- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FIFTH ANNUAL KORA MUSIC AWARDS HELD IN SOUTH AFRICA
- Date: 23rd November 2000
- Summary: VARIOUS, SEBA GIVING REPORTERS A SAMPLING OF THEIR WORKS
- Embargoed: 8th December 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVA11XK9MI59EFI1HZ7Z2MKYCV4E
- Story Text: Africa's best and brightest in the music industry turned out to honour their own at the fifth annual Kora Music Awards held in Sun city, South Africa.
Billed as Africa's equivalent of the Grammys, the Kora- named for this guitar-like instrument- is fast becoming the continents premier showcase for musical talent as well as a springboard for new artists struggling to make it outside their comfort zones.
Nominations were submitted in categories ranging from Best artist from each of the five regions. Other awards included Koras for traditional artist, best arrangement, best video as well as best group from the diaspora, the latter which featured some of the worlds top artists.
This year also saw the inclusion of several new categories proving Kora is becoming the place to be when it comes to continental musical recognition.
Other categories included, Most promising artist, both male and female.
A special award was given to whats perhaps the continents most decorated group, South Africas Grammy-award winning LadySmith Black Mambazo.
"I think Kora is very important especially that its just like all the Grammys, like the Brit awards, like Grammy awards. Now were trying to match all those people to be just like them because that is our music," said Joseph Shabalala, the groups leader afterwards.
This year's special Lifetime achievement award went to the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Anan while a special taped message was broadcast by satellite directly from the White House.
Ever since I was much younger and imagined a career as a jazz musician, Ive been grateful for the wonderful soul-stirring influence of African music. To the musicians assembled today in Sun City, South Africa, let me say thank you for inspiring us with your talent, thank you for enriching our lives with your music.
Also enriching the audience with their music were several live performances from Africas best including this gyrating act by Africas best group winners that had the audience on their feet.
Ernest Adjovi is the man behind the Kora concept. Five years on, he readily admits he had no idea what he was getting himself into when he first initiated the Kora Awards.
I didnt really know what I was doing. All I knew was that there was a gap, there was something to be done in the music industry, to reward the artists, to come out and use music to put Africa together.
At the end of the day the awards proved an overall success and many had nothing but praise for the annual musical extravaganza.
It was very very organised and Im very happy because normally we see many South Africans winning the award so this time it was different. Weve seen a mixture of East, West African going out with trophies so it was quite excellent.
But its not just about awards and accolades. The Kora is helping bridge gaps not even politicians could dreaming of achieving.
Kora is good in that it brings all these African musicians from different parts of our continent together to do music and when they're here they interact and I think its good for Africans to know each other. Maybe well have fewer wars.
For the musicians its back to their studios to begin their quest to challenge next years Koras.
For the organisers, another job well done as they try to promote what has to be one of the continents greatest and endless reserves of raw, natural talent.
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