DJ AXE CLLUSIVE WINS MXD DJ SEARCH AFTER NATIONWIDE HUNT FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S NEXT BIG TALENT

From underground decks to one of the world’s biggest stages, the MXD DJ Search on the Road To Ultra spotlights new generation shaping South Africa’s electronic music scene

After an electrifying nationwide search that attracted hundreds of entries from across South Africa, the MXD DJ Search culminated in Johannesburg last night, with Cape Town DJ Axe Cllusive announced as the competition’s inaugural champion. 

Standing out among a fiercely competitive group of finalists, DJ Axe Cllusive (real name Xolisa Willie) delivered a set that blended Afro House and Amapiano with confidence and originality, earning top honours from a heavyweight judging panel that included 5fm’s Kyle Cassim, YFM’s Hype, and DJs MÖRDA and DWSON.

The win secures DJ Axe Cllusive a career-defining opportunity: a live performance slot at the country’s biggest dance event, Ultra South Africa 2026, on April 26, as well as mentorship with Bridges for Music academy and a year-long ambassadorship with MXD.

 A Finale Charged with Energy

The high-energy finale, held at The Naked Woolf in Johannesburg, marked the culmination of a multi-city journey that saw aspiring DJs from across the country step up and showcase their sound. From Pretoria to Cape Town, Durban to Johannesburg, the competition tapped into a new wave of talent, each bringing their own identity, influence, and interpretation of South Africa’s evolving electronic music scene.

The finale event brought the nationwide search to a powerful close, with standout performances from MORDA, DWSON and Champuru Makhenzo, alongside the finalists themselves, including Axe Cllusive and runners-up, Afro House/Tech DJ Mad Braul from Johannesburg and Gqom duo Mad Buddies from Durban.

Beyond the result, the MXD DJ Search on the Road To Ultra has positioned itself as a credible pipeline for emerging music talent, reinforcing South Africa’s role as a global force within the electronic dance music genre