IT seems Mukudzei Mukombe better known as Jah Prayzah, is a man racing against himself.
Among his peers none seems to be anywhere near him.
And he has harvested accolades to prove it.
He has most probably invested in a new cabinet to house awards he received this year alone.
There is no doubt that 2016 belongs to the lanky artiste from UzumbaMarambaPfungwe. Since the beginning of the year, the high riding musician has been receiving recognition from various bodies appreciating his works.
The 2016 edition of National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) opened the musician’s ‘luck’ when he scooped two of the prestigious awards.
Jah Prayzah walked away with an award for Outstanding album, Jerusarema.
Songs on the album received a lot of airplay on both television and radio.
At the same awards he was crowned the most Outstanding male musician.
Without doubt these two awards were a confidence booster and six months later the talented musician released a new album currently doing well.
Jah Prayzah also dominated at the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA). The musician bagged four gongs for Best Male Artiste, Best Collaboration for the song ‘Kure’ which featured Ammara Brown, Best Traditional Music for the album Jerusarema and Best album of the year.
His 2016 offering Mudhara Achauya, an 11-track album is testimony to the seriousness which the musician takes his craft.
Not only did it impress locally, the album carried songs that proved popular in the continent.
The album saw the artiste clinching the MTV Africa Music Award for Listener’s Choice against 19 nominees from all over Africa.
Jah Prayzah became the first Zimbabwean musician to win an MTV MAMA.
The musician has since been on a drive to get his brand on the regional platform.
Speaking to Patriot Arts, Jah Prayzah attributed the awards to working hard and going the extra mile in his endevours.
“I have realised that it is through working hard, making quality videos and collaborations with other renowned artistes that contributes to opportunities that get one being recognised and rewarded,” he said.
The MAMA award has definitely increased the artiste’s fan base as his stock continues to rise in the region.
And also the quality of his work has tremendously increased as he seeks to attract an international audience.
After the MAMA award, Jah Prayzah also scooped the Zimbabwe Music and Arts Awards (ZIMMA) UK award for best touring artist for the year 2016.
This award is proof that the musician is not only popular in Africa but also in countries beyond the continent.
This year alone, Jah Prayzah toured countries such as Botswana, Australia, Canada and USA among others.
To show that his productions are a complete package the musician received the Style Oracle Fashion Award (SOFA).
The SOFA awards ceremony saw the ‘Mudhara Achauya’ hit maker receiving an award for the most fashionable video award on the song ‘Watora Mari’ a track he collaborated with Tanzania’s Diamond Platinumz.
And the musician is not resting on his laurels as he continues to seek more ways to keep his brand vibrant.
He is in the studio working with the South African group Mafikizolo on another collaboration many expect to be a monster hit.
Already he has released a single in collaboration with the popular DJ Stavo that is likely to become a club anthem.
Hard work and a serious approach will definitely pay off and fellow musicians may take a leaf or two from the artiste.
If the musician continues on this trajectory he will again dominate 2017.
Other awards, the musician has bagged in the past, include People Choice, Outstanding Music Video for track ‘Mwanasikana’ Outstanding Male musician, Outstanding Album Tsviriyo and Outstanding song ‘Tsviriyo’.