Artists such as Eazy-E and Jean Grae [click to read] have respectively kept the topics of AIDS and South Africa relevant in Hip Hop's collective consciousness. As the United States celebrates Thanksgiving on Thursday [November 27], a collection of South Africa's top deejays will be halfway across the globe participating in a 100-hour deejaying marathon, in efforts to raise awareness about the country's AIDS pandemic.

The participants--DJ Azuhl, DJ Eazy, DJ Ready D, DJ E20, and DJ Intelligent Design, who represents the U.S.--will each spend a portion of the 100-hour marathon taking up residence on Cape Town's V&A Ampitheatre stage in hopes of inspiring a dialogue about HIV and AIDS among South Africa's youth.

"South Africa has one of the highest infection rates in the world, and this is an opportunity for Hip Hop to raise awareness and open discussion to different communities in Cape Town," DJ Azhul tells HipHopDX. Collectively, the DJ's have lent their skills to the likes of Public Enemy, Akon [click to read], Coolio, Jazzy Jeff and Ice-T.

"Musicians and artists are leaders because youth listen to us before they listen to teachers and even their parents," says DJ Eazy. "Kids will let a CD tell them how to dress and how to act. This deejay marathon is a way to put out a positive message with a high level of youth involvement."

The deejay marathon will be part of a the five-day Red Rhythms event, organized by the non-profit organization ConsciousFlowz. Admission is free, and more information for those both in and outside of South Africa is available at www.consciousflowz.org.