The 4th annual Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards nominations for 2019 are currently open and will close on the 31st of July 2019. Nominations to be submitted for the award show that is set to take place on the 30th of November at the lavish Big Top Arena is set to return to Carnival City for the second time in a row. The awards were previously hosted successfully in Soweto but have had to move to accommodate their growing audience who enjoy experiencing the nostalgia brought on by MKHMA. The nomination announcement is set to take place on the 30th of August, at Zone 6 venue in Soweto.
For a while now the talk has been "Kwaito is dead" and you obviously don't share the same sentiments, why are you guys on the other side of the said statement?
Kwaito is more than a genre we grew up listening to. It has now become a culture for everybody who grew up ekasi. From the dancers who still dance ispantsula in the hood to the signature dress code of wearing All Stars and umathand’ekishini. Kwaito is still alive in each and every one of us.
Why did you guys see the need for these awards?
When the awards were launched over 4 years ago, many people were led to believe that Kwaito is dead and that didn’t sit well with MKHMA management and many of the artists that were still releasing Kwaito music. We have been on a mission ever since to change the narrative by showing people that Kwaito is very much alive. Spikiri proved this at the SAMA’s when he walked away the winner in a category that had 2 other genres in it. As things stand, MKHMA is the ONLY award ceremony that allows Kwaito, House and Gqom music to flourish and grow in their respective lane.
We not only award the legends and well known musicians that have and are still making us dance, but we also recognise and honour the future stars of these genres and also assist them in making a name for themselves. No other award ceremony has upcoming musicians sharing a stage with well-known and popular musicians.
Is Kwaito and Mzansi Houses influence visible in today's South African music?
Most definitely. The influence Kwaito and House music has in South Africa is still very much visible. Take for example the new genre called amapiano. This is a sub-genre of House music. Gqom which is also very popular in South Africa, is a combination of both House and Kwaito music. Even the likes of Cassper, Kwesta and K.O make a lot of Kwaito music but that has unfortunately classified as Hip Hop. We as MKHMA are here to educate people and inform them on the Kwaito sound which has since evolved to give birth to a number of genres and sub-genres.
The Mzansi Kwaito and House Music awards prides itself unearthing and grooming upcoming musical talent that will contributing to the success and sustainability of the Kwaito and House genres in South Africa. In our mission to make this a reality, MKHMA has made strategic changes to their 2019 categories to keep up with internationally accepted standards and music trends that will cater for an awards show of its stature.
How will these years awards serve better than the previous ones?
The say we shouldn’t change what isn’t broken and that is why not much will change with the 4th annual Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards. What we will be doing differently in 2019 is have roadshows and activations to around the country to get unheard talent to be part of the awards for this year. We will also be assisting upcoming musicians to get interviews and publicity, if they are nominated this year.
How does this platform serve young, up and coming Kwaito and House artists?
As previously mentioned, we do allow upcoming musicians to perform at our award ceremony and #MKHMA19 won’t be any different. We will also be awarding the winner and runner up in the Best New Kwaito Artist and Best New House Artist categories. This change has been made to motivate upcoming musicians to work hard and hopefully get an award for next year.
Are bigger brands welcoming and assisting with the awards or they still reluctant to and which brands have come on board to partner with MKHMA?
Getting funding has been very difficult and we haven’t had much support from brands but we are still pushing on and hopefully more brands will want to be part of the awards in future. With that being said, MKHMA would like to thank Alex FM and Eldos FM for believing in us and being our media partner in 2018. Special mention goes out to SAMRO for believing in us and South African music as a whole and also Sun International for hosting us in 2018 and we are looking forward to returning at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City.
What message would you like to pass to the nominees and public in general?
We would like to ask musicians who would like to be nominated in the awards, to PLEASE read the rules and regulations before submitting their entry for nomination. We have had difficulty with people who just submit without carefully checking the rules and we have had to disqualify some entries because of this.
To the public at large, we ask them to support and buy local music. Without them supporting our home grown music, the industry in South Africa will not grow that much and we won’t be able to get more artists to perform overseas and in other countries.
The Founder and CEO of MKHMA, Ms Perfecta Khumalo encourages all artists to send in their entry forms as this is an opportunity they need not miss out. “I encourage all artists to send their entry forms through. Please read the rules and regulation before you fill in an entry form. I am excited as this year we have a second runner up prize but only for the upcoming Kwaito & House artists. We have so many surprises hence we say, #ZizowaMore.” Says Perfecta.
One of the notable changes for 2019 is that upcoming artists will get a prize for the runner up alongside the winner who will receive the award.
A total of 19 categories have also being confirmed for the 4th annual Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards show, with organizers mentioning that they will be embarking on a nationwide tour to look out for young talent who will be the future stars that will be taking part in the award show. Categories for the 4th annual Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Award Show are as follows:
Best Kwaito Artist
Best New Kwaito Artist
Best Kwaito Single
Best Kwaito Radio Personality
Best House Artist
Best New House Artist
Best House Single
Best House Radio Personality
Most Voted Song
Best Collaboration
Radio Station That Plays Kwaito
Best Music Video
Best Producer
Best New Age Kwaito Song
Best Kwaito Song (2001-2005)
Best Kwaito/Gqom Group or Duo
Best Mapantsula Dance Group
Best Gqom Artist
Best DJ
Previous MKHMA winners include Mshoza, Mandoza, Busisiwa, Spikiri and Drencko to name a few. MKHMA is not only about awarding musicians but we also care about developing the future stars who will be carrying the Kwaito and House flame before giving it to the next generation of bright talent.
Ona Leburu who is our 2018 winner of the Best Kwaito Radio Personality category while at North West University FM, has now been given a bigger role of being the host of another Kwaito show at Mahikeng FM, in the North West province. MKHMA also played a major part in assisting DJ Miss T get her kwaito mixes played on Transafrica radio as a resident DJ. Through the assistance of MKHMA, the first female Kwaito DJ is a 2 time nominee and former resident DJ at Mahikeng FM.
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