One of the aspects of entertainment is Deejaying (DJ). This is an individual who not only plays music, but is able to mix and control the sound according to the mood. This can be in clubs, at wedding parties and other functions. A DJ is crucial. One of the country’s renowned DJs DJ Mighty Virus sat down in this interview with our News Analyst BRIAN ITAI to discuss about the art of being a DJ and more: Excerpts:
Q: What does being a DJ mean to you?
A: Being a DJ is like painting with sound. It is the magic I found the first time I sneaked into a small Lilongwe studio as a teenager. Every record I spin carries a piece of Malawi: the deep pulse of gulewamkulu drums, laughter from village gatherings and the spark of new Afrobeats tracks. It is my chance to turn silence into celebration, to watch strangers become friends under one rhythm and to share our story with every beat.
Q: What are the demands of the DeeJaying trade?
A: Being a DJ in Malawi means wearing every hat—music curator, tech wizard, live performer, promoter and road warrior—all at once. You spend hours digging for kwasakwasa vibes, Afrobeat bangers and the hottest Amapiano drops, then load heavy decks, mixers and cables over pothole-ridden roads. You learn to rig generators when the grid fails, patch soundboards on the fly and read a crowd’s every move to drop that perfect transition. Offstage, you negotiate with promoters, craft social-media buzz, send press kits and chase bookings. And then comes the misadventures: sudden blackouts forcing you to mix by phone flashlight, rain storms threatening to fry your decks at open-air gigs, frayed cables cutting out mid-set, stolen USB sticks erasing your carefully built playlist and the grind of late nights paired with dawn-time call-ups. Every setback tests your grit, but when the base hits just right and bodies flood the dance floor, you know every hurdle sharpened you for that unforgettable moment.
Q: You are the lead coordinator of the Mighty Virus Jam Sessions. What does this platform offer to fun lovers?
A: Jam Sessions started in a small Blantyre warehouse and have grown into a musical playground for anyone hungry to learn and dance. Here, fans lean over my turntables, spark remix battles and watch local producers share beats alongside guest DJs from Kenya, South Africa and beyond. Each session blends home-grown soul with continental flair, giving everyone a chance to jump in, swap samples and leave buzzing with new friends and fresh inspiration.
Q: What initiatives are you undertaking to expand the platform?
A: From the moment I dropped my first beat in Lilongwe, I have believed music can heal and now we are making every event a force for good. We are engaging community leaders, mental health advocates and forward-thinking companies. So, each Jam Session and festival drop brings real impact. One moment you are dancing under the stars, the next you are learning stress-busting tips or helping fund university scholarships. We don’t just want people to have fun, socialise, drink and mingle. We want every bass hit to echo out into society, shining light on mental health, easing tuition burdens and sparking change.
Q: What unique things will this festival bring?
A: Imagine dancing to fresh beats as dawn breaks over Lake Malawi from a floating DJ booth. You will relax in hand-woven hammocks and watch live art come to life, all crafted by local Malawian artists. Every bite of chambo and nsima comes from women-led village co-ops, so your meal sends income back into families. In our circle of change tent, artists, mental health advocates and scholarship students share stories that light the way to a brighter future. Explore colorful craft stalls, book eco-lodge stays or join guided village walks—each dollar you spend boosts local businesses, grows tourism and plants seeds of hope for our communities.
Q: What is your view of Malawi’s entertainment business at the moment?
A: I see our entertainment scene blossoming into a powerful engine for economic growth and tourism. Every new festival, club night and open-air concert brings visitors who fill hotel beds, dine in local restaurants and buy crafts from village markets. When international travellers choose our lakeside music events, they boost ferry rides, eco-lodge bookings and guided village tours, putting money into small businesses from Mangochi to Mulanje. Sure, we still juggle spotty power and tight sponsorships, but each successful show proves our capacity to draw crowds, create jobs for sound engineers, caterers, artisans and spark investment in better venues. With stronger partnerships between promoters, government and tourism boards, Malawi’s creative pulse is set to become a major draw for travellers and a lasting contributor to our national economy.
