By Eve Mary Doma.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Music goes on to advance beyond question with many upcoming artistes topping the music charts with contemporary sounds and quickly forgotten, unlike the legends of the hey days.
We still sing along to Simon Chimbetu, Marshall munhumumwe songs and the same even go and remix these songs just because they were hits.
The system in Zimbabwe is that when one genre Burns out, it makes way for the other and so does music icons and their wisdom.
“And the lifetime award goes to Bob Marley “Wow! what happened to the Zimbabwean music legends For instance Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Chiwoniso Maraire, James Chimombe, Mechanic Manyeruke Stella Chiweshe, Leonard Zhakata excetra.
Recently people have had a lot to say about the Zima awards. Where do I begin from the controversial Bob Marley award. We asked which criteria they used in selecting the lifetime achievement, Farai Chapoterera the Marketing and Public relations Executive of Zimbabwe Music Awards said “the lifetime achievement award is usually in alignment with the theme we are running under, hence in 2014 we ran under the theme “then to now – passing on the tongs” and the award went to Cde Chinx who represents the transition of local music from pre to post independence who mentored post independence musician. In 2015 under the theme “celebrating leadership through music” and with the aim of honouring His excellency Cde R. G. Mugabe, we gave the award to Bob Marley who not only represents a pivotal time in the President’s political history but also represents the opening of Zimbabwe’s borders to the international music arena.”
One personal views were about the host is it the norm or misconception that if someone can speak the Shona and any other local dialects fluently they should MCHence we find radio DJs/presenters/personalities given the task.
What the organisers do not put in mind is that such platforms requires one to entertain the crowd, which our dear, radio DJs/presenters/personalities fall short of.
Take for instance Carl Joshua Ncube, Doc Vikela or actors such as Gringo, Vharazipi etc were given such platforms, such individuals know how to interact with an audience better.
Speaking to Chapoterera she said “As is the norm international hosts and guest presenters are well known public personalities in TV, radio, comedy etc.”
The awards started hours late than anticipated which was a great setback considering that the event was held mid-week. Moreover program was unavailable before for anyone to prepare accordingly.
However the mass Were happy but were said to “Disappear ” after the song of the year was finished because they was nothing else to look forward to.
However I can say that the Zimbabwe Music Awards have improved from last year, their product is by far much better.
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