WHAT A NIGHT! Skyz Metro FM awards set Byo alight
When Santa visited Makokoba
WOW!! WHAT an unforgettable night! Show stopping, fabulous, energetic, electrifying, and magical are among the first few words that come to mind and best describe the inaugural Skyz Metro FM awards that set the town alight on Thursday night.
Since the successful hosting of the inaugural Bulawayo Arts Awards, the City of Kings seems to have found just the right amount of tonic to make such events sparkle. True to form, the Skyz Metro FM awards held at the Large City Hall were nothing short of glitz and glam.
The sound system was on point, ladies were dressed to kill, and performing artistes were on fire, while the mood inside the venue matched the hype.
It was a night that was brought to life by veteran music icons that have contributed to the industry, and were deservedly welcomed with a thunderous applause when they walked majestically onto the stage to present the gongs. The likes of Nkululeko Nkala, Cont Mhlanga graced the event while Dan Tshanda was also in attendance and donated R250 000 to any lucky artiste who will be chosen by fans. However, the voting process for that artiste was not explained.
Although he did not go onto the stage, co-founder of the world acclaimed Soul Brothers, Moses Ngwenya was among the VIP members that witnessed perhaps one of the most colorful nights of 2017.
Dubbed #SiphetheAmagabazi, the awards set the tone for the festive season with the crowd staying on their feet most of the time. The directors of ceremonies TKP, better known as uNdlunkulu and Babongile Sikhonjwa kept the crowd in stitches with their good sense of humour.
Guluva-7 gave what can only be termed a 5-star performance in the opening set of the night followed by the crowd’s favourite, Zinja Ziyamluma. The crowd danced the night away energised by the performers who gave their all to show their class.
South Africa’s Bekezela, who rose to fame with his self-titled album, also got the crowd going when he performed his hit song before capping his night out by bagging the Best Afro-Soul Song. He gave an emotional speech detailing his life in Mzansi before he hit the jackpot and broke onto the entertainment scene.
Zinja Ziyamluma group were the biggest winners of the night walking away with two awards under the Best Mas’khandi/ Mbaqanga Song and Skyz Metro FM Ingwebu People’s Choice Best Male.
Skyz Metro FM chief executive officer, Qhubani Moyo said the awards proved that there is an abundance of talent in Bulawayo that just needs an outlet. He highlighted that the station was playing a big role in terms of promoting art in the city.
“The Skyz Metro FM Music Awards 2017 revealed that we have abundant talent in Bulawayo in terms of music. It is a clear confirmation that as a radio station, we are living in our mandate of being the leader in promoting art in the city,” Moyo said.
To close the event, Madlela Skhobokhobo performed fan favourite Ngamnanka uSaMamoe. Below is the full list of Skyz Metro FM Music
Awards 2017 winners: Best Imbube/ Acapella Song: (Ukukhanya Kwezwe) Best Afro-Soul Song: Bekezela (Bekezela) Best Mas’khandi/ Mbaqanga AmaNdebebele (Zinja ziyamluma) Best Song by Duo/ Group: Kalanga Child (Sinazo) Best Tshibilika/ Rhumba Song: Gaxani Amajazi (Mr. Bones)
Best Urban (Chipman)
Best Collaborated Song: Tyran FT Asaph) Best Gospel Song: Ajani (Abigail Mwembe) Best Music Production: Makadunyiswe (Blessing Stot) Best Metro-Urban Song: Amaloja (Khuxxman) Best Music Journalist: Bongani Ndlovu (Chronicle)
Best Dance Song: Magwaza)
Best Hip Hop Song: Ngihambe NgeFace (Floppy X)
Best House/ Gqom! Song: Synth FT Paula Palomo) Best Breakout Star: 2 Yung Female Achiever of the Year: Prudence Mabhena Most Outstanding Contribution to Music: Majahawodwa ‘Jeys Marabini’ Ndlovu
Skyz Metro FM Ingwebu People’s Choice Best Male: Zinja Ziyamluma
Skyz Metro FM Ingwebu People’s Choice Best Female: Lorraine Stot
Skyz Metro FM Ingwebu People’s Choice Song Of The Year: Ngamnanka (Madlela Skhobokhobo) Fire Song: Umalindelwa Asifuni Bumbulu Brenda Fassie (Yung Istambo Sami Song: (Clement Bakumelele (Ryan SMILING faces, tears of joy and a day well spent outside the difficulties of a childhood growing up in a high density area, was the order of the day when Santa Claus visited Bulawayo’s oldest suburb Makokoba on Wednesday.
The Christmas character known as Santa Claus worldwide, but in Zimbabwe is known as Father Christmas came bearing gifts for scores of children who had gathered at Thabiso Youth Centre.
They were accompanied by their mothers and mostly grandmothers who are finding it hard to make ends meet to feed the young ones during this Christmas period.
Christmas must be a time when people wear new clothes, eat cake, and special meals such as rice and chicken.
However, the economic challenges in recent years have negatively affected how some locals celebrate Christmas. While some have little money to spend, Christmas, has over the years, been celebrated on a tight budget.
What more for the children who live with unemployed grandmothers who fend for them by selling tomatoes and other wares from the front gates of their houses in Makokoba?
The “bulk” of the little money that they earn in their petty trade goes to paying school fees for the child in the next year and buy food to feed them with a basic meal every day.
So when Father Christmas rolled into Thabiso Youth Centre, it was a special occasion for them as they got to see live, the fictitious character. Father Christmas was MC Cde Phil, clad in the signature red suit complete with a white beard.
It was a sight to behold as the excitement in children was evident in their eyes which lit up when they saw Father Christmas on a horse.
Well-wishers had donated clothes, toys, food and basic commodities to help distribute to 150 children at the youth centre.
Veteran artiste Lewis Ndlovu who put together this whole Christmas treat said he was happy with the response from well-wishers. He said they selected orphans and vulnerable children from Makokoba.
The children who were selected were given hampers that comprised four exercise books, two pens, khaki and plastic covers, a mathematical set, two Amahewu, Arenel assorted sweets, Choc Chip biscuits, two packets of Simba chips, two packets of Jiggies, a toy for boys and dolls for the girls, plus a loaf of Baker’s Inn bread and clothes.
He said: “When I came back from the UK, I sold the idea to friends and started working on it, looking for sponsorship which we got. We then did the selection of children that took us about three weeks.”
In the end it was a day well spent for the children as they were entertained by various groups such as St Patrick’s Parish Priest and Band, Masgand, Ingwenyama, KIDS (Khanyisa Isibane Drumming School) and Drums of Peace, giving them a time to remember.
Present also was guest of honour Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu and actress/modelling guru Sarah Mpofu.
Companies that contributed to the cause were Fortwell, Baker’s Inn, Kango Zim, Arenel Sweets n Biscuits, National Foods, Quality Foods, Forster Irrigation, ZouZim Promotions, Qhube Productions, Lindsay Forster, Veronique Attala, Roshane Williams, Angela Mandy, Alison Butorn, Violette Sohaili Kee - tui, MaDube kitchen, Belinda Watson, Rob Burret, KAISA, Abbie Dube, Eliza Events, Mazwii Events, Lewis Drum Industries, ABBIAMO Trading, FAZAK, Lobels Biscuits, Intandane, LimzLucky Photography and MultiMedia Box.