adminBrenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
Youthful radio presenter cum rapper Black Bird, real name Nonkululeko Vundla is basking in the success of her latest video “Waiting for Love” that made its debut on Africa’s leading music television Channel O this week.
The song that features fellow hip hop artiste Tatea da MC was shot at one of Zimbabwe’s leading hotels, The Rainbow Towers in Harare.
While the achievement is a major ego boost for the pint sized songstress she has come back with gun blazing at National Arts Merit Awards organisers for failing to acknowledge the same video two weeks ago.
She had been nominated in the Most Outstanding Music Video’ category but lost to contemporary reggae artiste, Jah Prayzah.
BlackBird argued that her video is better but Jah Prayzah had been the judges’ favourite from the start. She has now fired back at the NAMAs with an open letter that questions the credibility of the awarding process.
Black Bird blames them for, “stealing my hard-earned award not to mention the US$500 prize money and a DSTV decoder in broad daylight”.
In an interview with The Herald, the outspoken rapper said she had maintained her peace tin an effort to avoid appearing like a sore loser. She, however, changed her mind as she felt the need to stand up for other NAMA victims who had been unfairly elbowed out over the years.
“I watched injustice prevail, not only for me, but for scores of other artistes whose work was either snubbed or misjudged at the hands of incompetent judges’ panel. Edith weUtonga, Nox and so many other artistes have criticised the NAMAs for a reason. They lack transparency and fairness,” she said.
She pointed out that the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, needed to monitor NAMA’s processes from the submissions, nomination, voting and adjudication process to ensure it was transparent credible and fair.
Online Reporter