GHANAIAN reggae sensation Abubakar “Blakk Rasta” Ahmed received a rude awakening as a guest performer at the seventh edition of the Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima) at the Harare International Conference Centre as people walked out of the venue in the midst of his performance.
BY ARTS REPORTERS
Blakk Rasta, who was the guest artiste at the event which was mainly an honour of the two Bobs, President Robert Mugabe and the late Jamaican reggae artiste Robert Nesta Marley, sprang to the stage some few minutes before midnight, but fans walked out on him despite his thrilling performance.
The concert, which saw the posthumous honouring of Bob Marley with a lifetime award, was dubbed Well Done Bob, in honour of Mugabe under the theme Celebrating Leadership Through Music.
Marley, who died at the age of 36 in 1981, played in Harare just before Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 36 years ago. Mugabe has been in power for the past 36 years.
While the event organisers’ idea of bringing Blakk Rasta as a guest performer to join the star-studded line-up of local performers among them Roki, Ammara Brown, internationally acclaimed RnB artist Queen Vee, Ras Jabu and Extreme Africa gospel group was embraced by reggae enthusiasts, they were, however, left with egg on the face as he performed in an “empty” auditorium.
Many people could not wait to watch Blakk Rasta, who released a song titled Mugabe about five years ago, perform as he came on stage very late around 23: 35 hours after local musicians had already electrified the atmosphere with their top-notch performances.
As if that was not enough, contrary to the organisers’ claims that a family representative of the late Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley would grace the ceremony to receive the “controversial” Life Time Achievement gong awarded to him, many were shocked when Blakk Rasta stepped forward to collect the prize on behalf of the Marley family.
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Blakk Rasta went ahead to give an acceptance speech contrary to Zima officials that the speech would only be done via Skype or a pre-recorded message.
“Rita Marley could not make it here because of ill-health and she asked me to take this award on her behalf,” Blakk Rasta said.
The awards ceremony proved to be more of a fashion show as many of the nominees took time to pose for Kodak moments on the red carpet.
Award-winning Afro-jazz musician Selmor Mtukudzi, who was recently appointed the Face of Elephant ambassador by the Ministry of Environment, unveiled the dress that was designed by South Africa-based designer Thembani Mubochwa at the ceremony.
NewsDay Arts reporter Winstone Antonio scooped the Best Journalist Award in the print category.
In the music category, Jah Prayzah continued to shine as he walked away the biggest winner of the night scooping three awards: Best Traditional Music, Best Album of the Year and Best Male Artise ahead of dancehall chanters Killer T and Winky D who were serious contenders in their categories.
It was joy for rising and talented gospel musician Janet Manyowa who also shone at the event bagging two awards as the Best Newcomer and Best Female Artiste.
Killer T, who walked away empty handed after being nominated in three categories at the recent National Arts Merit Awards (Nama), found solace as he scooped the Best Dancehall Music Award with his well-received album- Ngoma Ndoimba.
Interestingly, Killer T was again sitting on three nominations similar to the Nama nominations with the only difference being the categories. Winky D scooped the Song of the Year award with his hit Disappear which is doing well locally and internationally as it is among the top five hits on BBC’s Afro Beats by DJ Edu.
Other winners were Buffalo Soul Jah who received the International Achiever Award, Roki and Ex-Q scooped the Best Duo or Group award, Andy Cutta received the Best Video Award for the production of Alleluia that features Roki and Ex-Q, Best Producer Award went to Prince Oskid Tapfuma and Tamuka Mukulumi for their Kenako Volume 1, Shingie Mangoma and Reverb7 won the Best Single Award.
Mathius Mhere’s album Glory to Glory won the Best Traditional Gospel Music Award, dendera ace Sulumani Chimbetu won the Best Sungura Award with his album Gunship, the song Kure by Ammara Brown and Jah Prayzah scooped the Best Collaboration Award, Moto Ngaubvire by Cynthia Mare won the Best Alternative Music Award, Best Contemporary Gospel Music award was scooped by Takesure Zamar and Worship Addicts with the song Kuregerera In Advance, Bebengakholwa by Cal_Vin won the Best Hip Hop Music Award, Skaiva scooped the Best House Music Award with the song It’s Love, Nkwali by Nkwali won the Best a capella Award, Best R’nB/Soul/Afro Pop award went to Trevor Dongo with his song Two Steps To Go with the Best Choral Music Award going to Sebastian Magacha and African Joy for the song The Battle Against Evil.
Zima awards chairperson Joseph Nyadzayo presented President Robert Mugabe with a bugle (an instrument which falls under the brass family instruments, having no valves or other pitch-altering devices) which he said the President used to play during his heyday.
The present was received by Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane who was tasked to take it to Mugabe.
“The President was once a musician who played in a band so to honour him I have looked for the instrument which he used to play, the bugle. If he goes back to play the instrument, he might not produce the same sound that he used to create, but there is one category that he is going to fit — the most promising newcomer artiste,” Nyadzayo said.
