The Zimbabwe Music Awards were held this past weekend at a star studded affair at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare. Freeman HKD was the big winner on the night, walking away with 4 awards including Best Album and Song of the Year. Other noteworthy winners were Feli Nandi, Janet Manyowa and Leo Magozz who got two a piece.
On the night Tymon ‘Whitehorse’ Mabaleka was posthumously honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. During his lifetime Mabaleka was both a footballer and music producer. He had a career spanning 2 decades in both music and football.
The list of musicians he worked with and produced for is endless. It features Zimbabwean household musicians like Oliver Mtukudzi, James Chimombe, Lovemore Majaivana, Ilanga, Solomon S’kuza and the Fallen Heroes, Ebony Sheikh, The Frontline Kids, Shepherd Chinyani and the Vhuka Boys, Leonard Zhakata, the late John Chibadura, The Essentials, Kassongo Band and the Zimbabwe People’s Band, as well as many others.
Here is the full list of winners:
BEST GROUP/DUO
Indosakusa
BEST NEWCOMER
Leo Magozz
BEST ALBUM
David & Goliath – Freeman HKD
BEST ZIMDANCEHALL
Freeman HKD
BEST SUNGURA
Mark Ngwazi
BEST AFROPOP/AFROFUSION
Ishan
BEST HIP HOP
Saintfloew
BEST COLLABORATION
Leo Magozz & Friends – Fire Emoji Remix
BEST CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL
Janet Manyowa
BEST TRADITIONAL GOSPEL
Dorcas Moyo
BEST RnB & SOUL
Nyasha Timbe
BEST JAZZ
Josh Meck
BEST DANCE (HOUSE, AMAPIANO, KWAITO, EDM)
Leslie Kampila
BEST TSHIBILIKA
Insimbi Zezhwane
BEST TRADITIONAL (CHINYAKARE/CHIMURENGA)
Mary Anibal
BEST TRADITIONAL (FOLK, EZOMDABU, IMBUBE)
Amaqaqa
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Feli Nandi
BEST PRODUCER
Oskid
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Janet Manyowa – Vaudze
BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
Studio Art Pictures
BEST DIASPORA ARTIST
Dr Chaii
BEST MALE ARTIST
Freeman HKD
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Feli Nandi
SONG OF THE YEAR
Vakomana vedrip – Freeman HKD
You can find the full list of nominees here.
