The much-anticipated first annual Basadi in Music Awards revealed a hot list of talented nominees. The intimate affair was held in a virtual event at Kaya959 studios in Johannesburg recently.
The mandate of the Basadi in Music Awards is all about women empowerment. It is about celebrating girl power in music.
DBN Gogo, Nomfundo Moh and Pabi Cooper lead the pack with three nominations each for the inaugural Basadi in Music Awards.
The public voted for all the nominees. Also announced was the prestigious CEO’s Mosadi in Business Achievement Award, the honour will be bestowed on a select few in recognition of their successes.
DBN Gogo is up for Artist of the Year, DJ of the Year and Song of the Year for Bambelela; while Pabi Cooper earned nods in SAMPRA Amapiano.
Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for Banyana ke Bafana, Nomfundo Moh is nominated in Kaya959 Afropop Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for Phakade Lami.
Sitting with two nominations, Makhadzi is in the running for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for Ghanama, so is Lerato Kganyago in the DJ of the Year and Entertainment Radio Presenter categories. She will also be honoured with the CEO’s Mosadi in Business Achievement Award.
Simmy also walked away with two nominations for Artist of the Year and Sofn free Dance Artist of the Year while Chairo is nodded in Gospel Artist of the Year and Newcomer of the Year categories. Skye Wanda is up for the Songwriter of the Year and Kaya959 Afropop Artist of the Year and Jamie Lee Sexton is nominated in the Pop Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year categories.
DJ Zinhle is in the running for DJ of the Year category and will receive the CEO’s Mosadi in Business Achievement Award.
The categories for Kontemporêre Kunstenaar van die Jaar, Music Video Director of the Year, Gqom Artist of the Year and Kwaito Artist of the Year were abandoned because they did not receive any votes.
“Kaya 959 is proud to sponsor the Afro pop category for the first annual Basadi in Music awards. To be a part of an event that honours women in their endeavours is truly a pleasure. Congratulations to all the nominees who continue to break boundaries in this often-male dominated industry embrace their power through the music and entertain us every day,” says Managing Director Sibongile Mtyali at Kaya 959.
Hloni Modise, CEO and founder of Basadi in Music Awards had this to say: “We are proud of the calibre of nominees for the first ever Basadi in Music Awards. We send our congratulations and best wishes to our nominees.
By Sinenzolo Mondi – Nduku
