ZIMAs: Musicians still place value in our awards

One would ask if it is the lack of resources which materialised the awards outcome in a country that is in a dire economy. But some concerns raised in the media cannot be used as an excuse to attribute to these unfortunate results. The main complaints raised ranged from categories, performances at the event to time management.

As such, the extent at which the event was criticised clouded the good things that came out of the ZIMAs. The event, which was streaming live on Facebook, had astounding visual announcements for nominees and winners. The hosts, Star FM presenter Chief Koti and ZiFM radio personality Miss Becky, displayed creativity at the awards.

Music In Africa spoke with ZIMAs marketing and public relations manager Benjamin Nyandoro, who dismissed some of the comments and labelled them unscrupulous.

Responding to why his organisation failed to honour the late Oliver Mtukudzi, a few days after the first anniversary of his death, Nyandoro said: “Put it this way, it becomes opportunistic and hollow of meaning, that is not our model and approach. This award is not in comparison to. It is based on the year's theme, and ZIMA 2020 focused on yester year celebrations. Our judges picked Andy Brown and that does not take away anything from other deserving artists.”

On the Best Male Award, which most critics contended it was meant for rapper Ti Gonzi but went to Ishan, Nyandoro said the ZIMAs 2020 judging system ensured that there is no conflation of categories adding that “no set of judging information of one category influenced another.”

The Best Hip Hop award, won by Takura who released one song last year, also came under scrutiny and Nyandoro had this to say: “We would rather draw deductions from the system. The outcome was Takura but we do appreciate concerns raised by the public on these categories.”

The R&B & Soul category also came under the spotlight, with critics questioning how Gemma Griffiths – an Indie singer – ended up in that grouping late alone winning the award against Brian Nhira, Nyasha David and Berita.

“Our model entailed artists submitting and specifying which categories they are in,” Nyandoro said. “It could be another effort towards ZIMA 2021 to create conversations around our music genres and their compatibility to universally defined genres.”

Griffiths’ victory in the Best Female Artist of the Year was also received with mixed feelings. Critics claimed that she did not release hit songs save for featuring on Winky D’s hit song ‘MuGarden’. The award, they said, could have been awarded to Tammy Moyo, Shasha and Janet Manyowa.

Commenting on why most award recipients were not present at the event thus not placing value on the ZIMAs, Nyandoro differed.

“I do not agree. Musicians still place value, but that does not take away the need to engage them on possible grievances that we may not be aware of at the moment.”

Responding on why it took the organisers long to start the event, he said: “We had the red carpet affair and immediately moved to the main auditorium for the awards. Yes, we started off a little late, but it was not a train smash.”