DJs 'bigger than singers'

16 April 2013 - 02:47 By ANDILE NDLOVU
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South African DJs make more money, and have bigger profiles, than singers - at least that's the view of the organisers of the inaugural African Global DJ Awards.

Stronghold Entertainment, Stats Media and Kollertunz have partnered to launch the awards, a South African first.

The May 4 ceremony, to be hosted by Ugandan hip-hop star Navio and local TV presenter Lerato Kganyago, will be held in Sandton, Johannesburg.

The show's producer and one of the organisers, George Beke, said yesterday: "DJs are celebrities here [South Africa], and are being paid more than the artists themselves in some instances, so we thought we should recognise them.

"We also realised that a lot of artists are being powered by DJs - they actually play the songs and make them hits."

Surprisingly, double nominee Euphonik, real name Themba Nkosi, said he was "not moved" by the nod. He is nominated as best kwaito or house music DJ and as best Southern African DJ.

"To be brutally honest, I'm not moved. I think until I can see how winning an award changes someone's career path, it makes no sense to be excited about something that leaves you in the same position you were in yesterday, and the only difference to your life is a few rands and a trophy," he said.

Gareth Cliff, nominated alongside Kenya's DJ Joe Mfalme, Ghana's DJ Black, Nigerians DJ Xclusive and DJ Caise, and another local in Glen Lewis, in the best radio DJ category, had a different opinion.

"Absolutely [we need such awards]. Radio is part of people's lives and recognising those people who are part of our daily commute feels right to me.

''I also think everyone in the entertainment business will agree that radio often gets pushed aside," said Cliff.

Beke admitted that staging the awards was proving pricey, but said: "It's something we need to do right, so that it can stand. Most of the sponsors, too, are not sure because it's the first time, so they're dragging their feet."

Tickets for the awards ceremony range between R100 and R200 for VIP seats.

Six hundred tickets are being sold, with another 400 reserved for invited guests and media.

The nominees for the African Global DJ Awards:

BEST AFRICAN DJ

  • DJ ALY AND FILA (EGYPT)
  • DJ FRESH (SOUTH AFRICA)
  • DJ XCLUSIVE (NIGERIA)
  • DJ CRÈME DE LA CRÈME (KENYA)
  • DJ BLACK (GHANA)
  • DJ OSKIDO (SOUTH AFRICA)

BEST DJ MIXTAPE

  • DJ MIC SMITH (GHANA)
  • DJ NEPTUNE (NIGERIA)
  • DJ DEE MONEY (NIGERIA/USA)
  • DJ WAXY (SOUTH AFRICA)
  • DJ TBOE TOUCH (SOUTH AFRICA)
  • DJ KAYWISE (NIGERIA)

BEST CLUB DJ

  • DJ FLAVA (NIGERIA/ML)
  • DJ ZIMO (NIGERIA/USA)
  • DJ SHIRU (UGANDA)
  • DJ SPINALL (NIGERIA)
  • DJ WAXY (SOUTH AFRICA)
  • DJ KILLA FINGERS (GHANA)

BEST RADIO DJ

  • DJ JOE MFALME (KENYA)
  • DJ GARETH CLIFF (SOUTH AFRICA)
  • DJ BLACK (GHANA)
  • DJ XCLUSIVE (NIGERIA)
  • DJ CAISE (NIGERIA)
  • DJ GLEN LEWIS (SOUTH AFRICA)

BEST TV DJ

  • DJ VINNIE (NIGERIA)
  • DJ CLEO (SOUTH AFRICA)
  • DJ SHABSY (NIGERIA)
  • DJ BILLI OCEAN (GHANA)

BEST ARTIST / BAND DJ

  • DJ TUNEZ (NIGERIA / AWON BOYZ)
  • DJ SPINALL (NIGERIA/MAVIN)
  • DJ XCLUSIVE (NIGERIA/EME)
  • DJ MENSA (GHANA/SAKORDIE)
  • DJ NEPTUNE (NIGERIA/NAETO C)

BEST AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL DJ (FOR AFRICAN DJS NOT RESIDENT IN AFRICA)

  • DJ ABASS (NG/UK)
  • DJ AFOO (NG/US)
  • DJ DEE MONEY (NG/US)
  • DJ GABE (NG/UK)
  • DJ ABRANTEE (GH/UK)
  • DJ RONNIE (GH/US)

BEST GLOBAL DJ (FOR NON-AFRICAN DJS)

  • DJ KHALED
  • DJ ENUFF
  • ­DAVID GUETTA
  • DJ DEADMAUS
  • SKRILLEX
  • TIËSTO

 

BEST AFRO HIP POP/HIP HOP MUSIC DJ

  • DJ WAXY (SA)
  • DJ HUMILITY (NG)
  • DJ XCLUSIVE (NG)
  • DJ CAISE (NG)
  • DJ TOMMY (NG)
  • DJ MISTER

BEST KWAITO OR HOUSE MUSIC DJ

  • DJ FRESH (SA)
  • DJ EUPHONIK (SA)
  • DJ KENT (SA)
  • DJ LULO CAFÉ (SA)
  • DJ FISTAZ (SA)
  • DJ GLEN LEWIS (SA)

BEST EASTERN AFRICAN DJ

  • DJ CRÈME DE LA CRÈME (KENYA)
  • DJ ALUDAH (UGANDA)
  • DJ JOE MFALME (KENYA)
  • DJ KUMI (KENYA)
  • DJ DONNACCIA (KENYA)
  • DJ JAHAWI (KENYA)

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN DJ

  • DJ GESHGROOVE (ZM)
  • DJ EUPHONIK (SA)
  • DJ NAVES (SA)
  • NAKED DJ (SA)
  • DJ BLACK COFFEE (SA)
  • DJ SIZWE DLOMO (SA)

BEST WESTERN AFRICAN DJ

  • DJ BLACK (GH)
  • DJ NEPTUNE (NG)
  • DJ XCLUSIVE (NG)
  • DJ CAISE (NG)
  • DJ MIXMASTER BROWN (NG)
  • DJ HUMILITY (NG)

BEST NORTHERN AFRICAN DJ

  • DJ ALY AND FILA (EG)
  • DJ CARLOS (EG)
  • DJ AMINE AKESBI (MRC)
  • DJ NOOR EDGE (TUN)
  • DJ FEEDO (EG)
  • DJ AKM (AL)

 BEST FEMALE DJ

  • DJ NANA (NG)
  • DJ PIECES (NG/US)
  • DJ LAMBO (NG)
  • DJ KESS (GH)
  • DJ CNDO (SA)
  • DJ SOUPAMODEL (NG/US)

 BEST FRANCOPHONE DJ

  • DJ HI-FA (BN)
  • DJ COOL (BF)
  • DJ KOKOB (ET)
  • DJ MULUKU (IC)
  • DJ PHILO (IC)
  • DJ JAKE (BN)
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