Meet Aisha the DJ spinning her way to the top

Philly Lydia Ojallah alias Aisher had just arrived in Nairobi, two weeks ago, when she received some good news.

She had been nominated as the Best African DJ in Germany at the African Community in Germany Awards, one of the coveted annual awards in Europe.

Aisher, who was born in Migori County, says she relocated to Germany after the 2007/ 2008 Kenya post-election violence. 

“I had just cleared my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams at Oyugi Ogango High School in Rongo, Migori County when violence broke out.

"It was really bad. I saw people dying and peoples’ property razed down. With the help of my family and friends, I went to Germany to look for greener pastures,” she said.

She said that she was hosted by a family friend, but after awhile, they told her to move out.

 “I was in a bad space. I was stressed and I contemplated suicide. I was hospitalised and I was diagnosed with depression.

"Luckily, after I was discharged, a Ugandan friend connected me with an entrepreneur who was running a restaurant. I landed a waitress job and that is where my love for music grew,” she said.

"Through the little money I was making, I enrolled for a medical course and in about two years, I was certified to operate after completing my Geriatric Medicine studies."

Aisher said she learnt how to deejay and a few years later, she had mastered the art. In 2014, she bought her first equipment and landed her first major gig, a White Party in Berlin. This is what jumpstarted her career.

Aisher won the DJ Battle in Germany in 2016, an annual national competition for DJs.

The following year, she was awarded the Best Newcomer DJ in Germany and also the Best DJ in Northern Germany.

In 2019, she scooped the VDJ and DJ awards during the Annual South African DJ Awards that features best entertainment acts of African origin from across the world.

And now, the African Community in Germany Awards that celebrates and recognises outstanding achievements of Africans in different fields in Germany is yet another crown for the passionate music lover, who juggles her medical career with entertaining her fans.

She is optimistic that she will win the award, where she has been pitted against fellow Kenyan DJ, DJ Buuchezo, DJ Ajazz from Ghana and DJs Selekta Adi and Peace Boy Cham VybzBoss both from Gambia.

“The news of my nomination excite me. I am happy that people are recognising my hard work and my efforts.  It also shows that anyone can make it despite their tribe or place of origin,” she said.

Aisher has hosted top African music acts such as Davido, Diamond, Flavour and Otile Brown in Germany.

She is well-known in the entertainment circles in Berlin.

“My visit here has taught me a lot. I am shocked that people here recognise the work I am doing back in Germany.

"The reception has been good and I have been playing in various entertainment spots. I plan to extend the tour to Uganda and Tanzania before I leave by the end of the month,” she said.

Using her influence, Aisha has been campaigning against human rights abuse. This, she said, is a subject close to her heart as it is the reason she went to Germany after the 2008 post-election violence.