‘I was stalked by a woman. The police just laughed’

Legendary DJ Smokin' Jo tells of her wild and glamorous career in the 90s and 2000s - and of the 'painful' sexism, racism and violence

“Sitting around” isn’t something that Joanne Joseph has done much of in her 56 years. As a DJ, she’s travelled the world, though she says her all-time favourite club was Trade, the legendary London gay night that ran from 1990 until 2008. Even in liberal west London, life as a young black girl in the seventies was still blighted by racism. “The racists didn’t see me, didn’t see my emotions, couldn’t see how friendly, sensitive, humorous or intelligent I was. In some cases, I was just a n*****,” she writes. “The pain and hurt of that is indescribable. The daily racism I’ve endured over the years has seeped into every part of my life. Being overlooked by barmen while the white girls queuing behind me get served.

Every DJ has their groupies, so at first she didn’t pay much heed to the thirty-something woman who popped up at every venue she played, dancing enthusiastically in front of the booth and asking for selfies. “I just thought she was a fan,” says Jo. In fact, she was a stalker, with Jo going on to endure a seven year ordeal between 2009 and 2016, with little support from the police when she reported it. “She’d even turn up to gigs in different countries.

Does she think it’s easier for female DJs now? “I would hope so. I don’t know if it’s any easier in terms of getting the same fees or billing , but I think to be respected and seen is not a novelty any more. There’s more of us, as well.” She cites Honey Dijon, Teesha and Jaguar as current favourites. “There are a lot of black women out there really doing it.”

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