By BAKANG MOKOTO
It is all systems go for the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) set for Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on September 29.
SATMA organisers announced the nominees for the different categories at Southern Sun Hotel in Cape Town on Saturday night.
Founder and organiser of the awards, Dr Dumisani Goba said they will continue to preserve and play a crucial role to grow the traditional music.
Goba said they are ready to host the awards.
“We are working in partnership with other stakeholders for marketing purposes like the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The SATMA has received close to 1000 entries and 76 000 votes thus far. In the most exciting category which is the Best Upcoming Artist Award, we have received more than 300 entries.
“We have also decided to improve the voting system and we are using voting codes. The voters will now have to sms the word SATMA and the code of the artist. All winners will be announced during the event in Mahikeng,” he said.
Goba said the event will start with a Golf Day before the main event on 29 September 2018.
He said that they will continue to have road shows across the country ahead of the main event.
“We have already started in the North West with our campaigns and we have over 733 electronic advertising at Airport TVs across the continent.
The SATMAs also have more than 300 billboards and the SABC will continue to run interviews with nominees until the day of the awards.
“We encourage the public to attend the main event in Mahikeng too. Our theme this year is: Embrace Your Heritage. It is imperative to preserve and protect our music, so we urge young people to play a crucial role in that. In line with our theme, we are celebrating the legacy and lives of our stalwarts like Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu and Nelson Mandela,” Goba said.
North West MEC of Tourism, Desbo Mohono said: “This initiative will boost the economy of the province. We urge our product owners to ensure that they display a good hospitality to our visitors and this will ensure that they come back.
“We know that in most cases, our product owners escalate prices. However, they must not put exorbitant prices because that will fright our potential tourists away. I would also encourage our tourists to visit our heritage sites like Taung World Heritage Site, Dikgwaneng, Taung Dam and other areas,” she said.
Mohono said Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) owners will also benefit.
SABC representative, Nada Wotshela said they will continue to support the event.
Wotshela added that there are many challenges but the public broadcaster will ensure that the traditional music is preserved.
“The SABC has the necessary diversity across all spectrums. We will continue to educate our people about our heritage. We will fully support this initiative through all our commercial radio stations too.
“We have strategic measures in place to assist this initiative. It is our responsibility to support the African and traditional music,” she said.
National Heritage Council (NHC) CEO, Advocate Sonwabile Mancotywa said: “We have been part of this initiative and we are championing it. I am now happy that other stakeholders are coming on board.
“The founder never failed the nation now the event is recognised globally. We have local groups being awarded at the Grammy awards and represented South Africa well. The Black Mabazo Traditional group represented South Africa globally,” Mancotywa said.
He said the initiative also assist the country to find its true African identity.
Some of those who were nominated are Modiri FM presenter, Tshepiso Mogomotsi, Traditional Music singer, Mausi and Traditional Music Group, Umtiti.
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