DJ Dino Bravo has worked hard to make his name a household one, but little do you now how long it took to get there and the struggles he went through before making it big.
The DJ was born in Cuba, to an Angolan mother and a Cuban father, after which he moved to Angola at a very young age.
As per his parents request, he went on to study towards a degree in engineering – a degree he achieved before quickly packing his belongings and embarking on a backpacking journey across Europe.
It was late in 1993 that DJ Dino found himself in South Africa in need of some extra money, and he landed a job sweeping the streets of the city.
After his stint as a street sweeper he became a bread delivery man. It was deep in Joburg that the delivery man got his first real break.
Watch our interview with DJ Dino Bravo below:
“My friend and I went to a pub in Yeoville and he asked the manager why the music was so low. He told us that the DJ was drunk and couldn’t do his job,” explained Bravo.
“My friend pointed to me and told the manager that I like music, so they gave me a short tutorial and I started my set at 9pm and continued to play until 6am.
“The manager told me that whenever I’m not working that I should come to the pub and play for them and then he’d pay me – but at that time, making a living off music was unheard of.”
Since breaking onto the scene he has played sets with DJ Fresh and Glen Lewis, and since then the world has become his oyster.
He explained that his favourite gigs were in Switzerland and when he played at the World Economic Forum.
“I played for the most famous people in the world at the World Economic Forum – it’s where I met Bill Clinton and Kofi Anan.”
It really is possible for anyone to make it from Joburg to the rest of the world.
Details: www.facebook.com/DINOBRAVODJ
