ZIMBABWEAN gospel choir Xtreme Afrique, fronted by local producer Lyton Ngolomi, on Sunday scooped the prestigious Africa Golden Virtual Award at a ceremony held in Canada and broadcast live on Africa Ahead Web TV.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The inter-denominational choir was the only group from Southern Africa that was nominated in the Best Artiste/Group African Gospel category of the awards that honour personalities in music, sport, politics, cinema, fashion, literature and media.
The 35-member Xtreme Afrique choir battled for the top gong with other top groups like Labe’l from Cameroon, Chorale Notre Dame De La Salette from Gabon and Nigeria’s Lara George who were also the nominees in the same category.
Speaking to NewsDay, Xtreme Afrique spokesperson Ngolomi, who is also the group’s keyboardist, said it was an honour for them to win the prestigious Africa Golden Virtual Award giving praise to the Lord.
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“Glory be to God, winning the Africa Golden Virtual Award is a testimony that Xtreme Afrique choir has the ability of making it big globally,” Ngolomi said.
“Thank you Africa especially Zimbabweans for your votes, you have made us proud. Keep on supporting Xtreme Afrique gospel choir.”
Xtreme Afrique moulded along the lines of other big regional choirs, like the South African Joyous Celebration, is slowly providing stiff competition to some top local and well-established groups like the Joseph Madziyire-led Zimpraise choir.
Among other winners were Nigerian Afropop singer Yemi Alande who won the Best African Artiste award, Best Female Artiste, West Africa was awarded to Almok, Congolese Fabrigas Le Metis Noir won the Best Male Artiste Central Africa, Don Jazzy and The Mavins’ Dorobucci video won the Best Videogram African Music award, Tour De Garde of Canada won the Best Artiste of Diaspora, Nathalie Makoma, a Congolese Dutch singer-songwriter, won the Best Female Artiste Central Africa and Angolan singer Anselmo Cordeiro da Mata, better known as Anselmo Ralph, won the Best Male Southern Africa award.