To all the award winners

The year 2023 has been one of the most happening in as far as arts and entertainment is concerned. There has been little time for respite as the production engines have kept rolling.

As the year is slowly drawing to a close, we can reflect on what a year it has been on the creative front. It has been particularly interesting to watch some new artists come in the fray and others making breakthroughs.

The established names were also forced to get out of their comfort zones in a quest to defend their territories which in earnest looked threatened by the newcomers. So, the creative space has been a machine which has been grinding non-stop throughout the course of the year.

Another point worth noting this year has been the way the South African genre amapiano has been embraced by local artists. There have been some artists that have done absolute wonders while riding on amapiano beats.

One cannot fail to mention Zeze Kingston in that vein. The Alamu Anu star has single-handedly held the local music industry under the cuff of its neck due to the success of his music. From nowhere, Zeze Kingston rose to become a household name.

Every club, every party and every event had the name Zeze Kingston appearing somewhere. And because of his success, more local artists caught on the amapiano vibe and now we have a long list of local artists experimenting with the beat.

The music industry also saw the introduction of new entrants, namely AidFest and Kineo. The  duo based in Bangwe Township, Blantyre had people stop and notice with the release of their breakthrough song Two Two. The remake of their song with Afro star Kell Kay only served to lift their status even higher.

The ground was not only left to the up-and-coming artists. In essence we also saw the resurgence of other names which were slowly sliding down the radar. The reinvention of Saint on his new album Ah Yami has been nothing but sensational.

His return on the scene speaks of someone who has put to full use his time away from the limelight. He must have hated not to see his name on the event posters or hear his music on any music chart. He knew he had to reassert his stronghold on the music scene. He did that perfectly.

Other old names such as Eli Njuchi, Driemo, Kell Kay, Malinga, Temwa and Praise Umali did not let things lie down too. For one to remain relevant in this trade it requires constantly refreshing your act. The competition at the top is just too tight.

These old guards have certainly learnt better during their time in the business. Therefore, they could not afford to sit on their laurels while their glory is fading. An album here and collaboration there has meant most of these have maintained their place in the limelight throughout the year.

After all the toiling and bustle it is always proper to reward those that have stood out among the rest. And that is ideally what the Maso Awards platform provided.

In Malawi, we are limited when it comes to award platforms. Therefore, the Maso Awards remains a crucial cog in the local entertainment set-up. The awards are a huge motivator and a measure of how the artists have fared within a particular period.

When your name is called out on the podium as a winner, there is a sense of fulfilment that grips you. For those who didn’t win, it is also an indicator for them to make improvements so that next time they hit the required standards.

The 2023 has been  wonderful all thanks to the individual efforts of different artists. Even those who did win during the Maso Awards, let them consider their contributions as a win on its own. Let them keep their focus and hard work and try again next year. Congratulations to all winners.