College dropout wins DJs contest

Rising star DJ Irvinex, born Irvine Zvikomborero Maponga, has been making waves in the music industry since he was just 10 years old.

Inspired by his older brother Enos Maponga, Irvinex, who hails from Mutare, embarked on his journey as a DJ by accompanying his brother who was a DJ, to shows and events, eventually gaining recognition from the public.

“I was inspired by my brother Enos Maponga, who used to make mixtapes. I started practicing with him and learnt a lot.

When I was in Grade 7, I began going to his shows and helping him out by playing music. He noticed my passion and gave me a chance to play for an audience. They loved my style,and I started to develop a following.

“I snuck out at night to play at clubs, where I gained experience and recognition for my talent. People began hiring me to play at weddings and parties. The crowds were responsive to my beats and I was enjoying myself,” he said.

It was not until Irvinex completed his O-level education that he decided to pursue deejaying full-time.

“After finishing high school, I started practicing as a DJ. I would play at local shops like TM Chikango and Club Fellas (in Mutare). The owner of Club Fellas, impressed by my talent, opened a bigger club called Club Rio. I didn’t play alone at these venues, but alongside my brother Mazvita, who goes by the stage name DJ Mwm,” said Maponga.

While studying at Polytechnic, he found it increasingly difficult to balance his academic commitments with his passion for music, leading him to make the tough decision of dropping out of school.

“I had to drop out of college, where I was studying marketing, to focus on my career as a DJ. Balancing both school and music was difficult and I eventually decided to prioritise music.”

However, his mother urged him to return to his studies and leave behind his deejaying aspirations. Irvinex took a break from his music career and enrolled in school once again.

“I stopped playing for a very long time that till now, I don’t have a certain club that I go and play at,” he said.

But as fate would have it, the DJ registered to compete at the inaugural Carling Black Label DJ Clash competition which was launched by Delta Corporation Limited last year. Over 250 DJs countrywide registered to compete and DJ Irvinex outshone them all, emerging as the winner at the national finals held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo last month.

This was the DJ’s most significant milestone in his career. The competition was fierce, and Irvinex admitted feeling nervous as many of his fellow DJs possessed superior equipment.

“On December 22, the day of the competition, I was full of nerves and self-doubt. As a young and relatively unknown DJ, I didn’t have the best equipment. Most DJs that were there had very good controllers, which only added to my insecurity. I was about to chicken out when it was my turn to perform, but I had to gather my strength.

“To my surprise, my first, second, and third rounds were a hit. The crowd loved my set, and my confidence grew with each song. I think my set list of ghetto songs made me win in the finals,” said DJ Irvinex.

Expressing his gratitude, DJ Irvinex thanked Carling Black Label for the opportunity they provided and all the services they offered. He also acknowledged the invaluable lessons he learnt from the other DJs present at the competition.

“Being a DJ or winning doesn’t mean I am the best. There are some things that I learned from all the 24 DJs that performed that day and some of the things I’m practicing them so that I apply them when I attend shows,” said a grateful DJ Irvinex.

“I just want to thank Black Label for this opportunity. My dream is coming true because of them (Delta Corporation Limited),” he added.

For his efforts, DJ Irvinex walked away with prize money of US$3 000, a MacBook laptop, a studio monitor, a DJ controller, a set of headphones and a cordless microphone.

Looking ahead, Irvinex’s ultimate goal is to secure a sponsor who can support his deejaying career. With the right backing, he believes he can reach new heights and continue to make a significant impact in the music industry.