LOCAL DJs are in the run for a regional disc-jockeying competition, Jam Africa 09, slated for Angola in February next year.

To battle for the honour of representing the country at the regional showcase, 15 disc-jockeys from Harare are expected to lock horns in a semi-final to be held at Soul City Club in Greencroft on Wednesday.

The semi-final was initially scheduled for last Friday at Waterworld but failed to take place due to wet weather.

Another semi-final was held in Bulawayo where five DJs namely Stone, Slammer, Kead Wicked, TZ (Uthandizinto) and Mark Vusani outclassed 10 others to book places in the national final that is expected to take place in Gweru next month.

The Harare semi-final will also produce five finalists to make the national final, which will be a battle of 10 DJs. The national champion will walk away with a full DJ kit.

Only two top DJs at the national final will make it to the regional showcase in Angola where five countries namely South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe would square up.

The winner of the regional contest is expected to pocket R75 000 and a DJ kit worth R25 000.

All regional participants would be featured on a compilation album.

Regional competition co-ordinator Nqobizitha Mkandla who is based in Pretoria, South Africa said he was impressed by the overwhelming response from local DJs.

"We only wanted 15 DJs per each semi-final but the response was great. Bigger numbers turned up for registration and we had to enlist contestants on a first-come-first-served basis," Mkandla said.

"It was unfortunate that the rains spoiled the day when the competition was supposed to be held last Friday but we are confident that it will go on come Wednesday because Soul City is an indoor venue.

"We have also chosen that club because of its inclination towards soul and rap music, which are popular with most local DJs.

"The venue also has the aura that goes with such a contest."

He said Soul City resident DJs who include DJ Munya, TK, Storm, Dark Child, Lazy T and Emily Smooth would come in as guest selectors at the contest.

Mkandla, who is in the country for the programme, said regional preliminaries had already been held in some provinces in SA while other countries were also doing their preparatory competitions.