NORTH WEST SCOOP FIVE AWARDS AT THE SATMA AWARDS IN MBOMBELA

NORTH WEST SCOOP FIVE AWARDS AT THE SATMA 

AWARDS IN MBOMBELA

By : Kabelo Selebogo

Nomtiti Manager and Dancer delivers acceptance speech after Nomtiti winning Best Traditional Music Artist/Group of the year at the SATMA Awards 2021 in Mbombela. Photo credit : Thobani Khanyile

North West Province traditional music artists and arts practitioners took home five awards at the 16^th edition of South African Traditional Music Achievement (Satma) Awards ceremony on Saturday (November 27) in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.  

The glittering awards ceremony was held under the theme My Culture, Your Culture, One Nation.

Chief Director for Arts, Culture, Libraries and Archives, Thabo Mabe from North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (ACSR) walked away with Best Provincial Cultural Affairs Chief Director for a sterling job at the Department.

Previously, under Mabe’s guidance, the Satmas had a highly-successful three-year run in Mahikeng, earning the Province praise from the organisers of the yearly extravaganza. 

Legendary Mafikeng outfit Nomtiti Cultural Ensemble won the main award for Best Traditional Music Artist/Group of the Year against such stern competition as Candy Tsamandebele, Vendaboy Poet and Roots2000.

The group made history as the first group/artist from North West to be crowned the winners in that category. The three-time Satma winners have featured in seven performances at the Sastmas since 2014. At this year’s edition they performed Sieleng from their Kgatsele Ya Puo album.

With that tune, they wowed the crowd, receiving a long standing ovation from an appreciative audience that comprised all colours of the South African rainbow.

Local songwriter, singer and bass player, Tebogo Sedumedi, popularly known as AusTebza, won Best African Jazz Artist/Group with her latest offering titled “Motheo”. The all-Setswana album comprises songs like Re Thuse, Ba ile, Le Phirimile, Dumelang and Re Tshabele Kae.

AusTebza nurtured her talent in Mmabana Arts, Culture & Sports Foundation in Mahikeng. She also played for the late Jabulani “HHP’’ Tsambo.

Chomza won Best Reggae Artist/Group and Legora La Mmino walked away with Best Setswana Artist/Group.

AusTebza expressed her joy and gratefulness by dedicating her award to all women who play musical instruments in the country.

Nomtiti dancer and manager Disebo Medupe thanked their valuable supporters and ACSR for their unrelenting support.

“We would like to thank all our fans for their undying support and for a massive social media campaign that paved our way to be victorious, as well as ACSR for rallying behind us,” said Medupe.

The group is set to release their next offering Nomtiti 9 - Kgatsele Ya Puo soon and to continue Lerole La Mphetšhane social responsibility programme which mainly focuses on empowering traditional music groups based in rural areas.

ACSR MEC Galebekwe Tlhapi congratulated the winners for flying North West flag high.

“On behalf of the Department, I would like to congratulate all the winners for such a major achievement against strong competitors from around the country.

“These artists have demonstrated that North West is capable of competing against prominent artists from other provinces.”

Kelly Khumalo, Stimela, Amaroto and various traditional music outfits serenaded the crowd.