The African continent has been producing world-impacting Christian Music Disc Jockeys (DJs) for generations. Previously, I made a post about “5 Nigerian Gospel Music Artists You Should Know” Click HERE to check it . As a new addition to the A Step FWD family of writers and contributors, it is with great pleasure that I will be spotlighting and reporting on the abundance of Africa’s creative talents with a focus on west Africa again. So here’s a shortlist of Gospel/Christian music DJs (in no particular order) that you should watch out for and follow.
- DJ PENNY
Ojih Penelope who’s popularly known as DJ Penny was born in the 90’s and hails from Delta State Nigeria. She is a graduate of Mass Communication from the prestigious Madonna University Okija Anambra State and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising from International institute of Journalism in Abuja, Nigeria.
World Class DJ Penny as she calls herself, released her debut album in January 2021 which featured 39 artists around the world (a record). DJ Penny is known with her slogan ‘Kabosh’ and her most popular song is ‘Testify’ – track 7 off the 2021 album. DJ Penny is an on air personality Oap on Gh3radio Los Angeles and the host of Thak God It’s Friday (TGIF) with DJ Penny live on Instagram scheduled for every Friday. She is the pioneer of STREET JAMZ WITH DJ PENNY which is one of largest street storm/concert (street movements) with the vision of taking the Church to the street. She chose to use DJing as a tool to enhance her Ministry.
She became a DJ in 2018 which made her the first Gospel female Christian DJ in Nigeria and earned her several awards like Best Music Policy DJ 2019 , Best Gospel DJ 2020 and Best Music Policy DJ of the Year 2021.DJ Penny who is also an Afrogospel & Amapiano recording artist based in Abuja, has made a huge impact through her song collaborations, her radio shows and Instagram Live sessions which earned her the name World Class DJ Penny. She has shared the stage with renowned artistes such as Eben, Judikay, Samsong, Moses Bliss, Da Music, Donsam and many more.
Connect with her on all social media platforms @therealdjpenny | Here’s a Spotify link of what she’s got on:
- DJ MANNY
Manny Buduka Edward is a Nigerian Christian Disc Jockey (DJ) who’s professionally known as DJ Manny. Growing up in Portharcourt City where he completed his primary education, DJ Manny also attended Stella Maris College in Borokiri, Rivers State. He started as a secular/mainstream Disc Jockey but went on to become a Christian DJ in 2017 and stuck to it ever since.
Manny is an Afrogospel DJ whose vision is to change the narrative of DJing and Gospel music in general. Starting up as a secular music creative and switching to a Christian DJ was quite difficult and entirely different because it was a new sound and type of music which he had to adapt to. DJ Manny has over the years became a household name to be reckoned with in Rivers State. He’s creating a niche, becoming a big brand, paving way for himself and others in the music community in Nigeria and Africa at large. Many Gospel artists from Portharcourt City, the southern region of Nigeria are now putting out content and making use of DJ Manny’s platforms (mixtapes, live shows, etc) to project their own brand to the mainstream.
I As a record, He’s the first Christian DJ to host an Afrogospel Praise Party – an event which saw much engagement and participation from within Portharcourt City, Nigeria and Africa. As a christian DJ, he has released several mixtapes across various genres of music but particularly Afrogospel including “Urban Gospel”, “Gospel According to Amapiano”, Da Hooge”, “Jesus and Music” and many other amazing compilations.
DJ Manny is currently serving as the official Christian DJ at Deepbrooks International Worship Centre, Nigeria headed by Pastor Wisdom K. He is also the official Christian DJ for Treasure FM Portharcourt, Kingdomways Radio, Lagos, Nigeria. Click Here to listen to his Mixtapes
- DJ PALOMA
Born Richard Kwaku Donkor. DJ Paloma is a young talented Gospel DJ and presenter from Ghana. He started as a spinner at age of 11 and explains, “I studied building draughtsmanship after junior high school at Royal Technical College in Nungua – Accra and passed out successfully with good grade but the love I have for music never stopped. As a kid I followed many spinning machines in my local area by carrying speakers and setting them up for occasions like funerals, naming ceremonies, parties, festivals, carnivals and etc… I was just making myself available for any dirty job to make sure the game is set. Mum knows I love music so much so when ever I come home late from spinning, she will just open the door for me and give me food, I bath and sleep. Dad always beats me when I come home late and looking dirty but I always go again the next day lol.
After attending Radio Broadcasting Development Foundation (RABODEF) in 2009, I came back home (Accra), and played almost all the biggest shows and festivals. I started meeting great people and getting bigger connections and it later landed me on radio stations like Xfm, Pravda Radio, Pluzz FM and numerous night clubs. All this while, I was a Christian but just following my dreams.
Fast forward to 2013, I fully surrendered my life to Christ at Maranatha Power Ministry Int. led by Bishop Noble Francis Afotey Odai and decided by the help of the Holy Spirit to stop playing music, until in 2015, I discovered urban Gospel, met Lilzig (an urban gospel artist) then I started playing again but strictly Gospel till date. As a Gospel DJ, I host a radio show on Zylofon 102.1 FM and sometimes as a Guest Gospel DJ on numerous gospel programs on different radio and tv stations (Live FM, Maranatha TV, Number 1 FM, Y FM and more.”
DJ Paloma has also played most Christian hangouts and weddings including for Joe Mettle (Gospel artist – Ghana) Simiane (Gospel artist – France). He also hosts the DJ Paloma Connect where he brings together urban Gospel artists and fans together in one space to praise the Lord, connect with each other, have fun and jam together.
Connect with DJ Paloma on Instagram – gh.djpaloma | Twitter & Facebook – djpalomagh | Listen to DJ Paloma on Spotify:
- DJ BLESS
Jones Kwabena Frimpong who’s professionally known as DJ Bless is a Ghanaian Christian Disc Jockey and indigene of the Twedie in the Ashanti region of Ghana but born in Hohoe a town in the Volta part of Ghana. He is 28 years of age, an electrical technician by profession and work in self founded/owned company called Bless Electrical Engineering Company Limited, which deals in electrical installation such as house wiring, smart wiring system, control panel and installation and servicing of gensets.
DJ Bless was raised up by a single parent (mother) to the age of 12 when she passed away, after which his auntie, grandad and Dad came into the scene from 2006 to 2014. For DJ Bless, “After 2014 that’s where I will say my life begun for me as young-in. Growing up as a kid, he used to listen to a radio show called Kasahari, a rap show held on Adom FM, Ghana. He developed the love for hip life and Hiphop music but little did he know there was anything like Gospel music. As a kid he used to listen to artists like Bukback, Captain Planet, Yaa Pono and more.
DJ bless got saved and born again in the year 2009. As a new baby in Christ he had to divert from the secular side to being a Gospel/Christian music creative. I remember our pastor told us that the kind of songs you listen to, influences you and also music carries spirit. This triggered him and he subsequently made up his mind and said to himself at all cost he needed to find Gospel sounds and creatives to promote them.
After sometime he desired to share the songs with people, so that they would know that the Gospel and Gospel music isn’t boring. That was when the he came in contact with Repjesus music blog and started downloading Christian music from there. DJ JaySmoke was one of the biggest influences in his life as an emerging christian DJ.
DJ Bless said, “As a Christian DJ, my mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus everywhere I find myself playing a song, and also to push upcoming urban Gospel artist out there to preach with their music.”
Connect with DJ Bless on Twitter – djblessgh11 | Instagram – djblessgh11 | YouTube – djblessgh
