IT WAS a night for the celebration of legends at the 12th South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in North West on Saturday.
Living and late icons were honoured with lifetime achievement and lasting legacy awards to celebrate the year of Oliver Tambo.
HHP, radio DJ Thuso Motaung, musician Madala Kunene, mbaqanga group the Mahotella Queens and traditional musician Grace Masuku received lifetime achievement awards.
Late maskandi giants Mtshengiseni “Indidane” Gcwensa, Mgqumeni “Ibhova” Khumalo, Busi Mhlongo and the late Afro-pop musician Stompie Mavi were honoured with lasting legacy awards.
Izindlovukazi ZikaMageba, made up of the popular women maskandi musicians Uboneni Magubane, Buselaphi Gxowa, Vumile Mngoma and Uglama Kamaskandi, scooped up the Song of the Year award.
Thee Legacy won the Best A Cappella Album Award and Amageza Amahle the Best Maskandi Album Award.
Uboneni told SunBuzz: “We formed this group at the beginning of the year to raise awareness of the killing of albinos and violence against women and children. We would like to thank Dr Musa Zulu for supporting us financially to make our dream come true.”
Mahotella Queens leader Hilda Tloubatla said she was touched to receive the award on behalf of those band members who were sick and would never perform with her again.
“I would like to thank the Satmas for honouring us while we are still alive. I will have to perform with new members in future,” she said.
Satmas founder Dumisani Goba said: “Oliver Tambo was a musician, that is why we decided to honour him.”
The event was attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, and Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi.
