Once a car guard, now award-winning song writer, Tresor Riziki plays a fusion of afro-pop and soul music with elements of Maskandi. Born and raised in Goma, a lakeside village on the border of The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Riziki moved to South Africa in 2007 at the age of 20.He travelled by train and car through Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique to get to Durban, where he found Durban's Playhouse Theatre.He went inside and introduced himself to sound engineer Neil Snyman.Admiring his pluck, Snyman took him to The Stables Theatre where he met guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer Madala Kunene, who took the young musician under his wing.Riziki said: "I didn't really have a definitive plan. I had drive and believed South Africa was the only place I wanted to pursue my career."It's a beautiful country and I love the music and culture."Riziki said South Africans have opened their doors to him and his music.His experience of South Africans as a peace-loving people served as the inspiration for a song he wrote to perform with local hip-hop artist Khuli Chana, This is Home.He said: "I don't believe we are defined by our nationalities or man-made borders because human life is way more precious than that."Riziki attributed his decision to make music his life to the moment his mother bought him a guitar when he was 13."I was a car guard in Durban. I learned what it's like to hit rock bottom. Music was my only hope."After writing two songs, Limisa and Brighter Day on afro-pop princess Zahara's multi-platinum award-winning debut album, Phedula, Riziki is ready to release his own album.Titled VII, Riziki said the album is a celebration of the past seven years in South Africa that have advanced his career in music.One of the songs, Mount Everest, a collaboration with local hip-hop artist, AKA, is already making waves on radio stations.The album, 'VII' with songs in English, French, Swahili and Lingala (the language spoken in Riziki's home country) will be released in May...