Berita, Delani for SA achievers awards

Berita, Delani for  SA achievers awards

BULAWAYO born musicians Delani Makhalima and Berita Khumalo who are based in South Africa have been nominated for the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in South Africa that are set for November. On the list of nominees which was published a week ago at the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria, Makhalima was nominated for the People’s Choice Award while Khumalo was nominated for the Musician of the Year Award for the second time.
The awards finale will be held at The Hytte Regency hotel in Rosebank.

The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards are awards meant to honour Zimbabweans who have managed to accomplish exceptional achievements in their adopted countries.
In his speech at the event, the ZAA South Africa CEO, Richard Moyo, said the awards were also a way to appreciate the African migration affair which was a very common factor across the African continent.

“The awards are not just about outstanding Zimbabweans who have flown the country’s flag high in South Africa but are a celebration of the African migration story that has affected millions across the continent,” he said.

Khumalo has worked with a number of local and international Afro Soul artistes such as Oliver Mtukudzi and Hugh Masekela.
She recently produced a single titled Mwana waMai with the two great musicians.

In an interview with Sunday Leisure, the 24-year-old songstress said she was excited and feels honoured to be nominated for the particular award.
“Artist of the year is a big award. The year 2015 has been amazing in-terms of my music. The reception to my second album Songs of Empowerment has been great, I am so humbled and inspired by receiving this big nomination,” she said.

The Afro-soul queen has also been nominated for several awards in South Africa such as 12th Metro Award for best African album, the 2013 Metro Awards-Best African pop album and for Best Afro Soul Artist at the 8th annual Satmas.

In this year’s nomination she is with other renowned personalities in the South African music industry such as Nadia Nakai and Buffalo Soldier.
“I am so grateful to be nominated in such a big category. I respect all the nominated artistes’ hustle, particularly the young lady Nadia Nakai,” said Khumalo.
She also said she has recently released the remix of the song Mwana waMai with Black Motion and she was working on the music video.

On the other hand Makhalima has done impressive work in the music industry since the days when urban grooves as a genre was dominant. He has worked with renowned local artistes such as Dino Mudondo, David Chifunyise, Willom Tight, Audius Mtawarira and Alexio Kawara.

He is also well known in South Africa where he worked with numerous musicians like Skwatta Kamp, HHP and Zonke. He also worked as a presenter for SABC’s Metro FM which is one of Africa’s largest urban radio stations.

Makhalima is a ZiFM presenter and producer and was selected to be part of the Adjudication Committee for the All Africa Music Awards (Afrimas) which will take place in November.

SA-based Maskanda launches album in Byo

SA-based Maskanda launches album in Byo

Lance Chigodo Sunday Leisure Reporter
HE is well-known in South Africa, known in Bulawayo and little known elsewhere in the country and yet he is very much Zimbabwean. This is the tale of vibrant Maskanda muso Mxolisi Mavundla known in South African music circles as Zinjaziyamluma, moreso, because he dedicated much of his music career to that country. However, after four years of making headlines in the South African music scene, Zinjaziyamluma finally decided to dedicate his fourth album named Competition of jealous to his Zimbabwean fans.

He launched his new Maskanda also known as Mbaqanga album at the National Arts Gallery in Bulawayo last week for the first time in the country on Saturday last week.
“I appreciate the support that the people of Bulawayo have shown. It is a very cold day but they came in their numbers to support my album launch,” said Zinjaziyamluma.

The launch was graced by artistes and arts personnel such as Raisedon Baya, Jeys Marabini and William Nyandoro who expressed his joy in seeing the artiste who has made it big outside the country actually coming back home to launch his album in the country.

“I am really grateful of what Zinjaziyamluma has done, I really appreciate artistes coming back home to release their albums and work with other local artistes,” said Nyandoro who is the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe provincial arts officer.

Zinjaziyamluma also received words of advice from veteran local artist Marabini who encouraged him not to look down on his fans or be hateful to other artistes.
“The music industry is not for the faint hearted, to survive you should appreciate those who despise you, for they encourage you to work harder. You should not be jealousy or hate other artistes, the music industry is not a battle field just aim at producing better quality music and be a role model to those that follow you,” said Marabini.

In an interview Zinjaziyamluma noted that the 15-track album was named after he noted the fact that people always find ways to despise what someone else does despite how good it was.

“I named this album Competition of jealous after I noticed that some people do not appreciate the good work that other people do because of jealousy. However, the name of the album is not specifically directed to anyone, it is just a social commentary,” he said.

To show that he has not abandoned his roots, Zinjaziyamluma dedicated a song to Highlanders and Tsholotsho Football Club his home team which got the Iziqholo zezhwane fans and some of the players and the coach Lizwe Sweswe who were at the launch buoyant.

“Our Ndebele culture is a bit lost thus we left the country to pursue our careers in Imbube which is also known as Isicathamiya and Maskanda in South Africa because it is where the culture revolves,” said Zinjaziyamluma.

The 34-year-old was born in Tsholotsho, the home of Iziqholo zezhwane in Mguzana area. He is a product of an Imbube group known as Inkanyezi Zezulu which also broke away from a renowned local group Impumelelo Shining Stars.

In 2013, Zinjaziyamluma decided to stand on his own feet and he formed his own band. He was nominated twice for the best newcomer awards in the South Africa Volunteers Awards and South Africa Traditional Music Awards in the same year after the release of his album Kobandayo.

The launch was also supported by other local South Africa-based artistes such as Amabhukudwane led by Kezi-born Chris Buqilibentethe Ncube.

Zim actress rocks Nollywood

Zim actress rocks Nollywood

Lance Chigodo Sunday Leisure Reporter
DROP-DEAD gorgeous Nigeria-based, Zimbabwean actress-cum producer, Memory Savanhu was recently nominated for an award at the Zimbabwe International Women Awards to be held in October this year. The event is scheduled to be held at the Birmingham Town Hall in the United Kingdom. Savanhu, who declined to give her age, perhaps because of “women-related issues”, has been acting in Nigerian movies for the past eight years. Several of the movies she has produced and starred in have won several awards in the Nollywood film industry.

Savanhu has featured in popular Nigerian movies such as Lagos Cougars, Reloaded and One Fine Day among others.
Among the films she has produced is Distance Between, which stars renowned Nollywood personalities such as Rita Dominic, Mercy Johnson and Yemi Blaq.
In an interview with Sunday Leisure from her Nigerian base, Savanhu said she was happy to be working in one of Africa’s biggest film industries and would soon shoot a movie in Zimbabwe.

“Nollywood is the king of African movies. I am supposed to shoot a movie in Zimbabwe in September. I want to share what I have learnt here with my fellow countrymen,” she said.

Apart from acting, the “yellow-bone” multi-talented star has featured in some of Nigeria’s widely read magazines — Vanguard and Golden Icons. Savanhu said she studied drama in London, where she grew up and she also attended the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi, where she also studied film making from 2008 to 2009.
“Seeing a production come to life thrills me. I am fulfilled when I see my creativity translated into reality. That is why I love film-making. My entertainment journey started when I was in school. I used to act in school plays and coordinate school assemblies. I just knew I was going to be a star,” she said.
Savanhu said she had picked up quite a lot from Nigerian stars such as Izu Ojukwu.

“I have worked with Emem Isong. I did Catwalk in 2010. We just finished Lagos Cougars, the new one. It’s a TV series starring Jocelyn Dumas, Rita Dominic and I. I was excited when I knew Rita was going to be on set. I have learnt a lot from her as well. Rita was always there to explain whenever I had issues with my role,” she said.
Savanhu is probably the first Zimbabwean to break through the Nigerian film industry and is the envy of many.

Not a woman of many words Savanhu prefers to have pictures tell her story.
Check out some of her pictures from a recent photo shoot she did when she relocated to Lagos, Nigeria.

Miss Super Curvaceous preps on

Miss Super Curvaceous preps on

Lance Chigodo
THE search for the curviest woman in Zimbabwe is on, as the Miss Super Curvaceous beauty pageant has been penciled in for October.
According to the director of the event, which will be held in Harare on the 27th of October, 20 models are set to participate in the pageant.

“Our main aim is to make sure curvy or plus size women feel treasured and confident with their bodies, as we appreciate and celebrate their God given beauty just like it is done in what has become termed as the normal modelling pageant,” said Nilton Makanzu.

Makanzu said so far 12 models from across the country have confirmed participation.
This is the first edition of the pageant that seeks to celebrate the natural beauty of African plus size women.

“Ladies below 30 years of age, 1,6m of height, a minimum of a size 34 waist and simple clean moral background are legible to participate in the event,” said Makanzu.

Makanzu noted that the models will be required to be in boot camp a week prior to the extravaganza.
Makanzu said to promote participation in the competition they are providing everything that is a necessity for the models as the pageant was fully sponsored.

Makanzu said he decided to host a pageant of such a nature, as he felt there was a need for the world to appreciate plus size women.

“We are not doing anything different from what the Miss Curvy pageant has been doing but we are trying to advance the quality and nurturing plus size ladies into distinct models,” he said.

Makanzu said he hoped to see the pageant grow to be appreciated not only in Zimbabwe but also across the African continent.
“My message to plus size women out there, is that they should love themselves and learn to love their “perfect imperfections”. You can be who you really want to be if you believe in yourself,” he said.

Pageants for plus size models in Zimbabwe were introduced in 2004 — with Miss Big is beautiful being the first to be hosted in Zimbabwe.

Then followed Miss Big Matofotofo, which grew to be appreciated within Southern Africa and was renamed Miss True African Queen, as it grew to be an international pageant.