SINCE THE REOPENING of pubs and clubs, the Rwandan entertainment scene has experienced a rapid revolution that has seen the dispatching of many deejays into the industry. Although there are hundreds of DJs operating in Rwanda, there are a few who have won the attention of Kigalians by using their turntables to deliver good vibes in some pubs and clubs of Kigali. Whether its house, techno, EDM, Amapiano, Hip Hop or Afrobeats, heres our pick of some of the best DJs in town at the moment. 5. DJ Sonia The young female disc jockey came from a radio live session at Magic FM to playing in some of the best night spots of Kigali. Sonia Kayitesi became a professional deejay in 2019, and has never looked back. Despite being affected by the pandemic the 23-year-old is now behind the decks of BelAir bar every weekend, and ‘Proppa’ Fridays at Blackstone lounge, one of the best pubs in Kigali located at KBC mall. DJ Sonia is also one of the few female disk jockeys in town who have headlined big concerts like the all-star game which was held last year in Kigali and attracted big musicians worldwide such as Rema of Nigeria. She is currently a deejay on local TV, KC2, and Magic Fm. 4. Bood’ up DJs The deejay duo which is made up of DJ Julz, former member of The Dream Team DJs, and DJ Rugamba, is one of the leading deejays thrilling revellers in Kigali. Bood’ up DJs are more popular for mixing different genres from the oldies hip hop and R&B, to trap and Amapiano which is taking over globally. They have contributed a lot to Kigali’s night life especially in their full packed Thursday and Saturday live sessions at Barbecue House, a new bar in Kigali. 3. DJ Pyfo Born Christian Muhire, Pyfo is one of a few DJs that are using their disk jockeying skills to change the partying lifestyle of Kigali, by only using turntables and his good taste of music to attract huge positive moving crowds. Anyone that has been to Kantona Sundays at Plazo, or Inganzo art café on Fridays can testify how the young DJ carries the sound on his back and controls the audience like the likes of Maphorisa of South Africa or DJ Tunez of New York. Apart from playing in Pubs, Pyfo has generated a big audience on streaming platforms by adding mix tapes like “Shukutu” and many others. 2. DJ Marnaud Arnaud Mugisha Gatera, professionally known as DJ Marnaud, is not just a DJ but an MC, singer, hype man, and everything in between. The Bape hit maker is among the Dream Team DJs, a group that is bringing back the partying mood which was disrupted by the pandemic. DJ Marnaud’s sessions at Chillax Nyarutarama or Papyrus restaurant and bar are not just sessions but a space to connect and celebrate good music. He has played at big festivals in different countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Belgium, to mention a few. 1. DJ Toxxyk Arnold Ishimwe popularly known as DJ Toxxyk had already started spinning discs at the former Ogopogo Nightclub in Kimihurura at only 20 years-old. He appeared on the limelight during the popular dancehall, afrobeats and trap error between 2012 and 2016. During this period he was a favourite DJ especially for young people and high school students. Today, Toxxyk is one of the most loved DJs in the country. He plays at a renowned pub and club titled Cocobean. He has performed in different cities of the world such as Dubai, Brussels, and Nairobi among many others. Bood’ up DJs duo DJ Julz and DJ Rugamba. Courtesy photos.
