Esther Nakhanu Kutolo, professionally known as KeyJay The Deejay, recently emerged triumphant as the Smirnoff Battle of the Beats DJ competition, Rift Region winner. Nakhanu battled it out against sixteen other contestants, showcasing exceptional skills and electrifying performances to claim the top spot.
Geejoe The Deejay and DJ Blackspin secured the second and third positions respectively, in the competition.
The Smirnoff Battle of the Beats DJ competition is an initiative of the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) to unearth the country’s top-tier DJs. Serving as a platform for nurturing emerging talent within the DJ community, the competition symbolizes EABL’s commitment to promote creativity and innovation in Kenya’s music scene.
After crowning the Rift Valley region winner, the competition will now move to the Coast region, with the first round of auditions scheduled for early June. Other winners are DJ Insta and DJ Kryptic from the Central and Lake Victoria regions respectively. The final round will be Nairobi region, after which all the five winners representing different regions will battle it out for the ultimate top spot, scheduled to take place later this year.
To participate, DJs are urged to upload a 2–5-minute performance on Instagram or Facebook, tagging @smirnoffke and using the hashtags #WeDoWe. The competition’s judges will then select the top 20 who will proceed to battle it outlive on TV.
Speaking during the crowning ceremony, Smirnoff Shopper Manager, Jonathan Ruto said, “The Smirnoff Battle of the Beats DJ competition is a celebration of talent and creativity, embodying EABL’s commitment to supporting the vibrant music culture in Kenya. We are thrilled to witness the exceptional performances and look forward to DJ representing the Rift region in the ultimate finals.”
This is the 3rd edition of Smirnoff Battle of The Beats DJ competition.