Visually impaired DJ breaks barriers in Tanzania's music scene

When the music plays and the crowd dances, few notice the DJ. But when you tip the DJ and see he is visually impaired, it’s unforgettable.

This is the experience many have with Sharifu Pinda, known as DJ Sharifu. He is Tanzania’s pioneering blind DJ, changing what’s possible in entertainment. From afar, his mixes sound flawless.

The beats are perfect, transitions are smooth, and the vibe is electric. But DJ Sharifu doesn’t read from a screen—he mixes entirely by sound.

“I lost my sight in 2012 due to retina complications,” he said. “My parents couldn’t get me early treatment, so I accepted my condition.” At that time, he was studying journalism and never expected to become a DJ.

His breakthrough came in 2021 during an internship at a community radio station. “One day my colleagues didn’t show up. I had to handle the program myself,” he explained. He realized he needed to learn music to succeed in broadcasting.

With curiosity and courage, he learned DJing through online tutorials. He began uploading mixes on social media and gained attention for his talent and resilience.

DJ Sharifu uses a screen reader called Nonvisual Desktop Access (NVDA). This program reads menus and song titles aloud for him to operate complex software.

“The program guides me through different functions,” he said. “But more than anything, it’s my ears that do the work.”

Unlike most DJs, DJ Sharifu relies on memory and feel instead of visuals. “I have a mental library of over 1,000 songs,” he shared. “I know how to pair them based on tempo and mood.”

He believes being blind has heightened his musical sensitivity. “A blind DJ gives you 100 percent audio precision,” he added. “Our mixes are balanced; the crowd can feel the difference.”

However, challenges remain for him as well. His screen reader sometimes struggles with DJ software features.

“There are times it won’t detect certain features,” he said. “So I’ve had to adapt a lot.”

Another challenge is access to professional equipment. “I wish I had my own gear,” he expressed. “I’d love to mentor others one by one.”

His dream is to open a training center for people with visual impairments. This space would provide accessible tools and empower aspiring DJs.

“There are many blind youths with talent who need a chance,” he stated. He wants to help them become professional DJs at big events across Tanzania.

DJ Sharifu's message is clear: “Believe in us! Give us a platform; we’ll show you what we can do.”

Indeed, DJ Sharifu isn’t just playing music—he’s rewriting what’s possible.