UK: Zimfest 2011 headliners nominated for prestigious Museke awards
Two of this year’s headline artists at Zimfest London festival, Pop sensations Tinashé and the sibling duo BKay and Kazz have been nominated for the prestigious Afrotainment Museke Online African Music Awards.
Zimbabwe-born, London-bred Tinashé of the Zambezi fame and Masvingo natives, BKay and Kazz who are currently riding on the wave of success with their hit new album African Spirit take two of the seven nominations Zimbabwe has received.
BKay and Kazz face stiff competition in the Record of the Year category, from heavyweights 2Face Idibia from Nigeria, Senegalese rap pioneer Awadi and South African lyricist Morale.
An exited Seiraj “BKay” Khan said: “It’s going to be a very stiff competition but we are most chaffed and honoured that African fans all over have given us the nod to make a crack at this.
“What makes me and my brother most proud is knowing that our nominated song, 7 Wonders, is an ode to our country which we so much love. We will make a most special performance of it come Zimfest,” he added.
Hackney boy Tinashé – expected to draw the curtain down on Zimfest 2011 – will make do with facing fellow compatriot, Shingai Shonhiwa of the group Noisettes in a mouth-watering Diaspora song of the Year category. He has the opportunity of a second bite of the cherry with a second nomination in the Alternative Song of the Year category.
The Afrotainment
Museke Online African Music Awards – now in their second year – are built on
the belief of bringing together Africans through music exchange. The awards which
will be determined by public online vote are aimed at giving fans a voice and a
chance to contribute to the acknowledgement of some of the finest in African
musical talent.
A statement by the organisers announcing the nominations list today said: “The second annual AfrotainmentMuseke Online African Music Awards have come with the introduction of new
categories which acknowledge the numerous genres that make up the African music
scene.
“As previously announced, the Voters’
Choice category has been included in order to further engage with
the African music fan in acknowledging artists who may not have enjoyed a lot
of television airplay due to video submission restrictions, but went on to have
an impact on the ground nonetheless,” the statement read.
Also flying the Zimbabwean flag is Dancehall kingpin Winky D (Best Dancehall category – Musarove Bigman), Australia-based R&B singer/producer Audius Reggae (Afro-Fusion category – Saka Manje); and Jah Seed whose song Clueless has been oddly nominated in the Reggae category.
Other artists dominating nominations include South Africa’s Freshlyground, Nigeria’s 2Face Idibia, DRC’s Fally
Ipupa and Senegal’s
Viviane N’dour who all have five nominations each.
Fans of African music are invited to take part in the Afrotainment
Museke Online African Music Awards by voting for their favourite and artists
they feel are most deserving of honours in the various categories from 10
August 2011 until 18 September 2011, when voting will close. Voting will take
place on the awards’ website, www.moamas.com.
For further press information, photography, interviews and case studies please contact the press team:
Henry Makiwa, Press & PR Manager:
+447877499038 / press@zimfestlive.com
Nyasha Murray, Press Officer:
nyashamurray@zimfestlive.com
Or visit our website: http://www.zimfestlive.com/
