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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
Zimbabwean artistes and entrepreneurs have been nominated for African Entertainment Awards that will be held in the United States in September. The list includes United States-based actress Danai Gurira in the Best Actress in Series and Film category while hip-hop sensation Tehn Diamond has been nominated in the Best Hip-hop Song.
Selmor Mtukudzi will compete in the Hottest Female Singer of the Year, Bonnie Deuschle and Celebration Choir is vying for the Best Gospel Group and Tongai Chirisa has been nominated in Best Actor in Series.
Farai Gundani is in the Entrepreneur of the Year category and Farai Simoyi has been nominated for the Fashion Designer of the Year.
Selmor is in the same category with US-based Tinashe, recent MAMA winner Yemi Aleda from Nigeria, South African jazz songstress Zahara and Angola-bred Maya Zuda, who are also vying for the award.
Competition is stiff in the hip-hop category, which some critics have said is very controversial.
Tehn Diamond is in competition against South African multi-award winner A.K.A, United States-based rapper and producer French Montana, Nigerian talented singer Reminisce, Cameroonian rapper and songwriter Jovi and another Cameroon-based hip-hop chanter Stanley Enow.
The awards show will be held on September 5, at the Living Centre Missussaga, United States, under the theme “Rebranding Africa Through Entertainment”.
In an interview with The Herald Entertainment, Tehn Diamond said is not intimidated by the list.
“I am not afraid of being nominated against the likes of A.K.A, French Montana and Reminisce. I am actually on the right track because my music already is international standard. It shows I am growing and I am ready,” he said.
The “Happy” hitmaker said the nomination itself defines who is.
“I am very excited about the nomination. To me, it means a lot. Being nominated for an international award tells us that our music is making noise out there.
“It is good exposure and we should maximise it well. I am working on my new album entitled ‘The Perfect Tehn’ which will be released later this year,” he said.
For Selmor, the recent achievement means she continues to rise on the ladder of success as earlier this year she was selected among nine female musicians from seven African countries to come up with a song calling for women and girls to be central to the fight against poverty.
Selmor said it was a great honour for her to be on the list.
“It’s a great honour and being recognised by an international audience is amazing. My category has some amazing artistes and having my name up there is so good for me,” she said.
Online Reporter