Celebrating 20 years in the Kenyan entertainment industry, renowned actress, events host, and DJ Pierra Makena has shared her challenging journey to the top of the Kenyan showbiz world.
Pierra made her mark as the first female Kenyan DJ to thrive in the male-dominated field, starting as a radio DJ when the profession was still in its infancy in Kenya. By the time she chose to pursue DJing, she was already an established TV and radio presenter, having begun her career at KBC.
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At 43, she reflects on the hardships she endured, including verbal abuse and sexual advances, as she competed with male DJs. “I went through hell. I was called a whore, a stripper, simply because I performed in clubs. The drama was overwhelming, reaching my parents, who even asked me to quit. The church also had its objections,” she says.
As the only female DJ in a largely male field, Pierra notes that her presence intimidated male DJs. Some even approached her, advising her to leave the industry. “When it came to gender-based considerations, I often got the job, as I was the only woman in the scene. The more gigs I secured, the more money I made, which led to rumors that I was sleeping with people to get work, despite not being seen as a better DJ by them. I still have messages from those who spread these lies to push me out of the business,” she shares.
Pierra recalls how some DJs would directly tell her that being a woman in the field wasn’t suitable for her. “They would say, ‘There are no female DJs. This isn’t your space.'”
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However, Pierra remained resolute. “I was determined to stay. The more club gigs I took on, the more my confidence grew. Soon, I was landing concert gigs. Going commercial in 2013—where I solely relied on DJing for income—was my way of showing other women they could succeed in this industry without compromising themselves for opportunities. No one can say I slept with them to get a DJ job. I have always stood firm in my principles,” she asserts.
Before going commercial, Pierra worked at Scanad Group, a marketing agency, but left the job to fully focus on her DJ career.
