Kempton Park hosts inaugural East Rand Music Awards

Emerging and established musicians were recognised for their achievements when the East Rand Music Awards were held at Amix Lounge in Kempton Park on June 26.

Artists, supporters, family members, friends and community members gathered to celebrate local music talent during the awards ceremony.

Fifty nominees competed across five categories: DJ of the year, manager of the year, song of the year, lyricist of the year and best artist on the rRise. Winners were determined through a public SMS voting process.

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East Rand Music Awards CEO and director Mfundo Zwane said the awards were established to recognise local artists and provide emerging musicians with a platform to gain exposure.

“What inspired the establishment of the awards was my dream of creating an organisation that could one day be recognised alongside prestigious music awards while helping upcoming musicians gain the recognition they deserve,” said Zwane.

He said he personally oversaw the SMS voting process to ensure every vote was accurately recorded.

The ceremony brought together both emerging and established musicians, allowing aspiring artists to interact with and learn from experienced performers.

“I invited the three celebrities because they inspire many of the nominees who participated in the awards. Their messages of encouragement motivated the upcoming musicians to continue pursuing their dreams,” Zwane said.

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Musicians Zola 7, Touchline and Madala TK attended the event as special guests and were presented with awards and certificates in recognition of their contributions to the South African music industry.

For Zwane, one of the highlights of the evening was hearing the inspirational messages shared by Zola 7 and Touchline.

“Working with them has always been a dream of mine. To have them at the awards and hear their words of encouragement was truly humbling,” he said.

He added that he hopes the awards will have a positive impact on the careers of both emerging and established musicians.

Looking ahead, Zwane plans to expand the event by introducing more award categories, increasing the number of nominees and attracting more guest artists.

He also hopes to establish the East Rand Music Awards as an annual celebration of local musical talent.
Award winners
• Best artist on the rise: Alpha Skul
• DJ of the year: W Slim
• Manager of the year: Refilwe
• Lyricist of the year: Prodigal Blaze
• Song of the year: Congratulations by Boboza N Toto featuring Aymos and Em-One