The founder of the Crown Gospel Music Awards (Crowns) Zanele Mbokazi- Nkambule recently passed away from cancer. After her diagnosis in May and watching how her health was deteriorating, many Crown supporters wondered if the awards ceremony would be postponed this year. At a media briefing held at Ukhozi FM the Crown Gospel Music Awards team cleared the speculations and announced that the awards are going ahead as scheduled.
Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule, the executive producer of the awards reiterated the fact that the awards were a collective effort and in the absence of the founder, the awards will continue. The original team that have worked with Zanele since 2008 understood; from the very beginning, that the awards were bigger than an individual. They saw the awards as the work of the Lord.
After 15 years of being hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal government the awards were held in Gauteng last year for the first time. The theme for last year’s awards was “A New Season”. It would prove prophetic as the team is now faced with the mammoth task of organising the awards without the founder and vision bearer.
- Advertisement -
The goal from the very beginning of the awards was to provide a platform to unknown musicians and to give them exposure. It was also to grow the Gospel genre into a leading, celebrated. music genre in South Africa. Andile ka Majola who was the first artist to be awarded the Crown Gospel Music Award said: “We used to have one category in the SAMAs (South African Music Awards) — Traditional Faith. As time went on they introduced Contemporary category. That was it.”
Zanele Mbokazi resolved to shine a spotlight on this genre by hosting its own awards and in 2008 the Crown Gospel Music Awards were born. Many artists knew that once they were nominated and performed at the Crowns their ministries would reach the masses. Siyanda Mwandla, the creative director of the Crowns, said; “I am in awe of God’s good work when I look at where we started and where the Crowns are now. It was one of the first shows to go live within the first five years of its existence. Crowns became an institution more than just being an awards ceremony. The Crowns also created an industry that didn’t exist.”
The 17th edition of the Crowns hold a particular significance for us all and each one of us is called to unite in building upon Zanele Mbokazi’s legacy. Charles Wesley (He established the Methodist Church and was crucial in evangelising Britain and Ireland) was once asked what would happen to the work when he was gone. He said: “God buries His workman but carries on His work.” This is what the World Gospel Powerhouse team have embraced and what they repeatedly said during the media briefing; “The Show goes on. The legacy Continues”
- Advertisement -
The awards will be held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on November 24. There will be many activation events across Gauteng churches leading up to the main event. The nominations will close on October 10.
Here is the full calendar of the Crown Gospel Music Awards:
– 25th September: Tickets sales officially open
– 10th October: Nominations will close at midnight
– 1st November: Voting lines open
– 24th November: The official 17th Crown Gospel Music Awards Night in Midrand, Gauteng at Gallagher Convention Centre
For more information, email Prince@mirrorpr.co.za or call +27 73 581 9043
#TheLegacyContinues #StillWePraise #Crowns17
Please help us to keep on publishing news that brings Hope in Jesus:
>> Donate >> Become a Super Subscriber
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/gatewaynews100
COMMENTING GUIDELINES
You are welcome to engage with our articles by making comments [in the Comments area below] that add value to a topic or to engage in thoughtful, constructive discussion with fellow readers. Comments that contain vulgar language will be removed. Hostile, demeaning, disrespectful, propagandistic and off-topic comments may also be moved. This is a Christian website and if you wish to vent against Christian beliefs you have probably come to the wrong place and your comments may be removed. Ongoing debates and repetitiveness will not be tolerated. You will also disqualify yourself from commenting if you engage in trolling.
