Show goes on – EC music awards team
Clash with Metro dates will not put stop to showpiece
ORGANISERS of the Eastern Cape Music Awards (ECMAs) are confident the ceremony on February 25 will go ahead despite it taking place on the same day as the Metro FM Music Awards.
The ECMAs will be held at East London’s Orient Theatre while the Metros will be held at the Nkosi Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban.
ECMA’s founder Koko Godlo said unlike last year when they had to postpone the event a number of times, this year the show would go on.
“We are not worried about the Metros. They are happening in another province and nothing will affect us,” he said.
The second annual ECMAs were scheduled to take place last year but were postponed before the organisers confirmed February 25 as the date.
One of the reasons for the postponements last year was because they were scheduled for the same night as the South African Traditional Music Awards, which were also held in Durban.
“Unlike last year, we secured the artists that we want well in advance.
“There won’t be any more postponements,” said Godlo.
He said the awards would take place at the beginning of every year going forward. “We want to avoid that December rush. They will now be between February and March.”
The ECMAs received a sponsorship of R500 000 from Buffalo City Metro and has also partnered with the Daily/ Saturday Dispatch, Bay TV, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, Media LED and Selimathunzi (SABC 1 show).
“Selimathunzi attended the first awards and they will be back again this year. Bay TV will also be covering,” Godlo said.
Godlo said preparations for the event were on track and people should expect a complete transformation of the Orient Theatre.
The categories include: artist of the year; song of the year; best male and female artists; and best hip hop, kwaito, afro-pop, gospel, traditional music and dance artists.
Some of the artists nominated include Berita, Zahara, Betusile Mcinga, Ntando, Mashava, iFani, Mobi Dixon, Nathi Mankayi and gospel couple Butho and Yolanda Vuthela.
There are also awards for best DJ, best community radio station, community radio programme, radio DJ, and the best newcomer.
Some of the artists who will be performing on the night include Nathi, Ntando, Vusi Nova, Betusile, Mashava, Anisto S, Lil G, Khanyisa, Timoti and D J Bino.
General tickets for the event cost R190 and are available at Computicket. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za