Video discussion: Opportunities for women in music

The panel was moderated by Jude Clark, an artist manager and digital strategist based in Nairobi, Kenya. The panellists included Association of DJs East Africa founder Jacqueline Mugo (DJ Shock), Cultural Stopovers founder Wanny Angerer, Kenyan singer Phy Ng’etich, executive member of the New York-headquartered Women in Music Andrea DaSilva and Kenya Conservatoire of Music director Wandiri Karimi.

The panellists spoke about the various strategies that each of them had employed to succeed in the industry. They listed travel, inspiration, education and multitasking as some of the major elements responsible for their successes.

The discussion also veered into what holds women back. “I am a guitarist. For the longest time I was a guitarist in a band and everyone would ask whether I was a singer,” Wandiri said while commenting on prescribed gender roles.

DJ Shock said: “Women in the industry have to work twice as hard to be considered half as good. Women have to negotiate harder for similar opportunities as men. I don’t understand why women are regarded as hobbyist as opposed to men who are regarded as professionals and easily paid their worth.”

The panellists also discussed the culture of silence as a major setback for female professionals as well as what needs to change in the future.

Watch to the full discussion below: