Music lovers in East London and other cities around the province converged at the Abbotsford Christian Centre on Saturday night for the annual Eastern Cape Music Awards.
Boasting a wide range of music genres including gospel, maskandi, Afro pop and hip hop, the event saw Eastern Cape music lovers united in song.
Among the artists who performed at the event were Ntando, Yves, Nathi, Betusile Mcinga, Khanyisa Sabuka, Yolanda and Butho Vutela, and Amawele kaMaMtshawe, to mention but a few.
Also appearing in the line-up was the controversial Mthatha-based gospel singer Yongama Mrwetyana.
Mrwetyana gained instant fame a few months ago after he accused Umhlobo Wenene FM gospel show presenter Nomonde Vakalisa of accepting bribes in order to play music on air, an allegation the SABC dismissed for lack of evidence.
Gospel – the most popular genre in the province – dominated the awards with favourite couple Butho and Yolanda winning the best song of the year for their hit song Phosan’umnatha from their album Okumanywe nguThixo.
Phosan’umnatha won the couple Best Traditional Gospel song at last year’s SABC Crown Gospel Awards, which were held in Durban.
“We are very humbled by the recognition we are receiving and we than our fans for their support,” she said.
The album, which was released late last year, will be launched at the Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Mthatha-based multi-award winner Mcinga, son of gospel heavyweight Lusanda Mcinga, walked away with the award for the best artist of the year.
Mcinga, who became a household name with the release of his third album, Zundithwale, said he felt “special” and did not expect to win the award.
“The artists in that category are very well established and well know. I still cannot believe that I took the award,” he said.
Centane maskandi duo Amawele kaMaMtshawe Zama Ntenteni and Masibulele Gompo walked away with three awards.
Their first award was that of the best male group/artist, followed by best traditional group, and the award that sealed their victory was that of a best voted group.
The total votes received during the voting process was more than 70000 and the duo got just above 11 000 votes.
Ntenteni said the awards were a great achievement for them.
The singers grew up in the village of KwaFeni outside Centane under the guidance of their grandmother MaMtshawe.
“We are not really twins, but because we grew up together and we were almost of the same age people always thought that we were, hence the name,” he said.
Organiser of the event Koko Godlo said the event was growing and getting better each year. “And there are more sponsors that are now part of the event,” he said. — sinom@dispatch.co.za
E Cape stars come out for awards
Boasting a wide range of music genres including gospel, maskandi, Afro pop and hip hop, the event saw Eastern Cape music lovers united in song.
Among the artists who performed at the event were Ntando, Yves, Nathi, Betusile Mcinga, Khanyisa Sabuka, Yolanda and Butho Vutela, and Amawele kaMaMtshawe, to mention but a few.
Also appearing in the line-up was the controversial Mthatha-based gospel singer Yongama Mrwetyana.
Mrwetyana gained instant fame a few months ago after he accused Umhlobo Wenene FM gospel show presenter Nomonde Vakalisa of accepting bribes in order to play music on air, an allegation the SABC dismissed for lack of evidence.
Gospel – the most popular genre in the province – dominated the awards with favourite couple Butho and Yolanda winning the best song of the year for their hit song Phosan’umnatha from their album Okumanywe nguThixo.
Phosan’umnatha won the couple Best Traditional Gospel song at last year’s SABC Crown Gospel Awards, which were held in Durban.
“We are very humbled by the recognition we are receiving and we than our fans for their support,” she said.
The album, which was released late last year, will be launched at the Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Mthatha-based multi-award winner Mcinga, son of gospel heavyweight Lusanda Mcinga, walked away with the award for the best artist of the year.
Mcinga, who became a household name with the release of his third album, Zundithwale, said he felt “special” and did not expect to win the award.
“The artists in that category are very well established and well know. I still cannot believe that I took the award,” he said.
Centane maskandi duo Amawele kaMaMtshawe Zama Ntenteni and Masibulele Gompo walked away with three awards.
Their first award was that of the best male group/artist, followed by best traditional group, and the award that sealed their victory was that of a best voted group.
The total votes received during the voting process was more than 70000 and the duo got just above 11 000 votes.
Ntenteni said the awards were a great achievement for them.
The singers grew up in the village of KwaFeni outside Centane under the guidance of their grandmother MaMtshawe.
“We are not really twins, but because we grew up together and we were almost of the same age people always thought that we were, hence the name,” he said.
Organiser of the event Koko Godlo said the event was growing and getting better each year. “And there are more sponsors that are now part of the event,” he said. — sinom@dispatch.co.za
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