Entry deadline looms for the Wawelas

IN JUNE, the fourth annual Wawela Music Awards will take place in Joburg. The awards, which are open only to Southern African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) members, seek to honour South African musicians who have made significant strides at home and abroad.

At last year’s do, held at Montecasino in Fourways, Mi Casa, took home the Best Creative Album of the Year. Thomas Chauke, received the Lifetime Achievement award.

Don Laka was given the Prolific Catalogue of Works award, while Jonathan Butler accepted the Breaking Through the Borders award via video. These are just some of the awards that hopefuls can enter to win, should they be eligible.

To qualify to compete for these awards, musicians have to be registered with Samro. They also have to have had songs that were active from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. To submit their songs for consideration, artists should have mp3 files of the music, a profile or bio about their act as well as three hi-res images of themselves.

These must be submitted on the Wawela website. There is no charge to enter. To be considered, artists must enter before March 16.

Through a press release, the organisers said: “Never before have we had so many of our own composers, songwriters and performers making their mark as loud and proud South African music ambassadors all over the world. Samro believes in the importance of recognising and rewarding these musicians with as much applause from South Africa as they receive all over the globe.”

“These awards… also pay homage to the legends of local music who have paved the way to this point through their extraordinary achievements. “The awards are a gesture from Samro to thank the country’s creative trailblazers who have flown the South African music flag high and have made us proud.”