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DJ Cndo at Queens Sports Club recently

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
SOUTH Africa’s DJ Cndo, who was in Bulawayo for a performance at Queens Sports Club on New Year’s Eve, has expressed disappointment over the lack of female entertainers in the city, saying this will not help the growth of the music industry.

Speaking to Chronicle, the Yamnandi’nto hit-maker said she wanted to work with DJs in the city, but preferred to work with females who were, however, non-existent.

“Unfortunately, I’ve not met any female producers or artistes in the city. This is my second visit and I was hoping to meet some women.

“I’m inclined to help female DJs or artistes because I know the difficulties that they go through,” Cndo said.

Zimbabwe generally doesn’t have a lot of female DJs, save for radio personalities and Harare’s DJ Naida.

Cndo said those who were interested in working with her could contact her through social media networking sites such as Facebook.

“I’m hoping that those who are interested in working with me can contact me on Facebook or on my website. I hope something materialises,” she said.

The Durban-based muso said she was working with other female DJs in the region and expected their work to be released later on in the year.

“It’s difficult for a female entertainer to get to the top. That’s why when I go around the region, I look for talented female artistes who I can work with. I have a DJ from Botswana who I’m working with on a project which we expect to be out a few months from now,” she said.

Cndo said getting to the top wasn’t about making money but creating and maintaining a sellable brand.

“There’s a need for a lot of DJs, especially female ones, to brand themselves. When they brand themselves and develop a unique style, then they can be identified by people and that is when the money starts rolling in,” she said.

The DJ, who has a strong Christian upbringing from her parents who are members of Lutheran Church in Durban, faced challenges when she started her career as they were against her being a DJ at first.

“When my parents heard I was deejaying, they were totally surprised and were totally against it. But they have warmed up to it and now support me,” she said.

Looking ahead to the New Year, Cndo said she had plans to set up a shop and accessory line called Euphoria.

“It’s been two years since I mooted the idea to have a shop to sell my handbags in Durban. That hasn’t materialised and I’ve been selling them from the boot of my car. I will definitely open the shop this year,” she said.

Durban’s Finest identified Cndo’s talent in 2005 and invited her to join their stable where she played at most of their parties in the city. She has four albums to her name, Finest Lady of House Volumes 1-4.

In 2006, Cndo became the first black female DJ to release a house compilation in South Africa after releasing her debut album, Finest Lady of House Vol 1.