KWAITO and House music are taking things into their own hands.
They are now hosting the Mzansi Kwaito House Music Awards to honour those in these genres.
The media launch for the awards was held on Wednesday at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, where guests were treated to pantsula dancing and performances by kwaito artists.
Legendary kwaito group Trompies’ Eugene “Donald Duck” Mthethwa spoke of kwaito’s history and how house music has borrowed from it over the years.
“Post-1994, as young people, we said there’s too much unrest. Kwaito was a revolution of its own. That’s why kwaito didn’t focus on lyrics or message,” he said.
“We just wanted to make people dance.
“We shared our music in street bashes, not stadiums, because we were taking them back from violence.”
undefinedMthethwa shared his excitement at the birth of the awards and thanked its founder, Perfecta Khumalo.
Khumalo said she was proving that kwaito wasn’t dead and that it was the lifeblood of local music.
“Whoever thought kwaito was dead, we’re here to show them.
“It’s time to honour kwaito and house. To appreciate them and encourage them,” she said to applause.
Musicians interested in entering the awards pay a R500 application fee.
The awards will be held on November 7 in the Sun City Superbowl.