Faith Mussa underlined his strength in the music industry when he came out top in this year’s Nyasa Music Awards (NMAs) held at Comesa Hall in Blantyre on Friday night as he bagged three awards.
The architect of ‘Desperate’, who did not make it to the grand finale of the awards as he was in Lilongwe sharing the stage with South African gospel musician, Benjamin Dube, claimed the Best Acoustic, Best Gospel and Best Live Act awards.
Last year, Mussa also was nominated in three categories but only managed to win one award.
And so this year Mussa’s winning of three awards showed the progress that he has made which has also seen him being invited in top festivals outside the country.
He said yesterday that he was excited and thankful to fans for giving him the three awards.
“I actually enjoyed the news the most because I did not see it coming. The best I thought was one award but three, wow, it’s too much good news for one night,” Mussa said.
On Best Gospel, Mussa shrugged off competition from Suffix, Thocco Katimba, Gwamba and Ethel Kamwendo Banda while on Best Acoustic he saw off competition from Patience Namadingo, Lawi, Muhanya and Lulu.
In the category of Best Live Act, the singer and guitarist shrugged off competition from Fredokiss, Namadingo and Theo Thomson.
Tay Grin, who performed during the awards, also smiled as he claimed two awards – Best Male Artist and Best Video which he shared with Purple C.
Song of the Year Award went to Janta’s ‘Wangongole’, which saw off competition from Macelba’s ‘Apsye Mtima’, Atohti Manje’s ‘Che Patuma, Theo Thomson’s ‘Priceless’, and Saint’s ‘Delilah’.
The other winners during the awards which went all the way to the early hours of Saturday were Sukez (Best Video Director), DJ Rubie (Best Club DJ), Jean Chalungama (Best Female Broadcaster), Innocent Chitimbe (Best Traditional), ‘Legends Never Die’ – Bossaro featuring Blak Jak, Hyphen and Barry One (Best Collabo), Malinga Mafia (Best Dancehall Artist), Zathu Band (Best Group), Stitch Fray (Best Afro Pop) and Luna (Best TV Presenter).
The other winners were Joy Nathu ( Best Radio DJ), Zani Challe (Best Female Artist), AK on the Board (Best Producer), Nepman ( Best Secular Artist), Black Missionaries (Best Reggae), Episodes (Best Newcomer), Kell Kay (Best R&B), Fredokiss(Best Hip Hop) and Lawi –Sunset in the Sky (Album of the Year).
Veteran musician Paul Banda got the Lifetime Achiever.
Inaugurated last year, the awards on Friday had the ingredients of a red carpet event with artists and fans having a chance to take photographs before entry into the hall.
The organisers, made some improvements this year compared to last year but there is still more home to be done if the awards have to be given the space on the international platform.
For instance time management is always crucial but the awards started late and there were some lack of seriousness during announcement of the awards.
The awards night was made lively by the host South Africa’s Somizi, whose entry started on a low after his microphone could not pick his voice.
One of the members of the organising team, James Makunje Jr, said they were satisfied with this year’s event and that next year will be bigger and better.
“People think this just happens but it’s not easy, there is a lot that we put through. We have received a lot of criticism and more hate but this has happened,” Makunje Jr said.
The performances on the night came from Gwamba, Theo Thomson, Great Angels Choir, Tay Grin, Chichiri Cultural Troupe, Zani Challe and Macelba.
Thomas Chibade also performed at the awards coming in as a surprise guest and stole the show with the hit ‘Mau Anga’.
The NMAs are a brainchild of Makunje Jr, Mathambo Lowole and Chifundo Maganga.
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