Piksy third Malawian to get Kora nomination
The country’s musician Piksy real name Evans Zangazanga has been nominated in this year’s Kora Awards in the category of Best Male – Southern Africa.
The former Airtel Malawi ambassador has been nominated for his track titled ‘Moto,’ and faces stiff competition from other nominees who include Angola’s C4 Pedro and Coreon Du, South Africa’s AKA, Namibia’s Gazza and Zambia’s Petersen.
‘Moto,’ is the song which is in Piksy’s second album titled Mthunzi which he released earlier this year.
“The song basically talks about people who we sometimes trust a lot and believe they are friends but in actual sense they are damaging you,” said Piksy yesterday.
The musician famed for hits such as ‘Uncle Short One,’ and ‘Unamata,’ said he was surprised with the nomination as he never submitted his work.
“It came as a surprise to me but I am very happy because this is my first nomination on the international platform. I guess they got my song ‘Moto,’ from the music video which I put on YouTube,” he said.
Piksy said he started music a long-time ago but his nomination now shows that he is going the right direction.
“I started losing hope at some point but now it shows I am doing a good job,” said the singer, who started recording music in 2008 with Atumwi breaking ground with the album titled Sendeza Analysis.
Piksy, who is an accountant, said he stopped working for Charles Stewart in 2012 to focus on music which he said has benefited him.
“Some people felt I was doing great injustice to myself leaving work but I had to concentrate on this career and I am happy with the journey I have travelled,” he said.
The musician has since said he has received communication now from the organisers on his nomination.
Born on June 9, 1986, Piksy who has two albums to his credit Maso released in 2012 and Mthunzi hails from Chimasula Village, Traditional Authority Kwataine in Ntcheu.
This is the third time for Malawi to get a nomination in the Kora Awards which celebrates finest African talents and will be held on March 20th, 2016 in Windhoek, Namibia.
Legendary singer and guitarist Wambali Mkandawire was the first to get a nomination in 2002 followed by gospel singer Thocco Katimba in 2012.
Wambali received a nomination in the category of Best Artiste from Southern Africa for his tremendous work in ‘Zani Muwone.’
Katimba received a nomination in the category of Best Male Gospel for his song ‘Ndilibe Nanu Mawu.’
The singer who had no idea of the nomination and never submitted any song failed to grab the award but he said that the nomination alone was an achievement.
Having got nominations thrice now, it is time the country broke the jinx by making history.
Dubbed ‘African Grammy Awards,’ this year the organisers have upped the stakes, introducing a grand prize of US$ 1 million for the ultimate winner of the African Artist of the Year category.
Additionally, various categories and genre winners will all take home between US$25,000 and US$50,000 dependent on the category.
The Kora All Africa Music Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub- Saharan Africa.
Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, the awards which are comparable to American Grammy Awards which have this year seen the country’s Zomba Prison Project getting a nomination in World Music Album, are named after Kora, an important West African plucked chordophone.
Since its inception, the Kora Awards have been staged twelve times on the African continent according to information from the organisers.
Some of the accomplished musicians who have graced the Kora stage over the years include Angelique Kidjo, Kofi Olomide, Miriam Makeba, Michael Jackson, Shaggy, Rihanna, Salif Keita, Oliver Mtukudzi, Bebe Winans and Femi Kuti.
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