- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ALL AFRICA KORA MUSIC AWARDS TAKE PLACE IN SUN CITY
- Date: 3rd November 2001
- Summary: VARIOUS OF THE MEMBERS OF WERRA SON SINGING
- Embargoed: 18th November 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAE7CYS7KABLMO75Z5EGYETBW6H
- Story Text: A troop of traditional Zulu dancers from the South African stage hit musical 'Umoja' have opened this year's All Africa Kora Music Awards.
Now in their sixth year, the Koras are Africa's premier music event, celebrating the very best sounds of the continent.
Singing in her native Wolof language, newcomer Senegalese Cumba Gawlo took the Best Kora for West Africa.
Gawlo cut a svelte figure in a long, tight fitting plum coloured gown with spider web designs on it. She performed to the accompaniment of the Kora -- a harp-like instrument which has been described as the guitar of West Africa and whose sound influenced the establishment of these awards.
Gawlo's music is reminiscent of the songs the griots, or story tellers of her home country chant.
South Africa's queen of pop, bad-girl Brenda Fassie who's been in the music business for more than 15 years now was awarded the Judges's special prize. In true diva style she stepped up to the podium, waved at the audience and sang just five words in acceptance of her award.
Fassie shared the Judges's Special Award with Congolese Awilo Longomba. This is Longomba's third Kora. In 1996 he took home the award for the Most Promising Artist. The following year, 1997 he won the Kora for the Best Artist Central Africa.
'Winning isn't everything. But the will to win is', said South African jazz artist Ernie Smith as he accepted his Kora for the Most Promising Male Artist while Mauritian Sandra Mayotte took away the Kora for Best Artist from East Africa.
The Best Artist North Africa Kora went to Rhany. The near tearful Moroccan born singer dedicated his Kora to his father who died last year.
In the audience of several thousand people were former Mozambican First Lady Graca Machel, sitting side by side with her husband the nobel peace laureate and former South African president Nelson Mandela.
The most powerful couple in Africa were joined by a live television audience of some 380 million viewers across 76 countries.
Graca Machel, dressed in a deep blue evening gown and wearing a necklace of glittering precious stones was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Kora for the work she's done to improve the lives of the continent's children.
African American singer BeBe Winans, winner of the Kora in the Best Artist - Dispora: North America serenaded Machel with a song called Africa.
'More than anything music has a way of breaking down doors. And some people may feel as if I am not supposed to be here but I feel wherever my music goes - it leads and I follow and so I am honoured to be I call it home,' Winans told Reuters Television.
Backstage the party continued with Congolese group Werra Son celebrating their two Koras for Best Male Group and Best Artist - Central Africa.
'The Koras are good because they attract a lot of African artists, they bring African artists together. We get to meet around a table - chat. They give us courage and encouragement and are a good way of promoting African Artists,' said Werra Son, whose birth name is Ngiama Makanda.
While Mali's pint sized Rokia Traore was at a loss for words,' I am really happy and I don't know how to explain it.
I feel like Africa recognise....Thank you very much.' South African Kwaito music sensation Bongo Muffin were thrilled with their Best African Group Kora. 'It's big,' said Thandiswa Mazwai the only female of the trio.
'It's big. It's big. It's almost frightening it's big,' added the group's dread locked male vocalist Apple Seed.
While Benin's traditional group Gbessi Zolawadji celebrated with dance and ululation.
The Kora Awards ended with Jamaican reggae dancehall king Shaggy performing his hit single 'It wasn't me'.
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