Adam Abu-Bakr Mukara a.k.a DJ Adams’s debut on radio came in 2007, when the then CEO of City Radio, Alex Shumba found him playing at a nightclub and encouraged him to extend his craft to the radio airwaves. The next day, he was on air presenting the City Oldies show on the same radio.

In a broadcasting career spanning seven years, he went on to present many other shows on the radio, including Bassline, Late Date, The Jam, Saturday Night Show, Red Hot Friday Night, and the most popular and controversial to date; the Red Hot Friday show.  

Recently, he threw in the towel at City Radio, and secured a move to the rival Radio One, where he takes up The Total Jam, an evening drive show, effective Monday (tomorrow). Moses Opobo tracked him down for a chat about his latest career move …

Why did you quit City Radio for Radio One?

First, let me take this opportunity to thank the management of City Radio for the experience and exposure I gained while working there. I thank them for being with me during my trying times, especially during the rape case that was filed against me. City Radio was there for me all the way. 

That said, every coin has got two sides. There is a side to working at City Radio that I don’t think worked in my favour. I was loyal to the company for close to seven years, and I really don’t think any institution should treat an employee the way that they treated me. They treated me like an amateur, where I deserved fair treatment. The cases were many, but there is this incident that really cut my wires off. 

I was demanding salary arrears for four months, but the company only cleared one month’s arrears. When I asked for leave to go and sort some family issues at home, I was told to choose between my job and family. I think this was unfair treatment to someone who had never reported late for work, never been served a warning letter, and someone who had never missed a single day at work. 

How did you hook the Radio One job?

I wrote them a proposal for The Total Jam and they liked it. It’s going to be the number one and number two radio show in Kigali. The rest can sort themselves out. What do people want after a long stressful day at work? The Total Jam will answer that question, since it will be running from 7:00 -10:00 pm. I have been on radio for seven years, and in nightclubs for 17 years, so I know what listeners want, and when they want it.