Hazel Mak makes history for Malawi
By Sam Banda Jnr:
Female artist Hazel Mak on Saturday made history when she grabbed the Best African Act in Diaspora Award for her track ‘Jaiva’ featuring Zambia’s Roberto and Tay Grin in this year’s All Africa Music Awards (Afrima).
The track ‘Jaiva’ is one of the songs Hazel has dropped this year alongside ‘Kumutu’ and ‘Mumwewangu’.
She said recently before travelling back to the United Kingdom after she was nominated that she wants to do more.
“There is a lot I am doing in terms of projects and I have been shooting videos as well as,” Hazel Mak said, then.
She said on twitter: “We did it#Malawi#Zambia#Jaiva I was so happy@RobertoZambia came on stage with me it was such a beautiful moment”.
The artist, who is based in United Kingdom, began her music career at a tender age of 11 and since then she has not looked back.
Hazel Mak, who has also received nominations previously in Urban Music People (UMP), has starred in several platforms in the country.
In 2012, Hazel Mak, who also trended with her song ‘Liyaya’, released her debut Embryonic.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Davido took home the Afrima trophy for Artist of The Year, leading a strong showing for West African at the event.
According to Punch, musicians from across the continent went to the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana’s capital on Saturday to walk the red carpet and celebrate a year of big hits.
Among others, Betty G from Ethiopia took home Album of the Year, while Best African DJ went to Afrotronix, who has roots in Chad.
Nigeria’s 2Baba won the award for Best African pop, Ghana’s Stonebwoy got the Best Reggae Award while South Africa’s Sibusiso Mashiloane got the Best Jazz accolade.
There were also awards for Kuami Eugene, a Ghanaian crooner, who was named the most promising artist in Africa.
Afrima is an annual award show and the event was established by the International Committee Afrima, in collaboration with the African Union to reward and celebrate musical works, talents and creativity around the African continent while promoting the African cultural heritage.
Last year, Tay Grin and Dawson Kawerawera were also nominated in Afrima but they missed the awards.
In 2014 and 2016, Lawi and Zani Challe also received nominations but they missed out.
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