A group of young women from Umlazi, Lamontville and Pietermaritzburg have left a large footprint in the global music industry after winning a coveted Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (Beffta) award on Saturday.
Simply Chrysolite, of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach, a local all-girl gospel group made up of Hlengiwe Nguse, Dolce Bophela, Thabiso Mkhize, Phumzile Ngcobo, Thabzo Mkhwanazi and Mabongi Shinga, have won the award for Best International Act, beating world-renowned musicians like Kelly Rowland and Teargas, who had also been nominated in the category, according to the awards website.
Mkhwanazi, who leads the group, expressed surprise and gratitude.
“We were nominated for the awards by some people in London, and although we do gospel music, we were nominated in the Best International Act category,” Mkhwanazi said.
“To have been nominated in for such awards was a huge thing for us. We were not expecting the win at all.”
The Befftas are for accomplishments in black entertainment, film, fashion, television and arts, with the organisers bringing regular news on achievements and events within the UK and global black community.
The awards ceremony was held in London on Saturday, but the group weren’t able to receive their award in person as they are touring.
The group, who have only been singing together for two years, and who have not had professional training, began their climb to international success when they were nominated in two categories at this year’s SA Music Awards in the Best Rock/Pop Album and Best Urban Gospel categories.
Last year they won a Crown Gospel award for Best Engineering for their album.
“We first met in our church choir at Timomotoso Global Outreach in 2007, when we all auditioned for the choir,” said Mkhwanazi.
“From there, a choir called Covenant Voices was formed and we got together from then on.
“We have been training under our pastor, Rev Timothy Omotoso.
“We are in the process of recording a CD. We are still busy working on the tracks for that album,” said Mkhwanazi.
Simply Chrysolite’s second album should be released soon, while their first recording, Simply Chrysolite Volume 1, is available at Look&Listen stores. - Daily News