JOHANNESBURG - A music video by a South African Afropop group speaking out against President Robert Mugabes despotic rule is in the running to win an accolade in the South African Music Award (SAMA).Chicken to Change, performed by the popular FreshlyGround in 2010, has been nominated for the Best Music Video of the Year.
The production was nominated alongside Nontsokolo by Nomfusi, Goodfellaz (Teargas) and two videos by the The Parlotones – The Stars Fall Down and Life Design.
The satirical Chicken to Change is a firm favourite to clinch the lucrative award.
Award-winning group Freshlyground shot the video last year calling on the longtime Zimbabwean leader Mugabe to hand power to a younger generation.
The group teamed up with satirical show ZA News to make for their second music video for their latest album Radio Africa.
The decision to hook up with the puppets from ZA News was taken after Mugabe declined a cordial invitation to participate in the video.
The group sings about what a noble supernova Mugabe was, a shiny star and how somewhere along the line he lost his way. In the video, the band is dressed in Zimbabwes 1980s fashion and dance a choreographed chicken dance.
Among other participants in the video are puppets depicting former South African president Thabo Mbeki and current leader Jacob Zuma, who critics have accused of exercising a policy of quiet diplomacy on Zimbabwe, maintaining Mugabes stragenglehold on power.
The video helped Radio Africa achieve gold status.
ZA News co-creator and Executive Producer Thierry Cassuto directed the music video, which was produced by Both Worlds Pictures.
It was filmed and post-produced in state-of-the-art High-Definition in Cape Town, with the help of Media Film Services, Premiere Post Production, HD Hub, Waterfront Studios and Black Ginger.
Freshlyground last year performed the 2010 World Cup official anthem, Waka Waka alongside Colombian beauty Shakira.
Meanwhile, the SAMAs are schedule for next month in Johannesburg, the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA) said.
The MTN SAMA17 event will be held over the weekend of the 20th and 21st May 2011 in a spectacular showcase hosted by the new venue partners Montecasino in Fourways, Johannesburg into SAMA weekend.
Post published in: News