Across Africa and beyond, women are quietly, insistently redefining what it means to be a DJ.
Words by Alex Gwaze (Curator)
Questions by Alex Gwaze and Joanne Peters (Image Coach)
I’ve always believed that being a female DJ is like a cheat code. Not a gimmick. An advantage. Hear me out. Spend five minutes in any decent club on a weekend and you’ll see what I see: the dancefloor is mostly women. Women who came to feel good, to forget the week. So the solution to ensuring they have a “good time” feels obvious to me. Who understands that energy better than another woman who genuinely loves music, like DJ Just Drey? It’s guaranteed to work in my mind — especially now, when more women than ever are present at events. So what’s the problem?
Across Africa, female DJs navigate a complex, often hostile terrain. Expectations about what’s ‘appropriate’ for women, traditional gender roles, family disapproval, and the stigma — not to mention security risks — make DJing an uphill climb.” Add to that the fact that it’s a male-dominated industry and assumptions about technology, equipment costs, and payment issues — and the obstacles become very real. Yet despite all this, women — from South Africa’s pioneering DJ Zinhle to Eswatini’s Uncle Waffles, whose historic Coachella performance earned her the cover of Rolling Stone Africa — have steadily dismantled these barriers. And in Zimbabwe, DJs like Just Drey, DJ King Her, and DJ Naida are also rewriting expectations about who gets to “control the fun.”
Just Drey — born Audrey Dlodlo and raised in Nketa — is a resident DJ at Zarah Lounge, one of Bulawayo’s most prestigious venues, but her reach extends far beyond that. She has appeared on line-ups for the Victoria Falls Carnival, Midlands Burnouts, the European Film Festival Zimbabwe, Munch & Sip and more. Regionally, she has performed in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, sharing stages with stars like Heavy K, Mi Casa, and Sun-El Musician. Across these events, the change is visible: her name and face are no longer tucked into the small print of posters. She is a major draw. Her presence promises a particular kind of fun — unforced, fresh, inventive.
Watching Drey work — and watching is the operative word — especially in her afro-electro-deep-house lane, is an experience in itself. She reads a room with precision, knowing when to build, pause, and release a beat that transforms the crowd from passive listeners into active participants. It would be easy to say it’s the music, but that wouldn’t be true. The music is the focal point, yes, but she is the architect of more than sound: it is atmosphere, energy, and shared rhythm. Drey isn’t merely performing; she is leading. Her presence isn’t symbolic — it becomes the heartbeat of a crowd moving in sync with the space. She guides the event through directed rhythm that leaves you lighter than when you arrived. You become fully present and reluctant to leave, even after the music fades.
JP: Let’s start with the origin story. When did you first realise you wanted to be a DJ? Was it a single track, a night out, or a moment?
JD: Origin story. I like that, like I’m a superhero. Well, if you must know how I got my powers (laughs). Music has always been part of my journey, and I have always been that one kid in the family who just couldn’t stop listening or playing music. But the moment I realized that I had to be a DJ was during a night out. I had just learned how to touch the decks, but I wasn’t, you know, a DJ, DJ. I was just watching other people play and couldn’t stop staring at the decks, wishing I could be the one playing. It became more of a calling I couldn’t ignore. I’m not saying I’m special in a spiritual way, but DJing called me — I gotta be honest, guys (laughs).
JP: Zimbabwe comes with its own do’s and don’ts for women in the creative space. Despite all that noise, have any Zimbabwean musical traditions found their way into your sets?
JD: I’m so glad you asked that question — not the one I was expecting you where leading to (laughs). I love Zimbabwean music, and my knowledge goes as deep as my love for the instruments of our culture. They are beautiful and rich. African soundscapes in general are on a different plane. In some of my sets, I’ve been able to infuse them, creating a deeper, richer sound — a sound that makes you travel through time.
AG: You might have dodged the question you were dreading, but I have to ask: Uncle Waffles, DJ King Her — women are rewriting the script. What is it about that African sound that draws so many women to the decks?
JD: I can answer that too. Good question! I think the old perception of music has died, especially in the DJ industry here in Africa. Women have become more comfortable embracing the sound — the craftsmanship, the quality of the beat. Plus, more women are comfortable expressing their voices, saying what they like and don’t like. African women have beautiful taste in music. We are getting used to new norms: women as musicians and entertainers, breaking records, taking risks, and being held accountable too. It’s beautiful to watch the continent evolve — from mothers, to workers, to businesswomen, to icons (and scandals). That evolution inspires other women to explore areas where we don’t yet see many women, like DJing. We all want to evolve, if you get where I’m coming from.
AG: I get you. I’ve always felt that being a woman is kind of a “cheat code” if you are a DJ because women can shift the energy in a club so easily.
JD: Are you saying I’m cheating? (laughs) I’m just joking. But I think it may be biological — or maybe social. Let’s say it’s social. Socially, women articulate their feelings and emotions faster than men, so they quickly show they’re having a good time. But, to be honest, men react more when they see a woman behind the decks in my experience. Because it’s fascinating to them. Especially in Zimbabwe — there are still few female DJs — so they really pay attention to my sets at most events.
AG: The mood is a fragile thing at an event. One song can lift the room or misfire completely. Can you describe a moment when a track changed the energy in the room?
JD: When a misfire happens, I reach for the throwbacks — the golden oldies. It works most of the time. I actually love a good throwback set. It makes everyone happy and gives that nostalgic feel. I’ve played sets where people come to me afterwards and tell me how, at a certain point in their lives, these songs made things better. There’s no better feeling than hearing that a song brought someone back to a favorite moment.
JP: DJing — the travel, the hours, the technical battles, the equipment failures — must be really difficult. What has been the most challenging moment in your journey so far?
JD: I won’t tell you what you want to hear; I’ll tell you what you need to know! Being a female DJ has taught me that time shapes your outcomes and opportunities. You need to spend countless hours honing your craft to sharpen your skills so that you can problem-solve fast. When people pay to get into a venue, they don’t want to hear about technical issues or a weak set. Invest in yourself, your professionalism, your business — and your money. Used it wisely, it can make another day possible. Don’t let anyone lie to you about opportunities: the time and the money you put into yourself will never disappoint you.
AG: That’s great advice. What do you do with your other time — your free time? You’re already booked for the weekend, so others’ downtime is your work time.
JP: I’m a gym freak (laughs). I go at least 4–5 times a week. It helps with the physical toll of the work itself, and I just love exercise and movement. I also make sure I get enough sleep. But mainly, I stay away from anything that may cause stress. Stress makes time move in slow motion and everything feels heavy. So I avoid it at all costs (laughs).
JP: So when you’re in the gym or avoiding stress, what do you listen to for pleasure, inspiration, or escape?
JD: Let me confess: I have a song for every moment (laughs). I eat, sleep, music. All kinds of music. I won’t say it’s an obsession because it’s part of my existence. I listen to a lot of jazz and R&B. But whatever the song, as long as it’s musically appealing or good for my soul, I’ll listen. I do not discriminate!
AG: You forgot to add that you also make music in your spare time. I enjoyed our collaboration with Dr Breezy, “A Quiet Place.” Do you see yourself moving deeper into production — maybe in the DJ Khaled, Oskido, or Calvin Harris direction?
JD: Thank you! Actually, I’ve been working on other projects, right now with artists like Jaytweny8, who’s also a great composer and producer. Hopefully I’ll be on the radar soon, releasing new stuff. But my aim is to make good music that appeals not just to everyone, but also to me. Whatever I make, I’ll tap into every genre and learn about myself as a musician, not just as a DJ.
JP: That sounds great. Do you see yourself doing more sit-down or voice-driven work — podcasting, presenting, MCing, or radio? That’s my last question: what does the long game look like for you?
JD: We’re already at the end? No! Let me say this: I’m open to doing more than just music, but for now, I’m still trying to learn and grow in the music field. I believe in putting down roots before you grow, so you have a solid foundation. I’m working on that part, but I’m not rigid about the future. I’ll go where I fit in and feel comfortable (laughs).
Globally, female DJs — from Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou, and Nina Kraviz to Alison Wonderland and Rezz — have shown that women are not just dancing to music; they are shaping it. In Africa, DJs like Just Drey and Uncle Waffles are doing the same: bringing fresh perspectives and unexpected styles to line-ups, while inspiring the next generation of women to feel comfortable embracing their own unconventional passions. Venues that welcome female DJs — from Zarah Lounge to Cotton Club, Smokehouse, and Garden of House — are discovering the same truth: audiences are drawn to the excitement, the creativity, and the energy that only women can bring behind the decks. Talent isn’t limited by gender, and music — like culture itself — it thrives when every voice has the right to create their own playlists.
Follow DJ Just Drey at @justdrey
MUD Journal 