By: Lerato Mutlanyane

From the heart of Winnie Mandela Town — once known as Brandfort in the Free State — emerges Ayanda “QueenYaya” Kotoyi, a self-taught powerhouse who has spent the last ten years on the airwaves and the last four behind the decks. At just 28, she’s already a name you can’t ignore in the Afro Tech and Afro House scenes. Her journey into music and media wasn’t planned — it bloomed early. “I was in Grade 6 when I started as a radio pre senter on Youth on the Move FM in Brandfort. This was way before we knew streaming radio would become such a big deal,” she laughs. “At the time, I was also getting gigs to motivate kids my age, and I’d MC local events at clubs.” That spark soon grew into a flame. After matric, she headed to Johannes burg, where she landed her first TV appearances on SABC 1’s YoTV and DSTV’s 1Gospel. But home kept calling — she returned to pursue her studies while continuing to hone her craft at CUT FM. With each set and each mix, her name travelled further. Guest slots on Metro FM and YFM cement ed her reputation, and her sound soon reached au diences as far as Ireland and Scotland. “I always tell people I wasn’t born with DJ talent — I learned the skill and ran with it,” she says with pride. What makes QueenYaya stand out is her inde pendence. She funds her own production, man ages her bookings, and handles her schedule. “It’s tricky to find a team that understands the vision,” she admits. But she’s quick to acknowledge her roots as her anchor. “Growing up in Brandfort shaped me into the person I am. In a small town, everyone knows each other, and the spirit of Ubuntu is lived, not just spoken about.” And tomorrow, that spirit will pulse through the dance floor as QueenYaya drops her hottest Afro House beats live at IZA — a show that promises to be as bold and electric as the woman herself.