Musical talent honoured

SOUTH African songbird Shashika Mooruth, who put the country on the map in Indian music, will receive the International Achiever Award at the SA Music Awards (SAMAs) on June 2 at Sun City.

Mooruth, who lives in Mumbai and writes the monthly column Desi Track, could not contain her excitement and took to Facebook.

“Hit a five. I just received the news … SAMA 2018 organised by the Recording Industry of South Africa have announced me as recipient for the International Achiever Award as music producer and singer. I worked hard for this too. Am grateful to my parents and all who have followed and supported me in my music. This is a leap for South African Indian music,” she wrote.

She took to social media, saying: “… I am enjoying being referred to as ‘our girl’.!!! wonderful to be the daughter of the soil.”

Mooruth has achieved a lot, not only as a recording artist, but as a producer. Her album, Krishna, The Flute Player, featured on the Billboard charts on its release.

Her single, It’s Sa Ga Sa Ga Ma, was nominated in the Best World Music Song at the Roundglass Music Awards in the US this year and her song, The Flute Breathes, was also nominated for the Global Peace Song Awards in the World Music category in the US last year.

SAMA said in a statement: “She has enjoyed critical acclaim with Krishna, The Flute Player all over the world with rave reviews flowing in including a Top 100 spot in the world albums for the first round voting at The Grammys. Her music has been included in the music appreciation and world music classes at Emerson College in Boston.”