By: Lungisa Somtombo
The Eastern Cape Music Awards makes its return next month in East London and the organisers are promising a bigger and better event.
The third annual ECMAS awards will be held on the 2nd of February at the Guild Theatre.
The brains and organiser behind this event Koko Godlo said the awards are aimed at celebrating and giving local artist recognition from their birth place. He believes that the Eastern Cape should give recognition to its own artists and not wait until they are nationally recognised to celebrate them.
¨An artist should first be recognised at home before they are recognised nationally, for example Nathi, Mobi Dixion, Vusi Nova won their first awards at the ECMAS before they won other awards¨ he said.
The ECMAS have 12 categories, which include best newcomer, best kwaito, best gospel, best hip hop, best traditional song and best male and female with the biggest categories being the song and artist of the year.
This year’s awards bring a new category which is the best community radio programme and some of the nominees are Mdantsane FM’s Thando Dj Dololo Kobese, and Ngqushwa FM’s Anda Dimbaza, Mbalentle Mgudlwa and Bukelwa Godongwana.
The event will be hosted by Umhlobo Wenene’s Amaza accompanied by Mdantsane FM´s Anita Rula and the audience will be treated to performances by Dumi Mkokstad, Butho Vuthela, Dj Jigga, Bethusile Mcinga, Mjazz and many more¨ said Godlo. Tickets will be sold at computicket for R190.