Former Colombian President Iván Duque, who led the country from 2018 to 2022, has recently been making headlines for an unexpected new pursuit: a career as a DJ.
Videos circulating on social media show Duque behind the turntables, in a t-shirt labeled “DJ DUQ,” as he mixes music at public events.
Duque made his DJ debut earlier this year at a gathering in Cartagena celebrating young entrepreneurs. The event was part of a leadership bootcamp organized by the Fundación Innovación para el Desarrollo, which brought together over 150 young leaders from across Colombia.
@candelaestereo ¡Iván Duque cambió los discursos por los beats! El expresidente sorprendió a todos al mostrarse como DJ en un evento privado. ️ Míralo aquí y dinos qué opinas. #familiacandela #candelaestereo #williamvinascoshow #candela #actualidad #ivánduque ♬ sonido original – Candela Estéreo
Duque’s participation was spontaneous and voluntary, aimed at connecting with youth involved in social innovation and local development projects. He played a selection of reggaeton and electronic tracks.
Before this musical turn, Duque was a prominent figure in Colombian politics as the leader of the conservative Democratic Centre Party. His presidency was marked by significant controversy, especially regarding human rights.
Critics accused his administration of tolerating excessive force by security forces against activists, notably during the 2021 national strike. Human rights organizations also condemned his failure to adequately address violence against social activists, many of whom faced threats from illegal mining and drug trafficking groups.
By the end of his term, an estimated 945 activists had been killed, a grim statistic that sparked protests internationally, including in London where Duque was labelled a “murderer” by demonstrators[1].
Since leaving office, Duque has engaged in academic and international work related to climate change, sustainable development, and social innovation, collaborating with institutions like Oxford, Yale, and Cornell.
His DJ activities appear to be more of a personal hobby and a way to foster informal connections with younger generations rather than a full-fledged career shift.
@ingridromero10 Que probabilidad hay ye el expresidente de un país se vuelva DJ? Jajaja solo en Colombia tenemos ese Pokémon #humor #noticias #ivanduquedj #ivanduque #colombianos #colombia #humorcolombiano #storytelling #colombianosenelexterior #colombianosenusa #parati #fyp ♬ sonido original – Ingrid Romero
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