Fingers crossed for stars nominated in MAMA awards

eMalahleni also takes pride when it comes to talent that settles the city on the charts.

For this season, two local artists have found a spot amongst other nominees of Mzansi Arts and Media Awards (MAMA) 2020, a competition that aims are to uplift local artists in South Africa to assist them in reaching their dreams within the arts and media industry.

Siyambonga Somgasi (Fire) was left on cloud nine when he learnt that he made it on the nominees for best poet category, on Mzansi Arts and Media Awards as well as Golden Arts and Media Awards 2020.

He is known for making crowds go wild when he delivered a poem to emphasise on what was discussed during a tuberculosis awareness campaign, hosted by the Mpumalanga Department of Health at Lynville Stadium in March.

“I am so happy, and asking for fans as well as those who believe in my talent to help me win through voting for me as many times as they can, I still have more to entertain,” he said.

Jongi Robho, a maskandi artist from Empumelelweni who is popularly known as Oonomalinge, is also nominated for his debut album titled Lonakele as the best upcoming artist of the year.

The album was released in May 2019, which saw locals rejoicing proudly to embrace a genre that is said to resonate with their culture.

“People welcomed the album very well last year and earlier this year he was called to perform but due to the pandemic, he was not able to deliver his performance. I am happy and bust with pride and so are his fans for him being recognized as the best upcoming artist of the year, he worked so hard,” said the management of the artist, Welcome Rhobho.

Maskandi is a genre of music from the Nguni tribe that is growing with the South African society. It is described as “the music played by the man on the move, the modern troubadour. It is the music of the man walking the long miles to attract a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a means of transport. The music of a man who sings of his real-life experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world and the music of a man who got the Zulu blues,” by Ethekwini Online.

“When someone is singing uMaskandi they are talking about who they are and where they come from. Many people here in eMalahleni like it because it is part of culture and traditions, we have had even people who are speaking Sepedi also listening to it as a result. It is loved, and we are currently preparing for the second release of an album probably from next month because now it is still being mastered although we finished recording” he added.

To vote for the duo, SMS BEST UPCOMING ARTIST MAMA 3841 for Jongi and BEST POET for Siyambonga to 40439.