HARARE - Today marks the end of 2012, a year that witnessed an exciting array of exceptional Zimbabwean music.
The Daily News awards the movers and shakers of the Zimbabwean musical scene in the just ended year.
Band of the Year: Mokoomba
IMMENSELY talented musical group Mokoomba is our choice of Zimbabwe’s top musical group for 2012. The Victoria Falls outfit was propelled to international stardom by their 8-track album Rising Tide that group launched in April at Alliance Francaise in Harare.
This month the album was voted into best albums of 2012 by Songlines Magazine, The Guardian UK, Froots Magazine, Afropop worldwide and the World Music Charts Europe.
The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom in particular selected Mokoomba’s Rising Tide as the third best world and folk music album of 2012.
Mokoomba’s creditable honour by The Guardian follows their recent inclusion into a select list of thirty leading bands chosen by the World Music Expo (WOMEX) from a pool of over a thousand bands from all over the world.
On October 16 this year, the group performed before a studio audience on a BBC programme Later with Jools Holland. This programme propelled their latest album Rising Tide to the number one spot in the iTunes UK World Music Charts.
Spurred on by Mathias Muzaza’s powerful and searing vocals, the band won rave reviews during the 2012 tour of Europe that took them to Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia and Switzerland.
Album of the Year: Syllabus by Suluman Chimbetu
THE dendera heir apparent’s fourth album Syllabus launched amid befitting fanfare at Jazz 105 in mid-November , has gone a long way in demonstrating that Suluman is now his own man.At long last Suluman appears to have managed to escape his father’s huge shadow.
The controversial Sean Timba, which features Jah Prayzah and has been attacked in certain quarters for allegedly glorifying violence, has been a permanent feature at parties and weddings this festive season.
Rookie of the Year: Ammarra Brown
THE daughter of the late Andy Brown has shown that she is a serious talent. The former A Academy participant’s glitzy and well-choreographed performances impressed revellers at shows throughout 2012. Ammara, who spent more than five years in the United States, writes all her songs and is tipped by many to scale the iconic heights reached by her late father.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Oliver Mtukudzi
ZIMBABWEAN music legend Oliver Mtukudzi celebrated his 60th birthday celebrations at the Glamis Arena, at Harare Showgrounds, where he launched his 61st album, Sarawoga.
South African musicians Dorothy Masuka, Ringo Madlingozi and Judith Sephuma were there to help him celebrate. Zimbabwean artists who included Alick Macheso,Jah Prayzah and Munya Matarutse performed at the celebratory concert attended by at least 10 000 people.
Song of the Year: Ndinonyara by Nox
EARLY this year, Nox released his love hit Ndinonyara, a uniquely produced track that captured the imagination of music lovers across the country. The 29 year old songster’s most popular song yet generated over 150 000 hits on YouTube.
Gospel Album of the Year: Anoita Minana by Mathias Mhere
LITTLE-KNOWN Mathias Mhere has been attacked by some gospel music purists for mimicking Mutare –based Blessing Shumba, but there is no denying the fact that his album Anoita Minana hogged most of the gospel limelight in the just ended year. Favour and Vimba naJehovha Mwari Wako, two songs off the popular album produced at Light On Studios, have taken the Zimbabwean music scene by storm.
- Dakarai Mashava, Entertainment Editor