Read more
Robot-Boii pays homage to Amapiano genre after winning Trace Award
A number of South African artists were nominated but only Robot-Boii and Nomcebo Zikode walked away winners on the night.
Robot-Boii was awarded the Best Dancer at the inaugural Trace Awards over the weekend. Picture: Robot_Boii
To cap off a successful weekend for South Africans on the international stage, Robot-Boii won the Best Dance award at the inaugural Trace Awards which took place in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, paying homage to Amapiano.
“First of all I’d like to thank God, I’d like to thank my parents. This one is for South Africa. Most of the dance styles that we see on the internet are generated from the genre of Amapiano. I wanna thank everybody for showing Amapiano love, I wanna thank the whole Africa, I thank Trace,” said Robot-Boii in his acceptance speech.
Real name Mzwakhe Mbuli Jr, the son of seasoned poet Mzwakhe Mbuli, Robot-Boii became the first ever winner of the Best Dance at the awards, fending off competition from the rest of the continent.
“All the dancers that are growing up watching this, telling themselves they can’t do the most [they can], black child it’s possible.”
Robot-Boii has built a solid reputation as a multi-talented creative since he got on the scene as one of the hosts on the Lockdown House party that took place during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
His brand has now expanded beyond hosting TV shows. He is now a recognised muso in his own right. He plays drums and is also part of the Popcorn and Cheese comedy podcast with Mpho ‘Popps’ Modikoane.
Robot-Boii hadn’t responded to The Citizen’s request for a comment at the time of publishing.
ALSO READ: Mbongeni Ngema left impressed by Team Limpopo on Clash of the Choirs SA
Some won, some lost
The Trace Awards are a new awards franchise created by Trace, a global TV and multimedia platform. The purpose of the awards is to recognise African and Afro-influenced musicians.
Trace chairman and co-founder Olivier Laouchez, prior the awards, said: “The Trace Awards’ nominations salute achievement and excellence from more than 150 performers, producers, DJs, writers, composers, directors, established artists and rising stars, and their management and labels.”
Grammy award winner Nomcebo Zikode was the other South African that walked away with a gong in the Best Global African Artist (Female).
While South African rapper KO walked away empty-handed after being nominated in three categories which included Song of the Year for Sete and Best Male which went to Nigeria’s Davido.
The Nigerian also won the Best Collaboration category, for the song Unavailable, which he did with Mzansi’s Musa Keys.
South Africa’s Pabi Cooper was also pipped in the Best Newcomer category, which was won by the Ivory Coast’s Roseline Layo. Another Ivory Coast artist Tam Sir, beat South Africans in the Producer of the Year category where DJ Maphorisa and Kabz De Small were nominated.
NOW READ: Masechaba Ndlovu opens up about conceiving after infertility diagnosis
