adminSimbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
BULAWAYO artistes and arts gurus have expressed mixed feelings over the addition of new categories to this year’s Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima). Some have welcomed the new categories saying this would see them being recognised while others said the awards would patronise artistes from Matabeleland. Among the new categories are Best House Music, Best Tshibilika Music, Best Dancehall Music, Best Traditional Gospel Music, Best Contemporary Gospel Music and Best Alternative Music.
The awards will make a comeback on October 14 after a seven-year hiatus. Zima production assistant Kganya Ndlovu said after consultative workshops held in Harare and Bulawayo recently, Zima and their partners from South Africa came up with 28 categories as proposed during the workshops.
“As a result of the consultative workshops, we came up with the Best Tshibilika Music category and Best House Music to accommodate artistes down south,” Ndlovu said.
She said artistes from Bulawayo had lost out in the past awards as they were classified under categories which did not represent them and their music.
Over the years tshibilika music was classified under sungura which grouped artistes such as Jeys Marabini, Chase Skuza and Alick Macheso.
Tshibilika artiste Ndux Junior applauded Zima for separating sungura from tshibilika.
“I would like to commend Zima for recognising that sungura and tshibilika are different. Tshibilika is an independent category that can never be likened to any other genre in the country.
“I am confident that I am going to win in this cetegory,” he said.
Arts commentator Cont Mhlanga however accused Zima of patronising Matabeleland artistes.
He said the rhythm of sungura was the same regardless of the language so there was no need to create the Tshibilika category.
“The only difference in sungura is language. Some of it is sung in Shona, Kalanga and Ndebele. So to have a category like tshibilika to define sungura from Matabeleland is really unfortunate.
“It shows that the organisers want to patronise the region as if it is an island that needs to be accommodated with special categories in national events,” said Mhlanga.
He said tshibilika musicians should be put in the same category as sungura.
“Tshibilika musicians should just be put in the same category as the sungura artistes. If the same artiste wins year in year out, then it means there is no development in the music industry.
“If Macheso wins year in and year out, then it shows that there is a big problem of non development of the music industry. We need new stars in that category that are popular nationally besides Macheso,” said Mhlanga.
In previous years, the sungura category was a battle between Alick “Extra Basso” Macheso and the late Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo.
Mhlanga accused some Zimbabwean musicians of failing to come up with lyrics that build the nation’s social fabric.
“The awards in Zimbabwe are just for artistes with meaningless lyrics that serve no purpose.
They do not develop the industry or the country because the content is just poor,” he said.
Former Radio 2 DJ Ezra Tshisa Sibanda differed with Mhlanga as he believed the introduction of new categories was a positive step that will enhance the growth of the music industry.
“I think this is a good move by Zima at a time when the music industry is growing. These developments are meant to accommodate a wider spectrum of musicians across the country,” he said.
Hip hop artiste POY said he was confident the new categories would promote artistes in the city as they were now being recognised.
“I’m excited about the Zima awards as they seem to accommodate all artistes. Now that there are categories which accommodate our music genres, there is a good chance that we will also start winning awards,” he said.
Jazz promoter Mishy Nyakudarika said he was delighted that Zima had taken into account their input at the workshop.
“Thumbs up to Zima for a job well done. They have shown us that they are willing to work with every artiste in making the awards a success,” he said.
Bulawayo’s up-and-coming Zim Dancehall artiste Center Party said he was excited that the Zima awards were being held this year after a seven-year break.
Meanwhile, the entry process for the awards started on Monday with artistes expected to submit their music to www.zimaawards.co.zw. Entry is open to all recording artistes with the deadline for submissions being August 4, 2014.
Artists are required to submit a minimum of three copies of their album/LP to the Zima office before the August 4 deadline. Nominee announcements will be made on August 29, 2014 with the winners being announced at an awards ceremony at the Rainbow Towers in Harare on October 14.
Online Reporter