Fort Hare music head wins jazz award

UNIVERSITY of Fort Hare music department head Nduduzo Makhathini won the best jazz album at the South African Music Awards (Sama) at the weekend.

Makhathini won the award for his 2016 album titled Inner Dimensions.

This was his first win after being nominated twice before – first in 2015 for Mother Tongue and again last year for Listening to the Ground.

Makhathini won the award on Friday, the first night of the event at Sun City.

He was nominated alongside Darren English, Sydney Mavundla, Dave Reynolds, Paps Mohamed and Thandiswa Mazwai.

The 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz said he did not expect to win .

“I always feel awards are for record labels and for someone who owns one. I went there as a record label owner and not as an artist. I really didn’t expect to win, it came as a surprise to me and I am grateful,” he said.

While his friends said the win was long overdue, Makhathini said he believed the universe always has a plan and it was his time to win.

“On this album, Inner Dimensions ,I really tapped into myself,” he said.

“It was about getting my voice out in society. It was a personal project and for it to win an award means a lot to me.

“My voice is being accepted and it is every artist’s or cultural worker’s dream for the message they preach to reach more people.”

Makhathini said his prayer for the album was to let God’s voice speak through it, “for He is the creator of all things and He alone is God”.

“For this record to be awarded this award really means a lot to me and this will give it mileage,” he said, adding that he hoped his students and other artists in the province would be inspired by the award.