adminMthabisi Tshuma, Sunday Life Reporter
The 2018 Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards nominees list was revealed last Friday at a prestigious event held at Bulawayo Theatre.
The nominees reveal party saw a number of artistes throng the event, some with the hope of being nominated, while some wanted to experience the awards hype which is already on overdrive and promises to give birth to yet another exciting event come May 26 at Bulawayo Large City Hall.
Hosted by the global citizen Gilmore Tee and model and personality Princess Mpofu, the party saw Matabeleland South-born artistes being highly considered and flooding the nominations mainly in the music awards for the Outstanding Tshibilika/Rhumba category as Ndux Jnr, Clement Magwaza and Martin Ndolwane are the only nominees.
Over 2 500 nominations were submitted for this year’s awards, a sign that the awards are really growing to something big making United Refineries boss, Busisa Moyo’s dream of Bulawayowood an inevitable success.
Used as an audit for the arts sector in the region, the industry in Matabeleland South is fast growing and Bulawayo should watch out for artistes from the province.
From high school nominations, Empandeni High has been nominated in the School Arts Awards for Outstanding School Arts Effort with their own Primrose Tshuma and Dansie Hlosokuhle Mhlanga being nominated for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Arts Educator respectively.
Music award nominee in the Outstanding Kwaito/house/gqom Act Beitbridge houz artiste Bhadilah, Gwanda-born and South Africa-based gospel artiste Tholakele Ndlovu who is battling it out with the likes of renowned artiste Sandra Ndebele in the Female Artist of the Year and Plumtree rhumba artistes who are the only rhumba 2018 RoilBAA nominees, have risen to be more acceptable in the music industry.
Beitbridge-based trending kwaito-house musician-cum-theatre actor Gift ‘‘Bhadilah’’ Ndlovu who has been nominated in the music awards under the Outstanding Kwaito/House/Gqom Act expressed happiness for his nomination.
Last year he came out guns blazing after he failed to make it into the nominees list citing that little recognition was been done on other Matabeleland region-based artistes and it seems his call has been finally heard.
“I am really happy and excited about the nomination. It really means a lot to me as an artiste. It shows that I am now appreciated in the industry and finally my hard work has paid. Thanks to RoilBAA for the nomination. I wasn’t going to be where I am today if it wasn’t for the love from my fans, they keep me going all the times. I encourage my fans to keep the votes going for us to take the award, they say team work pays, lets fight for it,” Bhadilah said.
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