By Rorisang Modiba
Joy Steffens, known as Mamabearsteffs, took up deejaying following the tragic death of her son, Dylan, who passed away from liver cancer at just 22 years of age.
Dylan aspired to be a DJ and music producer, and after he died in 2016 before realising his ambitions, Joy decided to honour his memory by embracing his passion for music.
In 2018, at the age of 64, she enrolled at the Pioneer Deejay School and began her career as a DJ.
“Listening to music brought immense healing to the pain in my heart,” Joy told the Citizen. “When I got to the deejay school … I felt an incredible sense of belonging. I realised this is what I needed to do to keep Dylan’s dream alive.
“I literally broke down in tears and thought, if only Dylan could be here to see this.”
Joy calls herself Mamabearsteffs because she is a Mamabear, and her son’s nickname was Steffs.
Although he hadn’t reached the big time, the 22-year-old was already making a name for himself in the DJ world.
“He did a mix on 5FM one night when Fix Moeti was still there. He didn’t even tell me, and when I turned around in bed, I heard her say, ‘We have Djsteffs in the mix’,” Mamabearsteffs said.
Pictured above: Mamabearsteffs.
Image source: X
