JUDY receives her award from Corrina Paolini (second from left). On the left is Zachariah Chavula.
BY KELVIN KACHINGWE MAMPI, with over 56,000 followers on her facebook page, surprisingly lost to Judy for the Best Mainstream Female Artiste in the Zambian Breweriessponsored Mosi Zambian Music Awards held last Saturday at the Government Complex in Lusaka.
Of course Judy has had a sterling year with songs like Anaka, but Mampi, by far, remains the most popular artiste, whether female or male, and her loss, in a popular vote, comes as a surprise just like that of Ben Blazer getting the Best Producer ahead of Jerry Fingaz.
But surprises are what these awards seem to be about. Last year, Slap D swept almost everything on board, reducing his nemesis Macky II to a mere spectator.
He has repeated the feat this year, winning a hat trick of awards, the Best Mainstream Album (The Business), Best Hip Hop/Rap Album and Best Mainstream Male Artiste awards.
There was also another upset in the Best Gospel Female Artiste category where the phenomenally talented Rachael Nanyangwe lost out to Karen.
Pompi edged his friend Abel Chungu and Papa Bruno for Best Gospel Male Artiste while the Best New Artiste Award went to Alphonso aka Muzo, who beat Cleo Ice Queen and F-Jay.
The Song of the Year was Kumwesu by Chief 187, Pilato and Afunika while Amayenge, for the second year running, won the award for Best Band.
No surprise there!
James Chamanyazi Ngoma, of the few artistes to perform on the night and win the award, walked away with the Best Kalindula Album Award for his Anthu Ndiwo effort.
Kapalu Lizambo (Wahisa Nganda) and Tusole Band (Mwana Nabutema) were the other contestants.
The Best Reggae Album, won last year by Maiko Zulu, only had one valid nomination by Keith Kapembwa, so he was duly given the award.
The Best Live Recording Album went to the Sakala Brothers for their Born in Matero album. Again, wrong categorisation!
The album, along with the other nominations, Marsha Moyo’s Vested in Love and Papa Bruno’s Ndeyobela, are not live recordings.
Unless, they meant that live instruments were used. But then, that does not make them to be live recordings.
Uncle Rex, who lost out to Sir Jones for Best Lead Guitarist, won the Best Jazz Album for his Fellowship project while Roberto walked away with the Best R ‘n’ B Album for My Name Is… and Best Songwriter awards.
“Thank you guys so much for the love and support. Am over the moon right now. I have the best support team ever. You guys are the best,” Roberto said following his victory.
Best Niyatu Album, a new category for 2014, went to Afunika for his Cimusebo effort, fending off competition from Folo Folo Me (OC) and Just Stupid (Pilato).
The Best Dancehall Album went to B-Flow for his Voiceless Woman, denying T-Sean (90 Days) and Karasa (Titan Revolution) while Mt Sinai won the Best Choral Album for their work with Namutekenya.
The Best Collaboration Award went to Kumwesu by Chef 187, Pilato and Afunika which beat competition from No More Love (Macky II and K’million) and Cry of a Woman (B-Flow and Judy).
DJ Dazzle (Herbert Mutabi) and Lady MC (Marian Chigwedere) won the Best Male Radio and Best Female Radio disc jockeys respectively while the late Father Miha was posthumously honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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