JOHANNESBURG — At first it seems like a fluke — a 2-year-old playing with the knobs and buttons of a sophisticated music system. Yet, the tiny boy is in control of the big beat of the bass-heavy house music. He is South Africa’s youngest disc jockey, DJ AJ.

At a shopping mall appearance, a crowd gathers around the young boy as he bops his head to the beat, his large headphones slipping off. Adults whip out their cellphones to capture the moment.

Oratilwe Hlongwane is still learning to put together words, but the toddler is already able to select and play music from a laptop and has become a viral phenomenon on South Africa’s social media.

His newfound fame has brought special appearances and sponsorship deals. But celebrity has also brought some criticism as some accused his parents of abuse and profiting from their child’s precocious ability.

Glen Hlongwane and Refiloe Marumo are adamant that they will not force their son to be a DJ when he grows up, but say they think his affinity for electronic equipment will probably decide his future.