For the last couple of years, some top names have constantly been dominating Rwanda’s deejaying, but 2024 changed the whole narrative about disc spinning and left youngsters at the forefront of the profession which is currently among the most paid in Rwanda’s creative industry and the world at large.
The era of pioneers like DJ Karim, DJ Toxxyk, Marnaud among many others who run Kigali’s nightlife is coming to an end, and youngsters are taking over the game.
At the forefront of this revolution is DJ Inno, one of the disc jockeys who had an arguably successful year in 2024, sharing stages with some of Africa’s biggest acts and hosting big shows across the country.
The young DJ saw his breakthrough taking him to the big stage alongside Africa’s elite DJs like Dope Caesar, Poco Lee, Obi and Rugar’s DJ Mr. West, and Zulu Tebeda, as part of the first OBI House show in Kigali that took place on November 15, at Atelier Du Vin.
"Sharing the stage with these legends was a dream come true. It was humbling, but it also fueled my drive to take my career even further," says Inno in an exclusive interview with The New Times.
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Despite sharing the stage with fellow local DJs at the first of its kind event in Kigali, Inno’s 30-minute DJ set caught attention of many including Burna Boy&039;s MC, Poco Lee, a move that might export his craft to the international arena.
This was not the highlight of the year for the DJ. In December, he hosted a successful one-man show at Atelier Du Vin, supported by established DJs including Marnaud and Toxxyk, where he delivered his best and left fans and industry professionals in awe.
The event was a full house, with the party community from across the country coming to witness his performance.
"The energy from the crowd was unreal. It felt like I had finally made it," he notes.
Expanding across Rwanda
Looking ahead, DJ Inno is not slowing down. His ambitions now extend far beyond Rwanda, with plans to take over African market starting from the East African region.
"My journey in this industry has been smooth so far, and it’s a testament that the future is even brighter,” Inno said, adding, "There’s so much untapped talent, and I want to be part of the movement that pushes African music to the world stage.”
The goal in 2025, he said, is to focus on expanding his influence across East Africa before venturing into other regions, given how the region has adopted Rwanda’s music.
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"East Africa has always been my home, and I want to make sure I have a strong presence here before I go global," he says. With his growing fan base and increasing recognition, there’s little doubt that DJ Inno’s future promises even greater achievements.
Who is DJ Inno?
Born Innocent Izabayo, DJ Inno’s rose to prominence in 2024. Growing up in a Christian family with little understanding of the music industry, he faced opposition from an early age.
It wasn’t until 2019, after finishing high school, that his breakthrough moment came about. He met the late DJ Miller, who recognized his potential and took him under his wings.
The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 brought even more challenges, with all nightlife activities shutting down and leaving Inno unemployed for months.
In 2022, Inno’s fortunes changed when he met DJ Marnaud, who believed in his talent and introduced him to the bigger music scene. With this new support, DJ Inno began to make a name for himself and has been appearing on big stages around the country.
His biggest stages so far include Pcee and Justin99 show in Kigali, MMT’s Gisenyi long weekend, Chley in Rwanda, Dezemba Madness, REV UP Xperience, OBI house among many others.