adminTawanda Marwizi and Sophia Chese Arts Correspondents
Organisers of the Zim dancehall awards have cleared the dust that rose following the release of a fake nomination list of the awards recently. Phinias Mushai who is one of the organisers yesterday said they have come up with categories for the event that will be held on March 6 at East End Hall at Harare Showground.
“We are not part of the list that was released on social media recently, but as for now, we are taking the event to March,” he said.
Mushai said they have added some categories to add colour to the second edition of the award ceremony.
“The awards will be exciting because there are more artistes who will be battling out for consideration in the various categories which will be up for grabs,” he said.
He added that they have consulted various stakeholders to come up with the categories.
“To ensure credibility in the selection process we will include the views of club and radio deejays, producers, arts reporters as well as fans and members of the general public and their choices to be taken into consideration in coming up with the final nominees,” he said.
Some of the categories are Best Artist 2014 (male and female), Best Collaboration Song, Best Vocalist, Song of the Year, Best Social Message, Best Stage Performer, Best Zim dancehall Youngster, Most Promising Artiste, Best
Video, Best Medley Video, Best Album, Best Artist Manager, Best Dancehall Dance Group, Best Conscious Song, Best Mix Tape, Best Club Dj, Riddim of the Year, Best Conscious Riddim, Best Collaboration Riddim, Zim Dancehall Ambassador, Zim Dancehall Diaspora and Best-dressed Artiste.
Mushai said they have good packages for the winners.
“We have sponsors who are coming in to assist us and this year we will also increase funding so that the winners get something to take home,” he said.
Nominees will be announced three weeks before the event.
“We will set a committee that will be responsible for nomination and the winners but for now we are not going to name them because they might be victimised,” he added.
However, the event is likely to spark controversy since they are not inviting artists to submit their works for adjudication.
The inaugural event was held early last year at Zimbabwe College of Music at an event that saw Winky D bagging most awards.
The event was marred by violence.
Online Reporter