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Langalakhe Mabena
Music “ancestor” Vusa Mkhaya is now a decorated muso on the international scene after he was honoured with the Willi Resetarits Preis accolade, at the Flüchtlingsball in Vienna, Austria, last week.
The award was established by the city of Vienna in 2023 in honour of Willi Resetarits, an Austrian singer, comedian and human rights activist.
In a statement, the organisers of the awards said, “We are thrilled to announce that Vusa Mkhaya has been awarded the Willi Resetarits Preis in recognition of his artistic originality and social commitment.
Mkhaya, a musician, composer and choreographer has been selected as the inaugural recipient in 2024.
“The Willi Resetarits Preis will be an annual award, celebrating musical personalities or bands with a strong commitment to social causes.
The award includes a prize of ten thousand Euros. For the past three decades, Mkhaya has been an integral part of Vienna’s arts and culture scene.
His socially conscious songs address global issues, making a positive impact through his music. His work embodies the spirit of “Ubuntu,” emphasising mutual support, listening and compassion—a philosophy deeply ingrained in Southern African culture,” reads the statement.
Mkhaya expressed gratitude to all those who have shared his incredible talents with him over the years.
He emphasised the importance of community support, stating, “it takes a village to raise a child.” He believes that the award belongs to everyone who has contributed to his journey.
“It’s an honour to have been awarded with the accolade. Vienna has always been my home. Now I feel more welcome and I am part of the family.
“The music I create is all about commenting on social issues that affect the community and I am glad such efforts have been recognised with the Willi Resetarits Preis accolade. This is not my award alone, it’s a collective effort and I would like to thank every person that I have worked with in my music career. Cheers to more international accolades,” said Vusa Mkhaya.
Meanwhile, Insingizi — a multi-award-winning Imbube ensemble comprising Vusa Mkhaya, Ramadu and Blessings Nqo has announced their international tour as they will kick start it by doing a couple of shows in Germany in June.
Online Reporter