At More Branches, one of our objectives remains championing underrepresented groups and voices, as well as introducing the New and Next. We don’t just do so with our editorial work, these ethos are reflected in our offline events – like Offbeat Live with Village Sound System or Faaji Repete, our Afrocentric DJ rave based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Over here, DJs don’t get enough credit or the attention they deserve, it’s even worse for female counterparts who are defying the norms and challenging statusquo as they demand their rightful place in the fast growing entertainment scene.
‘Assurance’ is a new documentary conceived by Juba, a British-Nigerian DJ based in Berlin who is also the co-founder of Boko! Boko! – a collective that works towards increased female representation in DJ booths and show lineups. The 35 minutes film documents the experiences of 3 female DJs in Nigeria: Sensei Lo, DJ Yin and DJ Ayizan, highlighting the challenges each DJ faces as they navigate Nigeria’s societal expectations and the gender issues within the local music scene.
Going to Lagos and immersing myself in conversation with the three DJs exposed me to a different set of narratives in a totally new, often ignored context. Stories like theirs are necessary for enriching and broadening the conversation around women in music and prove the importance of wider representation when discussing issues that are relevant to people all over the world.
Juba told OkayAfrica in an interview.
Watch the full documentary here:
