Bulawayo’s perfect BAA moment

02 Jul, 2017 - 02:07 0 Views
Bulawayo’s perfect BAA moment Some of the Bulawayo Arts Awards (first edition) winners (clockwise) Madlela Skhobokhobo, Cal_Vin, Sandra Ndebele, and Cont Mhlanga on stage. Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Bulawayo mayor Clr Martin Moyo presented the big award to Skhobokhobo for the song of the year at the Large City Hall on Friday night.

The Sunday News

Some of the Bulawayo Arts Awards winners (clockwise) Madlela Skhobokhobo, Cal_Vin, Sandra Ndebele, and Cont Mhlanga on stage. Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Bulawayo mayor Clr Martin Moyo presented the big award to Skhobokhobo for the song of the year at the Large City Hall on Friday night.

Some of the Bulawayo Arts Awards winners (clockwise) Madlela Skhobokhobo, Cal_Vin, Sandra Ndebele, and Cont Mhlanga on stage. Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Bulawayo mayor Clr Martin Moyo presented the big award to Skhobokhobo for the song of the year at the Large City Hall on Friday night.

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THERE is an old adage that goes something like “You do not test the depth of water with both feet”. Wait for it.

When news about Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) started circulating, I just rolled my eyes and said oh well, just a whole lot of gibberish, what awards, who will co-ordinate them, the economy is bad, who has money to sponsor an event of such magnitude, we owe Zesa, the city council, omastanda (landlords), we have so much to do and someone is making noise about awards. Please.

I did not see any light at the end of the tunnel so I never paid much attention to the buzz that was going on. Social media was awash with updates, everyone was just hash tagging — a phenomenon loved by many today. If it’s cold they hashtag, if it burns they hashtag so they hashtagged away-#BAAzw.

Still I was not moved, I just scrolled past posts about “these” arts awards. They tweeted, posted on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. Basically, Bulawayo in its entirety made noise about the event. Doubting Thomas still did not believe the awards will come.

Thoughts were that the event may not be well co-ordinated since it was a first, people may not turn up since it’s cold these days, performers will not do a good job, what do people even wear, who has money to blow and so on. My faith in the awards was even smaller than a mustard seed.

Then boom, I had an epiphany. I woke up from my dream; I realised the awards were there, they had arrived and I was far from ready. I guess the team that was behind advertising made good out of their task because I think it is the way everyone spoke about the event and the heavy social media visibility that made it kick in. Had I not seen the posts repeatedly and hashtags I would not have made second thoughts.

I found myself looking for a dress on Wednesday, just two days before the event and lady luck was smiling on me, I had no trouble getting one. The shoes I bought just an hour before the event, the rest fell into place.

Fast forward to the night in question, everything was lit as they call it today. They promised a red carpet, it was there, they promised picture perfect moments and yes, they were there. They said there would be glitz and glamour and yes, it was there.

The event was well-organised. Entering the venue was stress-free and people peacefully made their way in and were ushered to their respective areas. And by the way everyone basically got the memo; the guests were dressed to the nines. They did not disappoint, hair and makeup was flawless, it was like the whole of Bulawayo decided to say let’s not disappoint, let us go all out and shine and show the world what we have as the City of Kings and Queens.

The choreography was perfect. The opening act in my view was one that got the crowd straight into gear number 10 and they never stopped. The energy they exuded to the guests kept them on their feet and they kept asking for more. It propelled the mood of the night into the right direction and the crowd was on its feet till the last act.

The VIPs and VVIPs were treated like royalty, snacks were available throughout the night and drinks were flowing, thanks to an organised team that saw guests swiping the night away. Many guests said they were happy that there was a swipe machine that was available throughout the night such that they managed to buy drinks with ease.

The presenters managed to get the crowd into cheers and laughter as they connected well with them. There was never a dull moment. The roping in of locals made guests feel at home as they were familiar with who was talking to them.

However, designers from this end of town failed to make an impression at such an event. The feeling was, they should have dressed the who’s who of Bulawayo and market themselves. There was no harm to even flash the designer behind an artiste’s or presenters’ outfit. Well I’m sure 2018 will be better.

Local companies should have also made an impression to showcase what they make, just a handful of companies advertised at the venue. The night was long and fun, winners took gongs home and better luck next time for those who did not make it. The whole event was just like clockwork-perfect.
Bulawayo did not test the water with one foot, it literally jumped in to the deep end, and guess what, they didn’t drown. The night however, belonged to musician Madlela Skhobokhobo who won two awards including the big one, Song of the year Award for the hit Ngamnanka uSamaMo, Cal_Vin for

Outstanding Male Musician of the Year, Sandra Ndebele for Oustanding Female Musician of the Year and Cont Mhlanga who got a Lifetime Achievement award, Jeys Marabini Outstanding Alternative Music and South Africa-based DJ Oskido for Best Ambassor based in South Africa. There were 40 winners, among them Star FM radio personality Phathisani Sibanda who scooped the Best DJ of the Year award and Sunday News, Chronicle and B-Metro Correspondent Bruce Ndlovu who won the Best Arts Reporter of the Year award. Well done Bulawayo!

The event was graced by politicians and Government officials among them Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, Bulawayo Mayor Clr Martin Moyo, legislators Joseph Tshuma and Thokozani Khupe, former Deputy Mayor Gift Banda, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director Elvas Mhari as well as seasoned artistes Albert Nyathi and Sihlangu Dlodlo among others. Captains of industry were also well represented with United Refineries Limited chief executive officer, Busisa Moyo leading from the front, as well as sporting personalities led by Highlanders Football Club expatriate coach Elroy Akbay and veteran coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu. The Large City Hall was filled to capacity, as Bulawayo residents came in numbers to witness the inaugural awards that proved that indeed the city is the melting pot of arts and culture in Zimbabwe, a true representation of heritage and cultures from the breath and length of the country.

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