Dancehall music star Winky D could be regretting the decision
to echo a subtle political message in some of his songs last year as it has
backfired, resulting in a dry awards season for him if exclusion from the
National Arts and Merit Awards (Nama) nominees list is anything to go by.
Known for his lyrical wizardry, the 36-year old singer took
his social commentary to a new level last year with songs like Gafa
MuParliarment and Kasong Kejecha, which many perceived as anthems for
opposition politics in the country.
This is believed to have influenced the dubious revocation
of the Most Played Song award at the inaugural Star FM Awards where he had been
announced as the winner at a ceremony held last month.
Although some of Winky D’s songs used to enjoy high
rotation at local mainstream awards ceremonies, the politically incorrect
lyrics seem to have invited sabotage from the high echelons of mainstream
media, a phenomenon that perhaps encouraged the snubbing by Nama adjudicators.
But, his followers would have none of it when the list was
released on Friday raising questions about the intentions of the adjudicators.
Winky D’s camp, through manager Jonathan Banda, refused to
comment on whether they submitted their work for nomination or how they felt
about not being nominated.
“Yes, we have committed to supporting the event in every
way we could over the years,” was all Banda could say.
According to the chairperson of the adjudication panel,
Ruby Magosvongwe, the 10-week selection process was presided over by “seasoned
and highly professional” individuals guided by a specific selection criterion.
“The adjudication was based on submitted entries as well as
those that were identified by individual and institutional monitors that were
appointed to keep an eye on excelling artistes throughout the year,” she said.
This means the judges did not find works like Winky D’s in
the past year worth the nation’s premium arts recognition.
However, if credible, Winky D is left to prove his mettle
in the People’s Choice award category, which one gets by earning the most
online votes from music followers in the country.
Winky D will battle it out with Jah Prayzah in a
longstanding music rivalry left to be settled where it began, the streets,
after the latter, also accused of political dabbling, got only one nomination
this year in the Outstanding Music Video for Dzamutsana.
Both artistes have featured prominently in past awards
ceremonies, but not this 18th edition and the two’s fans may have to vote
extensively to settle the debate of who is better once and for all.
Soon after the announcement of the list, some fans online
could be seen already questioning the glaring absence of the music giants who
are arguably the most influential in this generation.
Efforts to get comment from Jah Prayzah’s camp were
fruitless. National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) spokesperson Catherine
Mthombeni said dates for voting lines for the People’s Choice category would be
announced in the coming days
“The details will be announced in the coming days, but
music followers will get to vote for whoever they want,” she said. The Winky D
and Jah Prayzah showdown will be a sideshow at the Namas to be held under the
theme African Royalty on March 23 at the Harare International Conference
Centre.
ExQ, Enzo Ishall and Baba Harare are set to battle it out
in the Outstanding Male Musician category while Thamsanqa Moyo (aka Tamy),
Janet Manyowa and Sandra Ndebele will battle it out on the female front.
In the Outstanding Song fray, Jah Signal’s Sweetie is
poised for a battle with Kanjiva by Enzo Ishal, Khal’uphethe by Clement Magwaza
and Obert Chari’s Mebo.
Meanwhile, Bustop TV’s Sharon Chideu, widely known as Magi,
is vying for the Outstanding Comedian along with Maforty-forty (real name
Dumisani Ndlovu) and Long John. Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment