Malinga ‘in dark’ over Sama controversy
ROBBIE Malinga claims to be in the dark over an investigation to have his Sama nomination disqualified after an unidentified woman panellist complained about its eligibility.
The Sunday World reported that the committee apparently planned to disqualify Malinga’s album‚ Robbie Malinga, for failure to meet the awards’ criteria due to some songs allegedly being lifted off other artists’ albums.
“I don’t know anything about that. Call RiSA [Recording Industry of SA] and ask them‚ they make the decisions. I don’t know anything about that‚” he said.
Malinga has produced and collaborated with artists such as Musa‚ Kelly Khumalo and Naima Kay on songs that have become hits.
He then released an album last year, titled The Duets, that features all his collaborative work as well as new material.
A Sama committee member‚ who did not want to be named, told the Sunday World Malinga’s album should not have been nominated as it “doesn’t meet the prerequisite as such albums are‚ as per the set-out and standing rules‚ considered to be compilation albums”.
RiSA chief executive Nhlanhla Sibisi said the panel would meet to discuss the album again in the wake of the complaint.
He emphasised there would be a full investigation into the album’s eligibility before any decision was made.
“A decision was made after debates and procedures to nominate the album‚ and the committee has not rebutted its original decision.
“It will meet again to discuss this in light of the complaint,” Sibisi said.
If they found a reason which warranted disqualification, they would act upon it.
RiSA would have the final say.