Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena
Multi-award-winning Gospel sensation Canaan Nyathi is on cloud 9 after receiving a nomination at this year’s African Christian Legendary and Impact Makers Awards (CLIMA) set to be held at the Maslow Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa on 5 October.
The awards aim at celebrating Christian professionals and ministers of God with integrity.
This is the second time for Nyathi to get a CLIMA nod, after he won the Best Southern Africa Artiste of the year accolade in 2024.
This time around, his hit song Ukwenzile – which he did with South African Gospel group Spirit of Praise, got him nominated for Africa Indigenous Song of the Year.
On the category, he is battling it out with Nigeria’s Progress Effiong for the song Akam mi, Janet Otieno (Kenya) for Raha, Sunmisola Agbebi (Nigeria) for Owo Oluwa as well as South Africa’s Winnie Mashaba for her smash hit Go Rata Ke Morena.
From his base in Johannesburg, Nyathi said his nomination didn’t come as a surprise as he said his song is one of the best Gospel tunes in Africa.
“It’s not by coincidence that we are nominated at the CLIMAs once again this year because Ukwenzile is a banger. But, the nomination got me overwhelmed.
“Ukwenzile is big, it was adopted and renditioned in different African languages. It was done in Kenya, Angola, Nigeria and even Ghana.
“The mileage of the song has proven that God didn’t give me the wisdom to pen the song for me and those who understand my language alone, but, he gave me the guidance for the song to minister His word in the whole of Africa,” said Nyathi.
Despite being nominated with some of African Gospel heavyweights, Nyathi said he is rooting for his song to scoop the gong.
“The song is nominated amongst some of the best songs in Africa right now. But, I am positive that Ukwenzile will win because this is a testimony that says God has done it in our lives.
“I am sure it resonates with many people who are also voting for the winner, as God is doing wonders not only to me but also to other people,” said Nyathi.
Apart from Nyathi other artistes with Zimbabwean roots who are nominated at the awards include Everton Mlalazi who will be conferred with a Doctor of Arts and Humanities honour by the Global University of Science and Technology from the United States of America.
Others nominated are The Vine, Dorcas Moyo (Africa Outstanding Music Minister of the Year) and Janet Manyowa who is nominated two times for Southern Africa Artiste of the Year and Africa Female Artiste of the Year.
