Gospel Music Awards launch in December

Preparations are underway for the launch of Gospel Music Awards (GMA) 2012. The event will be launched at Robin’s Park on December 21 2012.

Kondwani Magela, chairperson of the organising committee, said the launch of the awards is in response to the rapid growth of gospel music in Malawi.

“Gospel music has maintained its solid market share in the overall Malawian music industry. It accounts for and represents at least 60 percent of total local music market. Therefore, gospel music provides a vast base for entertainment to the nation,” said Magela.

The event, the first-of-its kind in Malawi, will present 12 awards winners in different categories. “Some of the categories include best worship song, best gospel lifetime achiever, best female voice, best urban gospel voice and best newcomer,” he said.

Magela said there will be five phases of determining the award winners for the gospel music awards.

“The GMA will announce a call for nominations to the general public and the nominations shall be done via text messages. After the other subsequent phases, the finalist nominee with the highest tally of votes shall be the awardee,” Magela explained.

He added that the awards presentation ceremony will include an entertainment programme including live musical performances, dances, drama and presentation of cash and awards to winners.

The GMA Awards is a new annual recognition event which is aiming at drawing stakeholders to celebrate the diversity and heritage of gospel music in Malawi.