What comes into your mind when thinking about South African Music Industry? Boring? Wack? No future? Good? Not bad? Or we’re getting there? Okay whatever your opinion is on this one, the fact is; Mzansi does have Global Ambassadors and those are our very own local musicians. Take Toya Delazy for example, the girl has been hitting the airwaves locally and abroad since the release of her very first pop album, Due Drop in 2011. In the year 2013, Delazy and local multi-award winner Donald Moatshe were nominated for the Best International Act in Africa at the BET awards that took place in LA. Now that has to mean something about our music industry right?
It really may not be doing well in our country but the likes of Zakes Bantwini, Locnville, Khuli Chana, Mafikizolo, Goldfish, The Arrows, AKA, Lloyd Cele, Da les and our talented songbirds Lira and Naima Kay just to mention a few are one of the few artists that are making us proud abroad. These young South Africans have been hitting the airwaves not only locally but also across the globe. They’re surely taking South African music industry to a whole new level.
Think about the Cape Town Twins, Locnville. The boys have, so far done a great job in representing South African music internationally. At the age of 23, they already have MTV Europe Music Award for the Best African Act and other South African Awards in their pockets.
And then there’s Lira. Aren’t you just proud of this African Songbird? She has done wonders in the industry and I couldn’t be more proud of her. My friend calls her our very own South African “Brandy” and with her angelic-voice she is continuingly making us proud.
A couple of days ago the well-known traditional group choir won a Grammy award for the Best World Music Album in Grammy Awards that took place in Los Angeles, US. That was actually their forth Grammy award, something we as South Africans should be all proud of. The fact that our country’s music is recognised internationally is quite thrilling.
I believe that our music is unique; it embraces and represents who we are as South Africans and the best way to thank these Global Ambassadors is to support them in any way we can.
(Black Mambazo image source: Photobucket)
Images sourced from Facebook.