can connect to my computer so I can basically compose music. I got home and just ‘nerded’ out. I tried to focus on school, but my passion was much more into trying to figure out how music works.”
In 2017 Elisha found a breakthrough with his music after signing a contract with Sony Music to record an EP (extended play record), which will be released soon.
Dreams
With a unique blend of determination, humility and a willingness to courageously follow his dreams, Elisha says, “My end goal with this whole thing is to become the best musician in the world. I plan to replace the previous King of Pop (Michael Jackson). I plan to work as hard as I can to take that spot. I also have this mission to use most of my revenue to start up foundations to help out in the world.” Elisha has started a company, called Dreamboy Pirates, to be a non-governmental organization, “I want to help with poverty, education, and nourishment through empowering people. If basic needs could be met in poor communities, there’s no limit to how much good could come from these places. We’ll have to start somewhere. I don’t like the concept of donations; I want to do it differently. The only true resolution, I think, will be teaching the people how to fish instead of giving them a fish. I think that’s the biggest help. I’m building a team around that project.”
Dreamboy Pirates
Elisha is a thoughtful, philosophical young musician who has created a metaphorical vision for himself in the world. He officially goes by Elisha DP, short for ‘Dreamboy Pirates’, and he is the Captain. Elisha describes the idea, “I want to do good in the world, so I decided to build something that would keep the two selves I have within me satisfied, the Dreamboy (the boy that is dreaming of doing something) and the Pirate (the rogue one who makes sure things get done). Music is one side of me--the Dreamboy side. But to do what the Dreamboy Pirates needs to do, I’ll need to be a complete Pirate. The Dreamboy and the Pirate are bound together and will have to work together to make things happen. It’s a journey.”
Appreciating Opportunities
After signing with Sony, Elisha received an advance for his work and has chosen to spend time reading, “I’ve felt the best use of this money is to invest it in my mind.” Elisha is a deep thinker who likes to explore and contemplate ideas. He has spent the last year and a half reading about 130 books, mostly nonfiction works on topics of philosophy, politics, psychology, and music. Elisha believes, “You don’t go somewhere without preparing yourself. I enjoy reading. It keeps me calm in a way and teaches me how the world works. It allows me to create my own theory and my own path in life. Once you get the notion that there’s knowledge out there, then you want to know the whole ocean. Even when I’m done with a book, I feel like then I just have more questions. I have gathered ideas, and it’s been the most productive thing I’ve done in my life.”
Elisha recognizes that living in Denmark has allowed him the freedom to explore and think, “I don’t think these ideas would have come into my head. Being in Denmark gave me the opportunity to read. That’s the attribute I’m proudest of. Also, being signed to Sony Music. I’m very appreciative of being in Denmark.”
Feeling at home
After all of his reading and contemplating, Elisha believes that he does not feel a need to belong to any one place, “I always feel I belong wherever I am. When I’m in Denmark I feel almost 100% Danish. When I’m in Congo I feel 100% Congolese. When I’m in Uganda I feel 100% Ugandan. Of course, there are cultural concessions around that. I think at the moment I behave very much as a Danish person. I understand Danish humor. I understand the food. I understand the cultural vibe. I do not know exactly how much of a percentage I am because I’m not a Danish citizen. I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media about how long refugees have lived in Denmark and they still have not received their permanent residency. I don’t know how I feel about that. The Danish system can throw me out anytime. Not having residency pulls you a little bit off your game because even though you are here it’s a reminder that you do not belong. It’s kind of sad. But at the same time, you have to appreciate the opportunity. I must remain the pirate. If I am required to move I’ll have to figure something out again. I learned to stop crying for myself a long time ago.”
To read Elisha's story on the UNHCR Northern European website click here: https://www.unhcr.org/neu/33477-second-chances-my-goal-is-to-become-the-best-musician-i-can-be-and-to-replace-the-king-of-pop.html
To learn more about Elisha's music career you can visit his Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ElishaDP/
