"We Can't Work With You, You're A Single Mother" – DJ Pierra Makena | Iko Nini 766

Episode 766 🎧 DJ Pierra Makena pulls up to Iko Nini! Twenty-two years ago she was one of the first YFM newsreaders. Today she's one of Kenya's biggest female DJs, an actress and a single mum, and she holds nothing back. She lost her job and her dad in the same year, battled depression, moved to Namibia, came back to work in advertising, then taught herself to DJ on radio when there were almost no female DJs. She talks about the trolls ("people hired Twitter bots to trend against me"), the client who told her "we can't work with you because you're a single mother", and why she would NEVER take a man to court for child support. Then it gets spicy: marriage as a "contract", cheating, ageism at 45, and why she's ditching ChatGPT for Claude 😂 On this episode: 📻 YFM in 2006: the day they were shown the door 🖤 Losing her dad and depression, then a fresh start in Namibia 🎚️ How she started DJing and who taught her 🐦 Paid Twitter bots, "she's naked" and the people who tried to stop her 🏉 Playing the Rugby Sevens to 35,000 people in Australia 💰 Exclusive parties, weddings and why she doesn't mingle at gigs 📱 Serato on iPhone: DJing with just a phone 👶 Single motherhood: "I wouldn't take a man to court for child support" 🚫 "We can't work with you because you're a single mother" 🎬 The Drop, ageism and club owners who just don't like you 💍 Marriage, contracts and cheating: "if I'm not happy, I'm not staying" 🤖 AI movies, Claude vs ChatGPT and Gen Z Is child support court the right move, or should a mum go it alone? Tell us in the comments 👇 SIGN UP ON LemFi using the IKONINI referral code, click on this link https://referral.lemonade.finance/invite/jmbLoTGSeDjjrCQa9 Iko Nini is a Kenya podcast that covers everything Kenyan entertainment, politics & social issues SUPPORT IKO NINI THROUGH CASHAPP $IKONINI BECOME A MEMBER FOR EARLY ACCESS & EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5h4-WH0LAV4CWs380yM33A/join CHAPTERS 0:00 Coming up 1:00 Welcome DJ Pierra Makena 1:23 From YFM newsreader to DJ 2:41 Leaving YFM in 2006 3:42 Losing her dad the same year 4:23 "When you're in your 20s, 40s seem old" 6:30 Ageism is rougher on women 9:00 What changed from her 20s to her 40s 11:16 Trolls: "you're too old to be in the club" 13:06 Life after news: acting 14:00 Depression, a breakup and a move to Namibia 17:30 Namibia: 1.5x Kenya with 3 million people 19:33 Coming home: Scangroup and Ogilvy 21:00 Begging for ads vs the internet era 25:05 1FM and the start of DJing 26:30 The first DJ who taught her 28:00 "She's naked": the critics 29:42 "People hired Twitter bots to trend against me" 30:34 Mainstream in 2012 31:30 "Create your own spot" 33:00 Exclusive parties and why they pay well 35:55 Weddings and song requests 36:33 Rugby Sevens in Australia: 35,000 people 40:09 Shows in the US 41:45 LemFi: £10/€10 cashback on your first transfer 43:00 Her signature style on stage 44:40 Advice to upcoming female DJs 46:30 Corporate crowds vs club crowds 46:46 Is it harder as a female DJ? 48:37 Serato on iPhone: DJing with a phone 49:45 Why she listens to Gen Z 51:19 Being a mum and a DJ 54:17 Praying for her daughter 54:47 Becoming a single mother 56:49 Single motherhood isn't what people think 57:03 "I wouldn't take a man to court for child support" 57:54 "You're speaking from privilege" 59:35 Moving to Limuru with a newborn 1:03:30 Back to DJing two months after giving birth 1:04:53 The Drop, and ageism in clubs 1:07:05 Club owners who just don't like you 1:10:17 Stop focusing on the negative 1:11:20 Waking up to hate as a podcaster 1:12:44 Crabs in a barrel 1:16:04 My Diaspora Nexus 1:16:41 "I'm done sucking up" 1:17:55 "We can't work with you, you're a single mother" 1:19:37 Marriage and DJing: can they mix? 1:21:44 "I won't marry if I know I'll divorce" 1:22:52 Cheating: "I'm not staying" 1:24:30 Why sign a contract? "We are partners, we are happy" 1:28:00 "You've never looked at another chick?" 1:31:41 Men and temptation 1:33:18 How the internet changed relationships 1:36:20 "Don't be shocked if I invite you to my wedding" 1:37:04 Should she marry a DJ? 1:38:38 Fragile egos and your past coming back 1:39:58 Acting: films and series 1:41:20 AI movies: can AI act? 1:44:08 "I don't even mess with ChatGPT": Claude 1:45:43 Are we giving AI too much data? 1:48:50 "Gen Z: the most repressed generation" 1:50:30 Age, wisdom and advice #IkoNini #PierraMakena #DJPierraMakena #SingleMother #KenyanPodcast #KenyanDJ #Kenya #Nairobi