CROWN Gospel Music Awards nominees and fans travelled from all over the world to worship and celebrate the awards which were held in Gauteng for the first time.
The 16th Crown awards were held at FNB Stadium on Sunday, 26 November with gospel music lovers packing the 8000-seater dome – as tickets were sold out.
The awards saw the award-winning musician Dumi Mkokstad walking away with an award for Best Song Writer for the song Vumbelimnandi.
Thanking his wife and supporters, he said: “I thank God for this gift. It takes a lot of hard work and pain to write a song. I'm thankful to gospel powerhouse. I’m thankful to my wife, who is the first person to hear the song, Vumbelimnandi. She cried when I snag the song to her.”
Award-winning musician Thinah Zungu took to social media and comforted his son Ndumiso Zungu after not winning the Best Newcomer on Sunday, 26 November.
Thinah said: “The tears that you cried after not winning that award were just for the passion you have. You are strong. You are a Zungu. Daddy and mummy love you. Soon you will become a chief cornerstone of this gospel industry. Your talent speaks volumes.”
Social media users expressed how happy they were that Ndumiso was one of the nominees. He said it meant he was great, and his talent difn’t go unnoticed.
Siphiwe Moyo said: “What a talented young man. His performance last night was amazing. For a young man to have such a confidence and voice control is fantastic.”
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Zanele Mbokazi, the founder and executive producer of the awards, said they were expanding the gospel footprint and empire with two new projects, the Gospel Music Films, and the Gospel Dreams Talent Search.
According to Mirror PR and Events, Mbokazi hopes to expand the awards not only in South Africa, but also in African countries that have a gospel music following and the rest of the world especially in the USA where international gospel musicians can share the stage, perform and also be nominated for Crown Gospel awards in order to open the awards to all Gospel musicians in the world who want to get recognized and celebrated for their beautiful music
The awards will be broadcast on SABC2 on Sunday, 3 December at 7.30pm.
- Best Female
Sindi Ntombela - Best Male
Jumbo Album 3C - Best of Africa Gospel
Tsepo Lesola - Best Traditional
Butho Vuthela Song - Best Jazz song
Swazi Dlamini - Best Accapela
Yithi Laba - Gospel Singers Best Rap
Vovee and LG - Best Community Outreach
Letia Mawelane - Best Producer Producer
Khaya Mthethwa for 3C Live - Best New Comer (two winners)
Sibusiso Nzima (KZN) and Soso Maholwana (Eastern Cape) - Best Clap and Tap
Spiritual Gospel choir - Best Gospel Itende
Londiwe Spe Nxumalo (Eswatini) - Best Video KingD Collaboration
Swazi Dlamini and Phutuma Tiso - Best Live Recording
Gershom Ntimane Group - Best Gospel Group
Thembisa Gospel Group - Best Worship Song
Collen Maluleke - Best Writer
Dumi Mkokstad - Best Classic
Joseph Tshawane - Best Contemporary
Mnqobi Nxumalo - Best Praise
Tebs David
