AFRO-JAZZ musician Selmor Mtukudzi last week scooped the Hottest Female Single award at the inaugural African Entertainment Awards held in New Jersey, USA, shrugging off stiff competition from several other musicians.
BY PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Eight Zimbabwean actors and musicians had been lined up to battle for honours at the event, held on October 31, but only Selmor managed to bag an award for her hit song, Nguva Yangu.
Selmor, who beat South Africa’s Zahara and US-based Zimbabwean Tinashe Kachingwe in the same category, told NewsDay yesterday that she felt highly honoured by the award.
“We are very excited and honoured to win this award against well-known artistes,” she said through her manager, Samantha Mtukudzi. “The glory belongs to God because without Him it would have been impossible.”
The winners were selected through a voting system.
Top producer Macdonald “MacDee” Chidavaenzi of Eternity Productions – which produced the winning track – saluted Selmor and all those who voted for her.
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“On behalf of Eternity Productions and Selmor Mtukudzi Music, we would like to thank you all for voting and supporting a daughter of the soil in the just-ended African Entertainment Awards held in New Jersey,” he said through social networking site, Facebook.
“Our track Nguva Yangu won the hottest female single against Zahara and Tinashe Kachingwe. Words alone cannot express our gratitude, but may God bless you and keep you well as you keep supporting our music.”
Other Zimbabweans who had been nominated in various categories are US-based Kachingwe, Bonnie Deuschle and Celebration Choir, actors Danai Gurira and Tongayi Chirisa, producer Brian Soko, spoken word artiste Farai Samm Monro and fashion designer Farai Simoyi.
The nominees were made up of a diverse group of African entertainers who have made remarkable contributions to their craft.
Other winners were Eddy Kenzo (Best Male Award), Yemi Alade (Best Female Award), Chris Brown (Best International Artiste) and Diamond Ntemptata (Hottest Male Single).
During the ceremony, Toronto’s Masai Ujiri was awarded the Grange Real Estate Award of Excellence while Congolese musician Awilo Longomba received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards were hosted by Nollywood actor John Dumelo and recording artiste Emma Nyra.
The red carpet event was held under the theme Rebranding Africa through Entertainment.
