Malawi: Gwamba aims to launch hip hop awards in November

Gwamba said the awards would seek to promote upcoming rappers in Malawi and add value to the country's music industry. The awards will feature 13 categories including Male Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Female Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

Gwamba said the inaugural edition of the awards could only be held if the COVID-19 pandemic had subsided.

“This is for everyone who loves Malawian hip hop,” Gwamba said. “We are launching these awards this November, hopefully after the COVID-19 crisis is over. The aim of the awards is to promote and motivate young talent and honour Malawian hip hop and make it more interesting. The plan is for the awards to be an annual event."

He also elaborated on the voting structure of the awards. “There will be a certain amount of money for each category and people will have the chance to vote for artists whom they think deserve to win. There will also be judges, who will be chosen very carefully. These are people who follow Malawian hip hop and who are not affiliated with artists in any way that can cause them to favour them. It will be 50% votes and 50% judges.”

Gwamba said he would not participate in the awards to avoid conflict of interest. "I am not participating at all as an artist. This is for young artists and for the culture,” he said.

Below are the 2020 Malawi Hip Hop Awards categories:

• Male Hip Hop Artist of the Year
• Female Hip Hop Artist of the Year
• Song of the Year
• Album of the Year
• Collabo of the Year
• Hustler of the Year
• Lyricist of the Year
• Gospel Hip Hop of the Year
• Verse of the Year
• Producer of the Year
• Life Time achievement Award
• Best Hip Hop Live
• Rookie of the Year