The awards to be premiered on May 22 at the majestic Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), have a bag full of surprises, as the organizers have stepped up efforts that are likely going to match the internationally acclaimed standards.
In an interview ZIMAs executive producer, Kharl Ncube, said: The ceremony is going to be a red carpet event. Prior to the awards ceremony, we have lined up shows abroad under our banner as we have granted ZIMA franchises to several interested promoters in New York, London, Beijing and Sydney. This will give the ceremony enough coverage and publicity.
Ncube added that footage would be screened at the awards ceremony to show natives how much local music was appreciated outside.
Those who are familiar with the American Music Television (MTV), Black Entertainment Television (BET), and Grammy awards will not be taken off guard when the highly anticipated ZIMA night marked as a red carpet event packed with unlimited surprises unfolds. ZIMA Chairman, Joseph Nyadzayo, revealed that this years awards were an attempt to market local music, thereby manifesting local cultural values to the international community.
This years annual awards will take ZIMA to an international arena. We want these awards to be able to speak the Zimbabwean story, our lifestyle, tradition and cultural values to the global community. The audience should expect a five star show with lots of fireworks, said Nyadzayo. Ncube revealed that they had made several changes in the number of categories, performances and presenters.
We have made several changes and additions. There are now 30 categories to be contested for. We have introduced five more from the previous 25. There are going to be many presenters than the usual two, as well as 15 performances altogether featuring old hits from the late legendary artists chanted by other music heavyweights to rekindle the memory of all the late greats, said Ncube.
Quizzed on whether they have adequate human expertise, necessary modern equipment and a more fair system of selecting nominees and winners than their highly criticized group of eight selected judges, Ncube hastened to say: ZIMA have competent organizers with more than seven years of experience equally able to organize five star events. We have also secured funding for digital equipment from AD Media.
Added Ncube: Audiences will be up for a treat since they can view proceedings from all angles from digital projection LCD plasma screens that we have secured from one of our sponsors. Previously ZIMA used projectors that encountered technical hitches. He also deliberated that the peoples choices would dominate much of the awards, as they have shifted from the infamous group of eight judges to do the selection.
Registered entertainment journalists and Disk Jockeys will vote via the website, said Ncube. On May 15, just before the awards, ZIMA will hold massive shows countrywide to brief journalist and DJs on how they can participate in the awards.
Post published in: Arts