Chef 187, Kan2 and Jay Rox among winners of Zambian Music Awards

Chef 187 was voted Best Male Artist, carrying on his form from last year’s ZMAs, when we won four trophies. Kan2 was meanwhile named Best Female Artist. The only artist to take home more than one trophy on the night was Jay Rox, whose album Outside the Rox took the awards for Dancehall/RnB Album as well as Best Album.

Angela Nyirenda's Salary was named Best Traditional/Kalindula Album, while B. East by Bobby East won the Hip-Hop/Rap Album category. Petersen Zagaze was named Best Songwriter and Amayenge Asoza received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The winners were announced at a glittering ceremony attended by the Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and Arts Stephen Mwansa, Zambian Breweries Managing Director Annabelle Degroot, National Arts Council chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe and other hig- profile dignitaries.

Degroot told this year’s winners: “The hours you spent penning lyrics, in recording studios and shooting music videos with the type of quality and standard that gets you and the nation noticed across the continent deserves to be recognised and applauded.”

Kapata said: “With support from partners such as Zambian Breweries, the government can promote Zambian art and culture to greater profitable heights capable of making a significant contribution to the country’s GDP.”

“This year the awards are particularly exciting and as a ministry we are proud to be associated with the Mosi Day of Thunder as well. As a nation we will be celebrating our music and our culture. This will go a long way in promoting not only our tourism but also our cultural heritage,” she added.

The awards ceremony, which has grown over the last four years to be the highlight of Zambia’s music industry calendar, brought together the nation’s best performers, producers and artistes for a celebration of all genres from Kalindula to hip-hop.

Many of the winners are now set to perform at the Mosi Day of Thunder music festival in Livingstone on Saturday 30 April alongside South African rapper Cassper Nyovest, in a move that aims to increase the audience participation of the annual celebration of music, arts and culture.

The full list of 2016 ZMA winners is as follows:

• Best Live Recording Album: I am Lenshina by Mumba Yachi
• Best Lead Guitarist: David Andish
• Best Bass Guitarist: David Kasochi
• Best Keyboard Player: Jones Samalama
• Best Drummer: Smith Phiri
• Best Songwriter: Petersen Zagaze
• Best Studio Music Producer: DJ Mzenga Man
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Amayenge Asoza
• Best Dancehall/RnB Album: Outside the Rox by Jay Rox
• Best Hip-Hop/Rap Album: B. East by Bobby East
• Best Traditional/Kalindula Album: Salary by Angela Nyirenda
• Best Female Artist: Kan2
• Best Male Artist: Chef 187
• Best Album: Outside the Rox by Jay Rox
• Best Female Radio DJ: Linzie - Radio 4FM ZNBC
• Best Male Radio DJ: Showstar - Hone FM
• Best New/Upcoming Artist: Wezi

The only category that has not yet been awarded is the Mosi Lager Song of the Year, which will be unveiled live during the Mosi Lager Day of Thunder. For more details check out the Day of Thunder event page.