Grammy Award winners celebrated
President Cyril Ramaphosa applauded Grammy Winners for overcoming challenges and breaking barriers to fly the country’s flag high all over the world.
A trio of musical artists overcame the barriers of borders as well as those of a country’s divided past when they won Grammy Awards this year. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Minister Zizi Kodwa on April 20 hosted a Grammy Award winners’ gala dinner titled ‘Celebrating our own’, at the Galleria.
The event paid homage to renowned Grammy Award winners within the cultural and creative industry including the trio Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman, and Zakhele Madida better known as Zakes Bantwini, who won for their song, Bayethe.
Kodwa honoured the trailblazers who are pioneers in devoting their lives to musical art, mosaic and style. “It is through such human endeavours and indomitable spirit that they achieved this well-deserved global recognition. To us as an African continent, they represent touchstones and those stars that shine through our cultural tapestry… they are ordained to fly our flag high all over the world,” said the minister.
He acknowledged the historical honour that South Africa had been graced with since Miriam Makeba won a Grammy in 1965 for her collaboration with Harry Belafonte.
Kodwa announced that through keeping to the ministerial policy of recognising the artists’ contribution to society, the Grammy winners would be given funds towards furthering their foundations to ‘produce future Grammy award recipients’.
In a video recording sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa, he said, “We may be a nation that is tormented by a divided past but you have communicated a message to the world that the past will not determine your destiny nor that of the nation and country. Your achievements are an affirmation of your determination and resilience and your extraordinary talents.”
Ramaphosa said the country’s artists were essential to our ongoing nation-building story which revealed our imperfections, struggles, dreams and more importantly, our future. He added the road towards our dreams was a difficult one and while navigating the challenges of the present and the future, we looked to the cultural and creative industry to continue to spread the message of hope, benevolence and a message of where we want to go as a nation.
“Your achievements on the world stage are admired and celebrated by your fellow countrymen and women from all spheres. May you continue to entertain, and bring joy and inspiration to the people while we continue to celebrate our own as a nation.”
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