Stephen Ogonda, popularly known as DJ Kryptic, was recently crowned as the first-ever regional champion of the Smirnoff Battle of The Beats DJ Competition, representing the Mountain region. Launched in October, this competition, designed to unearth the country’s top-tier DJs, serves as a vital platform supporting and nurturing emerging talent within the DJ community.
Ogonda’s outstanding skills captivated the hearts of consumers, securing him the coveted title through their votes.
As Smirnoff TM embarks on a nationwide quest over the next six months, the competition will traverse five regions, namely Mountain, Nyanza, Nairobi, Coast, and the Rift. Here, DJs will fiercely contend for the prestigious title of Smirnoff Battle of the Beat (SBOB) Season 3 champion.
Ogonda, now crowned as the Mountain region’s champion, walked away with a 2TB Hard Drive, Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 Headphones, a Smirnoff Hoodie and Shirt, a Black ice six-pack as well as the chance to battle it out in the ultimate finals where winners from all five regions will face off.
Jonathan Ruto, KBL’s Shopper Manager for Smirnoff, expressed heartfelt enthusiasm during the official winner award ceremony, stating, “We’ve witnessed an abundance of talent over the past two months, from auditions to the present. We extend our gratitude to each DJ who participated and offer our heartfelt congratulations to DJ Kryptic on his triumph as the Mountain region winner. This victory underscores the commitment of Smirnoff Battle of The Beats to elevate and celebrate exceptional talent within the Kenyan DJing community. As a brand, we are proud to play a pivotal role in supporting and amplifying the art of DJing in Kenya.”
This victory marks a significant milestone in DJ Kryptic’s career and underscores the commitment of Smirnoff TM to elevate and celebrate the exceptional talent within the Kenyan DJing community. The journey continues as the search for the next DJ sensation unfolds, promising an exhilarating showcase of musical skill and creativity across the diverse landscapes of Kenya.
The competition now heads to the Nyanza region with the 1st round of auditions set to take place on the 3rd of December at Black Pearl. To participate, DJs are urged to upload their electrifying 2–5-minute DJing performance on Instagram or Facebook, tagging @smirnoffke and using the hashtags #WeDoWe where the competition’s judges will then select the top 20 who will proceed to battle it out live on TV.
