RJ the DJ (Mw): Afrobeats, Breaking down barriers, and Africa Day

With Africa Day celebrations fast approaching, we sat down with Malawi-born, now Irish-based DJ Rejoice Msindo, more commonly known as RJ the DJ (Mw), to discuss her journey into music, her experiences navigating the techno and Afrobeats scenes both abroad and in Ireland, and her thoughts on identity, community, and representation. We delved into her move to Ireland in 2021 and how she has adapted to a new scene as well as her highly anticipated set at Africa Day Royal Kilmainham hospital on May 18th, where she’ll be performing on the Rhythm Stage from 12–6 PM.

From Malawi to Ireland: A Journey in Sound

Growing up, RJ was uncertain about what path she would take in life. “I didn’t want to be a doctor, lawyer, or a teacher,” she says. Everything changed at age 13, when she realised music was her calling. A DJ was hired for her birthday party, which she shared with her sister. The moment proved to be life-changing. Captivated by the music and energy, RJ found herself drawn to the DJ booth and spent the rest of the evening there instead of on the dance floor. “I got hooked then!”

She eventually navigated her way to a professional career in DJing, from spinning tracks on local radios to performing sets at major regional showcases. In 2021, she moved from her native Malawi to Tanzania, influenced by the fact that clubs remained open there during the COVID pandemic. After almost a year in Tanzania, her sister suggested they move to Ireland together. RJ recalls it as a difficult decision: “I really enjoyed Tanzania. I wasn’t ready to leave. I felt like I hadn’t done everything I needed to. But when the opportunity to come to Ireland came, I thought, ‘Let me see what’s happening.’ And I’ve been here since November 2021.”

Moving countries is never easy, and she speaks candidly about the challenges of starting life anew, navigating Irish culture, its club circuit, and the techno scene. “Initially, there was a lot of culture shock. I was in a whole new country and the music was so different. But unlike Africa, there are a lot more female DJs here in Ireland.” While she describes the process of integrating as “a hard journey,” she also shares that building community was key to breaking into the music scene, and credits those who supported her along the way for feeling more confident, saying it’s “smooth sailing ahead.”

Bringing Africa’s Dance Music To Irish Dance floor 

RJ is a versatile DJ and producer whose sound is rooted in but not limited to the vibrant rhythms of the amapiano, afrobeats, and afrotech genres that not only define her musical identity but also form the foundation of most of her productions and sets. The origins of these genres are wide-ranging. Amapiano is a South African house music style known for its smooth piano melodies, deep basslines, and laid-back grooves. Afrobeats, originating from West Africa, blends traditional African rhythms with elements of hip-hop, dancehall, and funk. Afrotech is a fusion of Afrocentric sounds and techno, characterized by driving beats and electronic textures.

Speaking of Afrobeats, she reflects on how the genre, while growing in popularity, still doesn’t enjoy the mainstream acceptance of techno or house music in Dublin.  “Getting people to like Afrobeats, to like Amapiano, is hard,” she says. “But I’m really proud of the people making strides and creating those spaces for African music. At  the same time she is pragmatic about the realities of the industry. “It’s not easy to get a venue. It’s not easy to get bookings. It’s not easy to sell tickets.”

Despite the challenges, her optimism remains intact. “There are people who’ve really held it down in the industry, and I’m proud of them. It gives me hope.” In fact, RJ shares her vision for the future of African dance music and her hopes for the next generation of girls entering the scene: “I want to see Afrobeats and all kinds of African music on the main stage—at Electric Picnic, at All Together Now, at Beyond the Pale. That’s the goal.”

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The Double Standards of the DJ Booth

RJ has been recognised by MixMag as being a part of the several women breaking down barriers in the African electronic dance scene. “When I started DJing in Malawi, there were really no women. We had women on radio, but not in clubs. Where I’m from, a woman in a club is a scarlet letter.” Reflecting on her early experiences in her native country, RJ recalls the gendered assumptions she often encountered, like people questioning whether her husband would even allow her to DJ, despite her not being married in the first place.

In fact, while being a female DJ sometimes helped her stand out, it came with added pressure and fewer opportunities. “It made me feel like I had to fight for the industry,” she says. “It’s like being good at mental math. You’re always calculating.” She refers to a double standard with an all too familiar example: male DJs could show up to gigs in slides and still be accepted, but she felt she had to always be perfectly put together just to be taken seriously. “If I showed up like that, people would look at me like, ‘Girl, really?'”

Yet, RJ doesn’t frame these double standards as an inherent disadvantage but rather as a core part to her personal and professional development. “It trained me. Fighting to get into the African industry made it a little easier to work outside of it. You already know who you’re fighting.” 

Reflecting on whether the double standards she experienced in Malawi made Irish professionalism feel more relaxed by comparison, she shakes her head. “No, it’s just a part of me now. When I show up, I need to look good. That’s who I am. If you’re paying me for a gig, you’re also paying for how I present myself. If you want to put me on a website or Instagram, I’m going to look good, not shabby.” She smiles and adds: “You need to be calculating. And as women, we’re really sly. We can calculate.”

Taking the Stage at Africa Day

RJ will be bringing her signature blend of amapiano, afrobeats, afrotech, and much more to her upcoming Africa Day performance at the Royal Kilmainham Hospital this Sunday, May 18th, for an extended set from 12–6pm on the Rhythm Stage. “I’ve been wanting a set at Africa Day ever since I got here,” she shares with excitement. Speaking about the event, she adds: “I think it’s about inviting people to come and see. Come see what we can do. You don’t have to go to Africa. Just come and see how we dance, taste the food, hear the music.”

“We are fun people,” she continues. “We just want to live with you, to be happy. And especially now, with everything happening globally, I think this Africa Day is very powerful.” As the day celebrates the richness and diversity of the continent’s cultures, RJ reflects on what it means to represent Malawi and African women on the music scene. “My duty is to make people know that Malawi exists and that there’s talent in Malawi,” she says. “But I don’t want to carry the weight of it. If I mess up, I’m scared I’ll be cancelled by a whole country!” she adds with a laugh.

She emphasises that while she’s proud to spotlight her home country (“We have a beautiful lake, mountains, and safari resorts!”), she’s cautious about letting the pressure of representation become overwhelming. “I represent RJ the DJ,” she says plainly. “I represent the women in the industry. I represent queers in the industry. And I represent people of colour as well. When you look at it, being a woman, a woman of colour, and queer, it’s like a triple threat. And that makes it hard.”

She refers enthusiastically to fellow Malawian artists making waves in Ireland, like DJ Mona Lisa and Dapa. “When I see Malawians being recognised here, I’m happy.” When asked what advice she would give to those aspiring to become DJs but feeling that the odds are stacked against them, she responds: “Go for it! It’s going to be hard. But there were people before me who walked so I could run, people who crawled so I could fly. And now it’s time for others to fly. Get what you need to get. There’ll be tears, sure. But that’s everywhere. The fun is worth it.”

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To find out more about RJ the DJ (Mw), visit her website. You can also find her on Instagram and Facebook, and listen to her music on Soundcloud.