Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma, Showbiz Writer
Gwanda Magazine Media has successfully concluded the second edition of the “Gwanda Top Ten Music Videos”, an online award ceremony designed to encourage artistes from Matabeleland South to embrace digital platforms for promoting and selling their music.
The awards are determined by YouTube views of an artiste’s work over an annual period. The top three spots were claimed by Brian Drei featuring Marie Joseph with “Malawi”, DJ Doctor Love’s “Uhambile Udali”, and Master Zhoe featuring Nyasha Timbe with “Soft Kick”.
Skollah, the founder of Gwanda Magazine Media, said the awards serve as encouragement for local artistes to enter the digital world and monetise their work.
“There’s so much talent in our province of Mat-South, but most of the local artistes produce music and send it to people freely on WhatsApp. This is not good because they are supposed to get something from their hard work. Our vision is to stop this syndrome of giving people music free of charge.
“We want to encourage artistes to use online digital stores to sell their music, and we also want to help local artistes in pushing and marketing their music,” explained Skollah.
This year’s edition received support from local businesses and individuals, including Rugare Neuso, Gugulethu Mkandla, Nkosilathi Nyathi, Sipho, and Antony Selume. Skollah expressed gratitude for their contributions and revealed plans to evolve the awards into a physical event, expanding its reach beyond Matabeleland South province.
“It is our wish that from next year, we host the awards through a physical platform as we want artistes to see the business sense of tapping more into the digital space. We would also like to grow beyond Matabeleland South province thus we are calling on interested individuals and companies to finance us in making the arts sector in the region a viable business,” Skollah added. – @mthabisi_mthire
Online Reporter