Five-time Grammy Award winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be hosting the first ever annual Isicathamiya awards, the Cothoza Music Awards (COMAs), on 22 June at The Durban Playhouse.
These awards have been a long time coming and had had to be postponed at least twice due to logistical issues. In our previous interview band member Sibongiseni Shabalala said they will open submissions for categories such as acapella, African gospel, Zion to mention some. However, that has changed. He says they will be honouring those who have made the genre to what it has become.
Professor Joseph Shabalala, who founded the Internationally acclaimed legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo 60 years ago, is very happy that these awards are finally taking place, since it has been his long-time dream for Isicathamiya music to be recognised not only as a national music treasure, but also as a great cultural export.
“The COMAs are designed to create a sustainable market for the Isicathamiya music genre and see it getting the media exposure it deserves.” He hopes the COMAs will also expose the genre to a new audience, and he believes the awards will help achieve Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s dream of leaving a lasting legacy for our indigenous music.
Albert Mazibuko, who has been in Ladysmith Black Mambazo since it began, says, “The COMAs will honour and acknowledge great contributions made by Isicathamiya groups dating back from the era of Solomon Linda who created the globally known classic “Imbube”, and also acknowledge the current isicathamiya artists who are the torch bearers of this iconic music genre.”
This is in line with their theme of the awards which is Azibuye emasizweni, A Zulu idiom loosely translated as “Let's go back to our roots”.
Award recipients shall be honoured with special awards to recognise their contribution towards the upliftment of isicathamiya music:
The Ingqwele Award
The Playhouse Company
Alexius Buthelezi
Paulos Msimango
The Professor Joseph Shabalala Ingqalabutho Award
Milton Mazibuko
Herdman Shabalala
Victor Mkhize – Colenso Abafana Benkokhelo
King Star Brothers
Dlamini Home Defenders
Newcastle Five Roses
Easy Walkers
Xolo Home Boys
The Solomon Linda Award
Solomon Linda
The Imbokodo Award
Afrika Mamas
The COMAs will be the culmination of a three-day programme at The Durban Playhouse that includes a masterclass on the 19th of June and the Cothoza Music Concert on the 20th of June. Tickets for the Cothoza Music Concert headlined by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and featuring a number of acts on the 20th of June at 19:00 at The Playhouse cost R150.00 at Ticketweb. Tickets for the COMAs on the 22nd of June at The Playhouse are R150 at Ticketweb.
