2nd SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards: An overview

I have always known that Gospel music is the biggest seller in South Africa and therefore, in many ways, the largest part of the local music industry. A quick glance at RiSA’s annual sales reports is proof that the general ‘genre’ of Traditional Gospel music dominates music sales.

But I’ve always been so removed from Gospel. In the sense that I have little to no exposure to the music. In fact all I can really say about it is that it sells so well and that Rebecca and Lundi are two of its biggest stars.

So when I arrived just outside the Durban ICC on Sunday the 22 November, I was astonished by the scale of what I saw. There were easily a thousand fans waiting outside to just catch a glimpse of their adored artist. The likes of Sipho Makabane and Keke arrived in stretch Limousines and the crowd were erupting into screaming, applause not too dissimilar to a Michael Jackson concert.

When the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, arrived his presence was met with deafening applause and of course the anthemic and controversial Umshiniwam.

But genre is really not the right word to describe the music. This is because within Gospel the separation between the many sub-genres is so vast. Accapella Gospel to really very different music to Christian Rock. Nevertheless both of these sub-genres were on the bill for the event on Sunday, being showcased and awarded.

Once the several thousand people attending the awards had filed into the auditorium, things kicked off, unsurprisingly, with an opening prayer accompanied by a praise and worship song. Songbirds, Sifiso and Thembisile opened the ceremony followed by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize who gave a brief speech reiterating his office’s support for the coveted awards.

Solly Mhlangu’s turbo-powered “Obrigado” won the “Best Song Of 2009” accolade, while Pastor Benjamin Dube nabbed both the Best Artist and Lifetime Achievers awards. Dube who had been nominated in four categories, was also the only musician to win more than one accolade this year.

Sipho Makabane, beat rival Lundi in the Best Traditional category, while Keke was voted the best male artist by the public. The Classic Of All Times and Best Songwriter awards went to Sfiso Ncwane (for Umkhuleco) and Andile kaMajola respectively. The late Pastor, Jay Hlungwani was named the best producer of the year, beating Sipho Makhabane, Joel Maphosa and Big Boy Mlangeni.

KZN-born songstress Nomusa Dlomo finally made her province proud, winning the Best Contemporary trophy. Another female muso, Margaret Mostage beat Ennie Smith in the Best Jazz category.

Groups which won during the night include Trust in Christ, Rhema South, Joyous Celebration, Plain Truth, Proxy and Worship House.

Hlengiwe Mhlaba, who joined other heavyweights to deliver a series of performances that almost tuned the ceremony into an epic gospel concert, was crowned the Best Female artist of the year. Other performances came from Deborah Fraser, Keke, Sechaba, Solly Mahlangu, Sipho Makhabane and Plain Truth.

Toward the end of the ceremony the president came up to give a speech and ultimately show his support of Gospel music in the country. It was an emotional moment for everyone in the crowd. For me it was the final shred proof for me that Gospel is the biggest genre of music in South Africa.

Winners:

1.    Best Male Artist: Keke
2.    Best Acapella: Abangobi
3.    Best Pop Rock: Proxy
4.    Best DVD: The Plain Truth
5.    Best Artist: Benjamin Dube
6.    Best Newcomer: Banele Mhlangu
7.    Best Group: Joyous Celebration
8.    Best Traditional: Sipho Makabane
9.    Best Female artist: Hlengiwe Mhlaba
10.    Best Contemporary: Nomusa Dlomo
11.    Best Praise and worship: Rhema South
12.    Best Jazz: Margaret Mostage
13.    Best R&B rap: Jabu Nkabinde
14.    Best Ama Zion:  Trust in Christ
15.    Best Music Video: Worship House
16.    Best song writers: Andile kaMajola
17.    Best Classic Of All Times: Sfiso Ncwane (Umkhuleco)
18.    Best Producer: Jay Hlungwani
19.    Best Song: “Obrigado” by Solly Mahlangu
20.    Lifetime Achievers Award: Benjamin Dube

 

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