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Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
A king of the decks in Bulawayo will be crowned on January 24, as award-winning wheel spinner Kotwane Hikwa and the most sought-after Keezy AM will battle it out on the ones and twos for the “King of the City” showdown, an initiative curated by Cotton Lounge.
DJ Nospa, who has judged numerous battles across the country, will be the moderator for the clash.
Fresh from winning the Outstanding Club DJ accolade at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA), Kotwane Hikwa has proven beyond doubt that he is the best in Bulawayo, as he has featured on almost each, and every high-profile show in the city.
On the other hand, Keezy AM is equally gifted and has played alongside dope wheel spinners, including AmaPiano’s Kabza De Small, Kelvin Momo and Prince Kaybee, to mention a few.
Kotwane said he hasn’t been involved in any battle or DJs competition in his career, which is clocking ten years. He treats the upcoming clash with utmost importance as he said this will be a turning point in his life.
“Ever since I became a DJ, I have never been involved in battles. This is my first, and I am looking forward to having a great time. I have done my research on the manner of battling, and I believe I have polished my set as I dug deep into my archives,” said Kotwane.
Keezy AM revealed that even though he is used to battles, the upcoming competition is much stiffer because he doesn’t know what to expect from the gifted Kotwane.
“I am excited to be battling my brother Kotwane, his work is amazing, and he is undoubtedly one of the finest DJs in Bulawayo. The fact that he is the reigning Outstanding Club DJ, is a sign that he means serious business.
“I know for a fact he is unpredictable, and he might take me by surprise, but I am ready for the challenge ahead of me as I have fully prepared for this clash,” said Keezy AM.
One of the organisers of the show, Mbakisi Ndlovu said the King of the City clash is a manner of giving equal opportunities to local DJs to showcase their craft.
He said after the Kotwane and Keezy AM battle, they will host other battles featuring different wheel spinners.
“We are trying to build a culture where we promote our own local DJs by not bringing in as many of these international acts. We are hoping with this King of the City battle, we will have more DJs who, after this battle, will come forward and say they want to challenge.
“After this battle, we will have other editions of the clash with a space of two months until the year ends.
The idea is to empower our local talent and capacitate them with skills to be able to handle huge crowds and functions. Before rushing for South African acts, we believe that we must give our own artistes a chance,” said Ndlovu.
Online Reporter