In 2007, radio host Aboubakar Adamu Mukara, commonly known as DJ Adams, would take his seven-year-old daughter Nadine Uwimpaye with him to his radio shows. And, 17 years later, the duo is co-hosting “The Lunch Hour Jams”, a popular radio talk show on Fine FM. The show airs Monday to Friday, from 1pm to 2 p.m., DJ Adams has spent most of his career on the mic as a presenter and deejaying at various stations. He started as a DJ in 1993 after acquiring a disc jockey certificate. He has also hosted or co-hosted his current shows for over the past three decades. In 2006, he ventured into radio presenting at City Radio. Since then, he has worked at several other local radio stations. ALSO READ: Should parents choose their children’s career? Meanwhile, Uwimpaye’s journey to becoming a radio presenter is anything but conventional; it was not as straightforward as one might think. In 2017, during her days in high school at St. Jean Bosco in Nyamagabe District, she was an active member of the debate club, a platform that honed her speaking skills and sparked a love for public discourse. She even dabbled in modeling, fashion, emceeing.... all activities that would get her hosted in various talk shows. All she was doing were aimed at getting to the mic and show what she could offer. But she waited for her time. “After graduating from high school in 2019, I didn’t venture into broadcasting immediately because I thought it might have just been a high school interest. When I finally decided to give it a try, I wanted to see how far I could go,” she told The New Times. Uwimpaye is currently a third-year varsity student pursuing Finance and Administration, a different field from the vibrant world of broadcasting. Despite her academic background, Uwimpaye always felt a pull towards the world of media and communication. Being a radio host is something that she has been passionate about for quite some time and seeing her father host one of the most popular shows in town ignited her passion to venture into following her father’s footsteps. “I could hear her colleagues telling her that she can be a good presenter. But she never told me that she would love to be a radio presenter until recently,” Dj Adams said of his daughter. “The time she asked me to work with her and co-host my talk show, I couldn’t say ‘no’ because this is what she loves. I am not introducing her in the game, I am just helping her to fulfil her dream,” he added. A seasoned radio presenter with more than 20 years of experience, DJ Adams couldn’t be happier to have his daughter by his side from the very first days they started working together. “Everyone would love to support someone who is truly deserving, and that is the story of my daughter.,” he said. “People have been curious about her, asking who she is, but I haven’t revealed our relationship. She loves what she is doing and she is eager to learn more, just like anyone else.” The DJ said that he encourages Uwimpaye to walk out his shadow and make her own name in the career. “Fame can mislead individuals, making them feel like the center of attention, which can quickly ruin their career. She should focus on what the public wants and avoid sensitive personal topics. Most importantly, being original, maintaining integrity, and upholding professionalism are what truly matter,” he said. It’s been three months now since DJ Adams and her daughter have been co-hosting the ‘Lunch Hour Jams’ talk show and, according to Uwimpaye, working with her father has been incredible. “I really enjoy it because he is not just my mentor, but also my friend, and colleague,” she said.
