April 7, 2003
By Bongani Majola
JOBURG celebrities descended on Sun City in the North West this weekend, where the ninth South African Music Awards were held.
Celebrities included SABC's Romeo Kumalo, 94.7 DJ Bob Mabena, Metro FM's Tsholofelo Matseke and TV personalities Diopelo Maphathe and Sonia Mbhele.
The voting public chose a man literally unknown to anybody for Best Song of the Year at the awards ceremony.
Sporting his trademark yellow overalls and a hat pulled over a balaclava, Mzekezeke won both the coveted Artist of the Year and Best Song of the Year awards without showing his face to the public that voted him.
"I am not a celebrity," he declared as he mounted the stage to collect the second award. "But I am a kwaito artist and kwaito music is here to stay!"
And kwaito was in abundance, as a compendium of kwaito artists including Mzekezeke, Mdu, Mzambiya, Kabelo and Mapaputsi entertained the crowd in an extended song containing snippets from each artist.
Almost 2 000 people attended the awards ceremony
Other performances for the evening came courtesy of Mafikizolo, who won in the Best Duo or Group category, gospel group Amadodana Aseweseli, McCoy Mrubata, who won the award for Best South African Traditional Jazz Album, as well as Idol finalists Melanie and Ezra.
