DJ Iradukunda: Determined to be Rwanda's Queen of the turntables

Divine Iradukunda, known to many as DJ Ira, last week took the crowd that turned up for the Miss Rwanda pre-selection, by storm with her disk spinning skills that kept revelers on their feet. With her skillful spinning hands and infectious smile, she is one young DJ that is steadily rising to stardom. Sunday Magazine’s Sharon Kantengwa had a chat with the 21 year-old on what it’s like being a young female DJ. You are a fast rising DJ, who is readily capturing public attention. How did you become a DJ at such a young age? My passion Disk spinning is as a result of my love for music and night clubbing.DJ Bisoso is one of the DJs that I always looked up to and as a family friend, I asked him to train me. Immediately I completed high school, with the support of my parents, I began practicing until Bisoso introduced me to the public. Being an amateur in the beginning was not easy for me to learn but my mentors were helpful, and I was able to catch up first. I’m still trying to master my skills to become a professional DJ. DJ Ira You are new in this field of work. How do you keep revelers on their feet? People come to the club to lift their spirits, after a long day or week, by dancing to their favorite tunes. I take it as a responsibility to ensure that they go back home satisfied people. The mere look of the kind of revelers that I have, I can determine what kind of music selection I need to make. I know what music the youth can dance to and what the elderly prefer. Being a DJ means being in the limelight and having nosy paparazzi. How prepared are you for this? When I had just started out as a DJ, many people were surprised to see a young girl working as a DJ, and I think that is why I quickly caught the public eye. I however do not mind the limelight or the publicity that comes with my job. As long as I am doing my job, keeping people happy, and inspiring a young girl out there, it’s all that matters to me. DJ Ira What makes you passionate about your job? I love that I contribute to people’s happiness and keep them in a jovial mood. It is what keeps me motivated while working. Are there any instances you have regretted being a DJ? This kind of work exposes you to so many people and as a result, I have encountered cases of men insisting on taking me out even when I politely decline, which I find irritating. I feel that I deserve to be respected as woman trying to do her job. Do you have plans of going back to school? Much as I love my job, I want to complete my studies and I will be joining university this year. I will be pursuing Information Technology. I work evening hours from Wednesday to Friday which I think will give me ample time to study and do my work as well.

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DJ Iradukunda: Determined to be Rwanda's Queen of the turntables