The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
By Agnes E. Nantaba
James Onen a.k.a Fatboy has been a famous presenter on radio for most of his adult life. He spoke to Agnes E Nantaba about life in the limelight
Any three things we don’t know about you?
After over a decade on prime time radio talking about my life everyday there probably isn’t much you don’t already know about me. All I can say is that I’m a 40 year old male Ugandan working in the radio industry in Kampala. You might know me as Fatboy a.k.a. F Bizzy
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Doing what you love best and for me it’s about videogames, Blues music.
What is your greatest fear?
It should be death, I guess.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Procrastination.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Ignorance and inability to reason logically.
Which living person do you most admire?
Ambassador Julius B. Onen – my father. He is the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Videogames; I don’t have to think twice spending on them.
What is your current state of mind?
Rational.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patriotism.
On what occasion do you lie?
Whenever it earns me some peace although it’s not something I like to do.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My fingernails.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Integrity.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Submissiveness no matter who she is.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
No so many but I can’t miss ‘Alright, so…’ in most conversations.
When and where were you happiest?
My childhood, from birth until age 11; these were the years I spent in Japan.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Mind reading.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d try to be more social, I guess. Haha.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Embracing my sense of curiosity.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A hydrogen atom.
Where would you most like to live?
I have travelled and lived elsewhere but I still love Kampala because it is a just fine city to live in. I will probably die here, in all likelihood.
What is your most treasured possession?
My anime collection.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
No internet!
What is your most marked characteristic?
My beautiful eyes; it’s something I know about myself.
What do you most value in your friends?
Intelligence; it’s their ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
Who are your favourite writers?
Clinton Richard Dawkins, the writer of books like ‘The God Delusion’ and famous for his quotes like ‘we are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further’. Samuel Benjamin “Sam” Harris and Clive Staples Lewis also make it on the list of my favorite writers.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Son Goku of Dragonball who features as the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball metaseries.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Socrates; he is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is enigmatic.
Who are your heroes in real life?
My parents.
What is it that you most dislike?
Anything bullshit
What is your greatest regret?
Not having studied philosophy earlier.
How would you like to die?
In an explosion.
What is your motto?
You will only succeed in whatever you’re doing by giving it your all.
