A little background of the author!
Drici Amos James, popularly known as DAJ 2020, is an echo of the ghetto’s voice, hope, and belief 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, Uganda, East Africa. He’s a self-taught creative force and a self-published author, poet, model, artist, writer, and publisher. He is the CEO and founder of DAJ Foods Africa. Art has been his oxygen, a form of survival and redemption since childhood. A rare creative gem of light and brilliance who’s passionate about the act and art of creation. His unwavering passion for creation has earned him multiple awards and a reputation as the “God of poetry” for his genius in the art of poetry. He’s the author of two self-published poetry book namely “EMOTIONS” and his upcoming book titled “THE NAKED RACE”. His unique poetry style and artistic rhythms have captivated audiences worldwide, building him a loyal fan base. His words and ink make him a precious gem. Let’s roll.
Here are the questions!
Claudia: What’s your story? How did you get where you are today?
DRICI AMOS JAMES: “My writing journey began at a tender age. My late father used to give me children’s books, which sparked my curiosity to understand the words behind the vibrantly colored pictures, thus driving me to become an author.
Later on, when I joined primary school in 2006, I was introduced to poetry at the behest of my class teacher, Miss Catherine, who requested the whole class to write their own poems and recite them before the rest of the classroom. My poetry pieces ranked high and were pinned above the rest, marked 10/10.
It was during the COVID-19 nightmare in 2020 that I made the bold decision to publish my work on the writing platform Wattpad. I gained recognition and won multiple awards before I self-published it on 7/11/2023 as my multi-award-winning debut poetry book. I was mentored by the multi-award-winning and best-selling author Larry Wilson Jr., whose pen name is Dapharoah69.
I now have full control over my creative works and voice. My journey can be termed and written as, “A journey filled with doubts turned into faith.””
Claudia: What do you consider your achievements? If any!
DRICI AMOS JAMES: “Yes, I have multiple achievements like over twenty-Eight Literary awards from the Wattpad award communities as hared below.
Below is a list of Awards “Emotions” has won.
Poet of the Year. The King Awards, 2020
1st Place. Best Poetry. The King Awards, 2020
1st Place. Best Poetry. Debonair Accord, 2020
God of Poetry. The Banana Awards, 2021
1st Place. Poetry. Gilded Raven Community, 2021
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. Banana Awards, 2021
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. Indian Awards, 2021 –
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. Rising Phoenix, 2021
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. Junior Inn Community.
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Ink & Pen Awards
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Sitting Down Awards, 2020.
1st Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Hall of Fame, 2020.
2nd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Darkness Poetry Awards, 2020.
2nd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Marine Community, 2021.
2nd Place. Best Poetry Writer. CLN Awards, 2021.
2nd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Jewel Awards, 2021.
3rd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Fast Food Awards, 2021.
3rd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Carnival Awards, 2021.
3rd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Rising Star Awards, 2020.
3rd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Cherry Awards, 2021.
3rd Place. Best Poetry Writer. The Phoenix Awards, 2021.
Best Poetry Book. The Lotus Community, 2020.
Best Cover. The Rising Phoenix Awards, 2021.
Best Overall Cover. Mini Awards, 2021.
Best Creative Cover. The Aesthetic Awards, 2020.
Participant. The Jewel Awards, 2021.
Claudia: What are the best qualities of your writing/art style?
DRICI AMOS JAMES: “My writing is pure, true, uncensored, and unapologetically raw. I focus on clarity, simplicity, and relatability to portray my artistic vision.“
Claudia: How has your writing/art affected yourself and/or others?
DRICI AMOS JAMES: “Personally, my writing has brought me closer to mental clarity and my emotional freedom.
The testimonials listed below from my real loyal fans can reflect the impact and weight of my words in their lives differently.
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 brother 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.
“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.” DARIELCLAIRE, 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)
Claudia: Have there been any drawbacks in your art/writing journey? How has that affected you?
DRICI AMOS JAMES: “I have had numerous drawbacks, but my unwavering passion for my craft has kept me going and soaring even higher. Drawbacks build and mold an artist to master and conquer themselves first before their own art. It instills discipline, persistence, and consistency in an artist, and that’s how I have overcome my own drawbacks like writer’s block, doubts, fears, financial constraints, criticism, racism, and rejections. Always believe in yourself, your craft, and God. Never forget why you started it. You’re an inspiration in the making; just keep going. I always tell myself, “Quitting is healthy, but winning is healthier.””
Claudia: What are your aspirations for future publication and/or plans, if any!
DRICI AMOS JAMES: “For my future publications, I look forward to self-publishing my second poetry collection titled The Naked Race, which explores the themes of religion, spirituality, identity, African heritage, taboos, and religious paralysis in the new era. Lastly, my debut children’s book titled Uncle Mos Mos is in the creation process. I have more works in progress for publication in the near future. I’m just getting started with my literary journey.”
Sorry! Zine thanks DRICI AMOS JAMES so much for the time to talk to us about such a wonderful writing journey. We are so honoured to have you here!
Location: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
Sorry! Zine 
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