Local artists sweep gospel Ingomas
Limpopo's gospel sensation, Mpho Regalo (real name Mpho Victor Gangashe), might be gone, but his music lives on and still touches peoples' hearts
POLOKWANE – Limpopo’s gospel sensation, Mpho Regalo (real name Mpho Victor Gangashe), might be gone, but his music lives on and still touches peoples’ hearts.
This was evident when tears rolled down the cheeks of many guests as Regalo’s elder brother, Dakalo Gangashe, and Palesa Ravele paid tribute to him at the second Independent National Gospel Music Awards (Ingoma) held at the Doxa Deo Hall in Pretoria on Friday night.
Regalo, who died in a car accident which also claimed the life of his mother near Louis Trichardt on 9 May this year, was the biggest winner of the night. He was posthumously awarded the Artist of the Year Award and the Best Traditional Gospel Album. An honorarium in recognition of his contribution to the gospel music industry was also handed over to the members of his family who attended the event.
Regalo’s uncle, Gilbert Mutobvu, thanked the organisers of the awards for the recognition of his late nephew and said the family still mourns his death. “We feel the pain as if it was yesterday, but when you remember and honour our fallen hero this way, we feel happy. It reminds us that he was not only ours, but he belonged to the country. I therefore urge all of you to continue honouring him by buying his CDs and DVDs so that his son could get the best education possible,” said Mutobvu.
Another Limpopo artist who made the province proud was Patience Ntuli. She won the Favourite Female Gospel Artist of the Year as well as the Best Live Recorded DVD of the Year. Ntuli, who had never won an award prior to this event, said the awards open doors for more accolades, adding, she would keep flying the Limpopo flag very high.
Mukovhe Magwedze, commonly known by his stage name, Mr Majo, won the Best Gospel Comedian of the Year, beating bitter rival Tumi-Stopnonsons. The sun did not shine bright for Boitumeli “Tumi-B” Sejeng and Nkhumeleni Ramakhanya. Sejeng was the crowd favourite to win the Best Backing Vocalist of the Year but lost it to Muzie Xulu.
On the side Ramakhanya was nominated twice as the Best Sound Engineer and the Best Recording Studio for his Polokwane-based Ndivho Music Production but unfortunately for him he went home empty handed.
Also honoured on the night were the late Vuyo Mokoena, Sipho Big Fish Makhabane and Thokhozani Nkosi.
