A club DJ, Siphiwe Mazibuko, also known as DJ Lady 7, is all about women’s empowerment in the local music industry.
She started DJing in 2015 and enhanced her skills with the renowned DJ Zinhle’s former music school, Fuse Academy. Her music career kick-started with gigs at local festivals and events that led her to become a resident DJ on Ligwalagwala FM and Kasi FM and being nominated as the best female DJ in the Sunrise Women Awards in 2017.
Mazibuko said it was quite difficult embarking on being a DJ as a young girl. “There was a lot of criticism from fellow DJs and event organisers, because being a DJ as a girl was not as widely acknowledged compared to nowadays. Some promoters took advantage of women DJs such as paying them less and just undermining them. I am really thankful to the people who nurtured me and believed in my passion, such as Ligwalagwala FM’s Madumane, Shabisto and local businesswoman Gugu Nyarenda,” she said.
The DJ from Pienaar said she is in the studio cooking up her debut EP with three-step songs to drop sometime next year. “I am an Afrohouse DJ, so the three-step music genre is more relevant. I cannot wait to have it out there for people to enjoy.”
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Mazibuko’s goal of women’s empowerment is at the centre stage of her career. She has a music academy and event organising company called Seven Academy.
“Young girls always approach me to teach them how to DJ. I established the academy as a way to give back and contribute to uplifting women, especially in the music industry,” she proudly said.
Moreover, she hosts a social event biannually called Sunset Motive in Mbombela. Her goals include having her own music, travelling abroad to share her passion as a DJ and collaborating with great artists.