Thohoyandou - South Africa needs television content that is rich in cultural diversity in preparation from an analogue platform to a digital broadcasting system, says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
“As we are in the midst of rolling out the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project, it is clear that we will need more local content that is rich in our cultural diversity for all the new channels.
“The emergence of young artists in the former Venda homeland and the country as a whole with quality music is paving a way for broadcasters to get more local content for the new upcoming channels,” she said.
Minister Muthambi was speaking at the glittering 2015 Tshivenda Music Awards (TSHIMA) at the University of Venda, on Saturday night.
The music awards are aimed at inspiring and recognising artists, song writers, producers and composers to continue to preserve and promote Tshivenda culture and language through music.
The Minister encouraged the young musicians to follow the footsteps of local music pioneers, who are no more like Nndanganeni Daniel Luambo and Albert Mundalamo Tshikundamela, by pursuing careers in music to preserve the culture of Vhavenda.
“Through these awards, we’ve noticed that there are so many music genres in Tshivenda such as traditional music, reggae, gospel, hip-hop and tshingondo…remember our cultural diversity is the heart of our rainbow nation, now the only way to maintain our sovereignty and sense of identity, is to get more local content producers and distributors ready for DTT,” she said.
Through a recorded message played to thousands of locals and people from across the country, Vhavenda King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana vowed to end music piracy in his Kingdom.
“While we appreciate the efforts of our local artists who are preserving and promoting our music and language, I want to remind you that music piracy is illegal and should stop in my territory.
“I will be working with the artists, the Vhembe District Municipality mayor as well as the mayors of the four local municipalities and all the relevant stakeholders to end music piracy.”
The big winner of the TSHIMA awards was the late South African top Gospel singer Mpho Regalo, who scooped three top awards. He won Best Song of the Year with his track, “Ndi Dovhe,” Best Tshivenda Gospel Artist and the Best Tshivenda Male Artist. Regalo died in a fatal accident on the N1 four months ago.
Cashflow won the Best Hip-Hop award, while Mashudu Nematoka won Tshivenda best artist award. Funi won both the newcomer and Tshivenda Best Female awards, while veteran traditional musician, April Ramufhi won the Best Tshivenda traditional award. The Best Tshingondo category went to Thifhelimbilu and Gazlam, while Jah Soldier won the best Tshivenda Reggae. Blessa was announced the winner of Tshivenda Afrosoul contemporary. Fizzy won the best Tshivenda hit single.
South Africans are being urged to celebrate their history and diverse cultures as the country marks Heritage Month in September.
This year, the month will be celebrated under the theme “Our indigenous knowledge, our heritage: Towards the identification, promotion and preservation of South African’s living heritage”. - SAnews.gov.za
