Windhoek
The only Namibian Artist to win the Kora Award in the Best Southern African Male category in 2013, Martin Morocky, popularly known as The Dogg, says winning the awards earned him international recognition.
“It was easier for me to do collabos with international artists and it was rewarding,” says The Dogg. One of the most respectable musicians in Namibian, Ben Kandukira, AKA Big Ben, welcomes the awards saying “There must have been a reason why South Africa wanted to host the music all this time. Big Ben adds that the value artists will get in terms of networking is much more important. “This will give us an opportunity to network with other artist in the same industry and the prize money is the kind that one can receive and invest in our career. It can real assist local artists. Any African artists who will win this money will very much be happy,” says Big Ben.
African artists at large are surely in for a treat as the Pan African Kora Music awards, the ultimate winner of the African Artist of the Year with a grand prize of a million US Dollars, about N$11 780 000. The Awards, to be hosted in Windhoek towards the end of the year, is one of the promising musical platforms in Africa opening doors to exotic artists from all over the world. Every year they invite many exciting guests from abroad dedicated to music and arts in an effort for creativity and originality. The Kora Awards are Africa’s biggest music awards ceremony and was founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, a businessman originally from Benin. Different genre winners will all take home between USD 25000 (N$284250) and USD 50,000 (N$589000) depending on the category.
Its first edition was in 1996 in Johannesburg South Africa that has been hosting it for the last 12 years. The Awards are the Pan African version of the Grammy Awards the most viewed on TV worldwide after the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games. The Dogg was the second Namibian artist to win the Kora in 2012 when he had been nominated for three years, after former girl group Gal Level, who were also nominated three times.
Last year, Shambo queen Tunakie scooped a nomination in the Best Traditional category.The ceremony was announced last week and was attended by various local artists as well as South African artists, Mafikizolo. No stops are being pulled to showcase the premier African music awards with numerous international celebrities expected to attend. The official launch of the nominees will be held in Windhoek in August with the possibility of Akon performing at the launch.
CAPTION: Kora Awards….Local musicians pose for a photo in front of the Kora Awards banner at the Windhoek Country Club on Monday.
Picture: Kora Awards