Calvin Mangena dominates Roil BAA nominations list

Patience Muchemwa

Versatile artiste, Calvin Mangena dominates nominations for the 7th edition of the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards Nominations set for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Hall 3 in the City of Kings this Saturday.

The Bulawayo-based gospel and amapiano musician has been nominated for the Outstanding Arts Song of the Year for his offering Ihulumende, Outstanding Male Artiste, Outstanding Music Video, again with Ihulumende and Outstanding Alternative Music categories.

Insimbi Zezhwane, still smarting from the tragic loss of two of their members, lead vocalist and lead guitarist, Elvis “MaEli” Mathe and drummer Thembinkosi Mpofu popularly known as Maviri, back in August this year got two nominations for Outstanding MaEli Tshibilika/Rhumba Act as well as Outstanding Song of the Year for their song GPS.

The nominations list also includes past winners in music producers Godwin Smallz and Neshville, Madlela Skhobokhobo, Clement Magwaza, actress Charmaine Mudau and Musawenkosi Sibanda.

Roil BAA Communications Officer, Kudakwashe Takundwa confirmed that the event will take place this Saturday saying they have 33 categories.

“Yes, the awards are on this Saturday at ZITF Hall 3 in Bulawayo, 35 awards will be given on the night. This includes Life-achievement and People’s Choice. The People’s Choice is currently being voted for on the awards website and closes on the 23rd with top 10 finalists being availed to the public on Friday and will be voted for by ballot on awards night.

“We will also honour seven icons/events that have occurred in the last seven years.

“The 7th edition of the Roil BAA’s will take a slightly different shape form the last few editions. There will be no voting for individual awards this year. However, everyone is eligible to vote for people’s choice award, which will be voted for on our website www.byoartsawards.org,” Takundwa told Zim Now.

The RoilBAA Communications Officer addedthat this year, they will honour/acknowledge seven icons, situations, events, and/or people that have had an impact in the arts but may not have necessarily had a particular category to belong to and these will be revealed on the night of the awards.

“Basically, we open nominations for artists and have their fans also nominating them, our judges then choose from the sent material and since they are industry experts, they also add some eligible nominees they would have seen throughout the year,” said Takundwa.

Mainly sponsored by Busisa Moyo’s United Refineries, through their Roil cooking oil brand, the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards are meant to recognize and honour individual and collaborative artistic excellence in Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and North provinces as well as those from the region but are practicing around the world.