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By Sheila Kimani (@Sheilakimm)
From Starehe Boys Center to rocking the deejay decks and scoring a nomination in, the Groove 2015 “Deejay of the year category”, Raphael Nyamu a.k.a as Dj Ruff has swiftly built his brand from the ground up.
In an industry where talent could sky rocket one’s career, very few celebrities attach a value to education but he is one of the few learned Kenyan stars.
Born and raised in Kirinyaga County to a family of four children, Ruff was the last born. After attending Kirinyaga Township Primary School in Kerugoya, his brilliance secured him a spot in the coveted Starehe Boys Center.
There, he joined the Interact club which nurtured his socializing skills, the survival club, Emergency Awards Scheme and Presidential Awards scheme which equipped him with life skills. But it was the Computer society president post that seemed most relevant to his current vocation.
As the Computer lab president, he was keen about the computer programs, and here that he discovered deejay software like the virtual deejay. Curious to learn more, he started trying out different mixes.
Meanwhile, his academic performance was soaring.
Ruff scored highly in his KCSE exam and went on to pursue and graduate with a Bachelors degree in economics and statistics. However, his passion for the deejaying was still burning.
He interacted with people from the Spinrej Academy where he polished his skills on a professional level.
Asked why he quit the formal employment sector, Dj Ruff was quick to point out that “Being a dj is a worthwhile career if you are good enough because one gig can pay better than month of office work.”
He however warned that “The success rate is low especially to the upcoming deejays who have to prove themselves within the industry before they can start making good money.”
Having followed his passion and with an impressive educational background to boot, Dj Ruff serves to show that following passion leads to profits. It is for this reason that he is our MCM today.
You can vote for DJ Ruff's Groove Award Nomination by sending the code Groove 15E to 811
