Global hit makers go head to head as ZAA announces 2015 nominees
By Arts Correspondent
LONDON – A quintet of global hit makers will do battle for this year’s coveted International Music Artist of the year gong at the fifth anniversary of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA), according to a shortlist released on Friday.
Organisers of the prestigious red carpet event announced over 85 nominees across 18 categories covering business, community work, media, sport and culture, literature and music.
The nominees will be subjected to a public vote starting from the 5th of March till the end of April. Thereafter, an expert panel of ZAA judges will sift through the votes and also apply a rigorous research-based assessment to arrive at the final winners.
ZAA Panel Chairperson Dr Martha Chinouya applauded the public’s enthusiastic participation in the nomination process as more than 500 nominations were received this year.
“We’ve sifted through all the submissions that were put forward for this year’s event and emerged with a strong field of deserving candidates for recognition this year. People can now visit our website to vote for the nominees who have been shortlisted,” Dr Chinouya said.
The music category is a major highlight and cause for much excitement as it brings together five artistes who have distinguished themselves remarkably over the past year.
Millions across the world have sung along to Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z’s hit track Drunk in Love, but very few know about the track’s Zimbabwean producer, Brian Soko.
He’s just become the first Zimbabwean born Grammy winner after the song notched up two awards at this year’s ceremony.
Joining Soko on the list is another US based artist, newly emergent R&B star Tinashe Kachingwe. With millions of Youtube views for her underground mixtapes, Tinashe came over to London in 2013 to headline ZAA’s 2013 event.
The following year, she released her critically acclaimed debut album, Aquarius, which spawned the hit song 2On, featuring rapper Schoolboy Q.
UK-based versatile producer and ‘African dancehall ambassador to the world’, Jusa Dementor, also had a remarkable and highly productive 2014.
With Zim Dancehall finally getting mainstream recognition in Zimbabwe, Jusa has not only contributed to that genre’s burgeoning success but has also fired up the spiritual home of the music – Jamaica.
One of his major 2014 highlights was his production of the ‘Evidence Riddim’ which features a clutch of Jamaican heavyweights including Demarco, I-Octane and Jah Vinci.
Also weighing in with an illustrious 2014 firmly under his belt is US-based producer Tinashe Sibanda aka T-Collar, who co-produced the hit song Them Girls Be Like for the US girl group Fifth Harmony’s debut album, Reflection.
Zimbabwe-based mbira songstress Hope Masike’s hard grinding work ethic saw her traverse the globe dishing out Mbira vibes from Asia to America and back to Africa, all in her stride.
Fuller profiles of this year’s nominees will be made available on the zimachievers.com website to provide the voting public with helpful information about the achievements of all the shortlisted candidates.
This year’s ZAA will be held on the 9th of May at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in London’s affluent Kensington district. With spectacular views of Kensington Palace, and the magnificent Kensington Gardens, the hotel provides a fitting aura of splendour to what is set to be an unforgettable event.
ZAA Executive Director Brian Nyabunze urged the public to take advantage of the current ticket discount which will be ending soon with prices reverting to the standard £89.95 from the current £69.95.
“Our world class ticketing system allows you to choose your seats alongside your companions on the night.
“Groups and corporate bodies that would like to buy tables can also pick the best location in the auditorium, although such choices will increasingly become limited over the next couple of weeks. So hurry and book your table now,” Nyabunze said.
The ZAA is the premier platform within the UK Zimbabwean community for recognising and celebrating the achievements of people of Zimbabwean heritage. Last year’s event at the Royal Garden Hotel proved a hit with guests and organisers have promised to up the bar as the awards body celebrates its fifth anniversary at the same venue.
| Business Awards | |
Company of the Year
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Female Entrepreneur
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Male Entrepreneur
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| Community Awards | |
Community Organisation
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Community Champion
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| Creative Awards | |
Fashion Designer
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Author of the Year
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Innovation
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| Media & Culture Awards | |
Media Organisation
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Radio Presenter / Club Dj of the Year
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Event of the Year
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| Music Awards | |
International Music Artist
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International Gospel Music Artist
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| Sports Awards | |
Sports Personality of the year
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| Special Awards | |
Young Achievers
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Lifetime AchievementChairman’s Award |
| People’s Choice Awards | |
People’s Choice
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Personality of the Year
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| Tourism Awards | |
Tourism Award
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