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UP-AND-COMING: TanZzanite

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WOMEN DJs are steadily making their presence felt in the South African entertainment industry by serving their own brand of music.

The ladies are mixing, cooking and serving the nation their own recipes.

So overwhelming is the need for a woman in the house that there are women-only institutes which train them to excel in their craft.

Already, there is The Firm Understanding of Sound Entertainment, owned by DJ Zinhle, Divas on Decks - owned by Lady Lea - and the Sound of Sounds Academy, among others.

DJ Zinhle has already reassured her fans that she is here to stay with her latest single My Name Is.

Another female DJ who has taken the music industry by storm is Noni aka Ms Cosmo Wraxa. Noni says the music industry in South Africa, like most other industries, is male-dominated.

But she is quick to add: "The ladies are coming up with their own sound and are steadily closing the gap.

"With academies dedicated to training female DJs sprouting up all over the country, parity will easily be achieved in the next five to 10 years."

The Hip-Hop DJ adds that she knows a couple of female DJs who are already making it big on the national music scene.

Thandi Nxumalo, who goes by the stage name, TanZzanite , is one of them, says Noni.

TanZzanite joined Divas on Decks after winning auditions that introduced her to the industry nationally.

"I have now been playing professionally for the past three months but I actually started playing about a year ago," says TanZzanite.

The second-year psychology student at the University of Johannesburg is proud to have played alongside the internationally recognised DJ Harrison Crump.

"The experience of playing with DJ Harrison Crump was simply mind-blowing. It has done wonders for my confidence," she says.

Pilzy Lee got the opportunity to study sound engineering in 2009 and has never looked back. Lee is now a renowned producer and has compiled a "club mix" for a Brooklyn-based group.

"I am not rigid in my approach and I continually redefine myself in this ever-changing industry.

"I hope to work with the likes of Tumi and the Volume and Simphiwe Dana, among others. Their music is flexible, mesmerising and has lots of energy," says Lee.

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Thu May 23 13:21:27 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 15, 2012

mathopeed

Goodluck bo cherry, this is your time to shine, break the masculinity tendency. Male domination stereotypical time is over.
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Aug 15, 2012

tpaz

finish your degrees please
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Aug 15, 2012

Tabza325is

@mathopeed, please guy don't act as if man have been stopping woman from becoming DJs and wanting to dominate it forever. It's up to women to get off thier lazy @sses and become something in this world, with gender equality no one is standing in their way, I work in IT and so far I only know one female who works withing the same department as I do, most woman shai away from such Jobs not because we are standing in their way and trying to dominate the industry but simply as a matter of choice, fear or lazyness., stereotypical my gaat....
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Aug 16, 2012

BOO07

you go gals
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