AFTER a seven-year absence, the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) are back catering for more genres.
The organisers have not been idle in their years of silence.
It appears it was a time of introspection, as the awards this time around have taken into consideration important issues that have been overlooked in past editions.
Of the categories the most interesting is the Chairman’s Award.
The nominee in the inaugural Chairman’s Award is the talented, charismatic and revolutionary musician, Dick Chingaira popularly known as Cde Chinx.
Cde Chinx is one musician who has not been recognised, award-wise, despite an impressive existence in the music world.
His superb music from the days of the country’s liberation struggle has not only served to entertain, but impart and strengthen patriotism.
He is one artiste who has led in efforts of solidifying the gains of independence.
Speaking to Patriot Arts, chairman of the ZIMA Awards, Joseph Nyadzayo said the chairman of the awards had the responsibility of the prestigious nomination.
“The Chairman’s Award is a special award that is not judged by the adjudicators, but it is my obligation as the chairman of ZIMA to offer such an award,” Nyadzayo said.
The award, Nyadzayo said, is given to an artiste that is deemed to have significantly contributed to nation building through music.
Stakeholders in the music industry as reported by The Patriot in the past have been quick to celebrate some musicians, some whose acts border on selling-out, but have not recognised artistes that continue to spread the message of what it means to be Zimbabwean.
Artistes like Cde Chinx have dedicated their musical talent to promoting the country and have been ostracised for that reason.
When other musicians have seen it best to ‘play-it-safe’, Cde Chinx has continued to sing about the need to protect the country from imperialists and has sacrificed invitations to perform on international platforms.
And he remains unapologetic.
According to writer Mashingaidze Gomo, Cde Chinx is an, “artiste who has never faltered, doubted or felt ashamed of the struggle, even when it reached its lowest ebb, battered by illegal Western sanctions invited upon us by an alliance between our own black kith and kin and the local white agents of Western imperialism”.
Arts critic, Farai Matimba described the award as a welcome and inspiring development.
“It seems our arts stakeholders have been afraid to associate with artistes that support development in the real sense,” he said.
“Artistes that have come out in the open so-to-speak and support the progressive programmes being implemented by Government and have openly agreed with the principles and stance of President Robert Mugabe have been shunned.
“Obviously, Cde Chinx is not the only artiste that has contributed to nation building through music, but he is one of the few that have been at it for the longest time and it is noble to show appreciation of his efforts,” he said.
Meanwhile, other interesting categories include Best Traditional Music and Best Traditional Gospel Music and Best Contemporary Gospel.
Nyadzayo said they decided to split the genre of Gospel between traditional and contemporary as there were artistes experimenting with various instruments while others stuck to hymns and choruses.
In traditional music, Nyadzayo said, it is not only the traditional instruments such as mbira and drums that led to music being called traditional, but the tune also rendered it traditional music.
The United Family International Choir (UFI) has dominated the awards with five nominees in best contemporary choral music and best duo or group.
Talented musician Jah Prayzah was also nominated four times in categories that include best traditional music, best male and album of the year.
Dancehall artiste Soul Jah Love received three nominations in best dancehall music, best male and album of the Year.
The ZIMA awards are set for early next month at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).