It was a day of joy for South African artiste, Mkhululi Siqula, best known as Heavy-K Drumboss, as he received his 2014 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) trophy at a stakeholders’ conference held on Friday, July 10, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, The Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Accepting his award for Best Male in Southern Africa, Heavy K declared with excitement: “At my age winning and carrying this (AFRIMA) trophy, it is overwhelming. I am so excited right now. I just thank AFRIMA and fans across Africa. It means a lot to me. I regretted not being at the last edition but I will be there at the AFRIMA 2015 edition”.
The AFRIMA South Africa stakeholders’ conference featured panellists from the Southern Africa region including Afro-pop artiste, Malaika’s Tshedi Mholo (South Africa); AFRIMA Sponsorship and Communication Director, Matlou Tsotsetsi (South Africa); AFRIMA Jury members from Southern Africa, Delani Makhalima (Zimbabwe), and Assistant Communication Manager, ONE campaign, Yannick Tshimanga (South Africa).
From the AFRIMA secretariat came Chairman, AFRIMA International Media Committee, Steve Ayorinde (Nigeria), and AFRIMA Executive Producer/President, Mike Dada among others.
The conference which brought together artistes, journalists and other music industry stakeholders centred on the vision, mission and transparent adjudication process of AFRIMA as well as submission of entry for the 2015 which closes on Monday July 20, 2015.
Also receiving an award at the Johannesburg conference on behalf of the trio of Dr. Duda, J’Something and Mo-T for Best African Electro for the track ‘Jika’, Collin Mokgaotsi, the label manager of Mi Casa said: “Thank you AFRIMA for recognising our work and thank you for bestowing us with the award. We also thank all Africans that voted for Mi Casa, we love you.”
Speaking as a panellist, South Africa’s Mholo declared: “I am happy to be on AFRIMA panel. I have seen awards across Africa but AFRIMA is more than an award. It is a platform to sell our story, our uniqueness, and our culture as Africa to the rest of the world.
“The conference today has definitely enriched my knowledge that we (artistes) are in business to sell Africa through our songs, our dressings, and our life style which is in line with the vision and objectives of AFRIMA aimed at showcasing Africa as a centre of possibilities, development, peaceful and prosperous continent.”
