Metro FM awards

All roads lead to Durban this weekend for the 15th instalment of the Metro FM awards, which will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC).

Nathi Mankayi, Sphectacula and DJ Naves are leading the pack with five nominations each. Nathi received nominations in the Best African Pop Album (Buyelekhaya), Best RnB Single (Nomvula), Best New Artiste, Best Male Album and Song of the Year (Nomvula) categories while Sphectacula and DJ Naves received nominations in the categories of Best Group/Duo Album (KOTW), Best Colaboration (KOTW), Best New Artiste, Best Music Video (KOTW Anthem) and Song of the Year for their Kings Of The Weekend Anthem featuring Professor.

New kid on the block Emtee scooped up four nominations, getting nods in the Best Remix category as well as Best Music Video, Best Hip Hop Album and Best New Artiste. Other nominees include Da Les, Tumi, AKA, Donald, Prince Kaybee, Shimza, The Marvins and Black Coffee.

The awards are going to be an opportunity for Mzansi’s fashionistas to showcase their style – plus, there’s a fashion show to be held tonight ahead of the main event tomorrow.

Thula Sindi, who is also going to showcase his new collection gushed about what he has in store for fashion lovers, saying it’s all about celebrating glamour and legends.

“Fashion meets music this weekend, so it’s going to be very urban and chic. I’ve got a couple of surprises up my sleeve,” he revealed.

Fellow designer Ephraim Molingoana said he’s bringing sophistication and elegance.

“I coordinate the designers and there’s going to be a lot of nice surprises,” he promised.

David Tlale will also take part in the fashion show.

If you’re planning on watching the 15th Annual Metro FM Awards, you should expect nothing less than a spectacular show, according to the station’s new manager, Sibongile Mtyali, who says Metro FM has pulled out the big guns to make this year’s show a success.

“We’re calling this year’s awards ‘The Platinum Edition’,” she said.

“It’s going to be so much better than the ones before.”

The station has already secured top entertainers and media personalities to be part of the awards.

“Everyone that is considered a celebrity in our country is going to be involved with the awards this year and the performers will not disappoint.”

This year, the Best Pan African category has been added to the awards with musicians such as Burna Boy, Wizkid and Patoranking up for an award.

“It’s so frustrating to see how African musicians are celebrated overseas before they are recognised here at home. This category is about praising musicians on other parts of the continent who are making waves,” Mtyali said.

On the decision to give each winner R100,000 cash, Mtyali said: “One of the biggest problems in our music industry is money. How many times have we seen popular musicians who die poor?

“As a brand we’ve always been interested in finding ways to build wealth within the music industry. We’ve been preaching about how we want musicians to see their value and treat themselves like a business. Now we are putting our money where our mouth is.” – Channel24/Sunday World.