B-Metro
Langalakhe Mabena
Local bands have applauded the recognition they have been given by the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (RoilBAA) as the organisers came up with a special category for the Outstanding Bands (covers) ahead of this year’s edition of the awards.
The awards, which are in their sixth edition, will be held on 5 November.
Notable bands that have been active this year include Band Fusion, The Friends Band, Jem Session and The Outfit Band.
In coming up with the Outstanding Band (covers) category, the organisers of the awards noted the role that had been played by cover bands.
From weddings to corporate events, bands have become a regular feature of the city’s entertainment landscape, garnering a huge following in Bulawayo and beyond.
Therefore, there was a need to introduce the category as a way of helping trigger conversation about the boundless potential local acts have to win over audiences.
Band Fusion’s Lungile Ndlovu said RoilBAA’s gesture boosts their confidence.
“It’s a good move for bands to have finally been recognised because just like DJs, bands play almost an equal role in providing entertainment either at the nightspots, weddings or corporate events,” said Ndlovu.
Friends Band’s Sam Mabhena said: “Bands have always been there before but when we approached the new normal, we advanced our craft and visibility on a different perspective and it led to many bands becoming popular through performing covers at nightspots amongst other venues.
“We welcome this move by RoilBAA of recognising the efforts we are making in providing entertainment in Bulawayo and out of the city,” said Mabhena.
Sam Muzik, who is a lead guitarist and vocalist for The Outfit Band, said: “This is a great initiative, it will go a long way in inspiring bands to continue doing the great work they are doing of providing quality entertainment to the people.”
The Outfit Band
Apart from the Outstanding Band (covers) category, Outstanding Screenplay, Outstanding Visual Artist (2D) and Outstanding Visual Artist (3D) have been added as new categories at the RoilBAAs.
In a statement RoilBAA said: “The Outstanding screenplay award seeks to honour those artistes behind the scenes who pen some of the popular productions but rarely get recognition for their craft.
“As last year there were no submissions for the Outstanding Visual Artiste (3D) category, we spoke with artistes and stakeholders and we agreed that the awards be split into two genres which are Outstanding Visual Artist (2D) and Outstanding Visual Artist (3D).
“It is our hope that this year around, with the added specification, we get nominees for these two categories,” said RoilBAA.
Meanwhile, the nomination process started on 1 July an it will end on 31 August 2022. Only works made between 15 August 2021 and 1 July 2022 will be considered.
