MASO Awards announces nominees for 2022

Organisers of the MASO Awards have unveiled nominees for the 2022 showcase slated for 26 November.

There are 30 categories out of which, 20 awards will go to the music industry and 10 to other fields.

Music categories include artist of the year-female and male, song of the year, up and coming artist of the year.

The non-musical categories include Visual Artist of the Year, Photographer of the year, MASO Humanitarian of the year.

This is in addition to the Actor and Actress of the year, Best Feature of the year and Poetry of the Year.

Initially, the awards focused on up and coming artists in 2019, until 2020 when the focus shifted to all music artists and other arts discipline.

This year’s awards will be held under the theme Youth Empowerment through Arts.

Augustine Mukhisi who is Chief Executive Officer for MASO Awards highlights that they are anticipating a lot of positive feedback this year.

“People should expect a better event, well organized at a bigger scale that will definitely add value to different artists. We want to create a platform in which empowerment through us should be taken seriously. One of the things that we are going to do is to make sure that conversation of youth empowerment through arts should be heard by responsible authorities and probably force them to do something” Mukhisi explained.

Meanwhile, Amaryllis Hotel management has committed to support the event by providing the venue and other items among other things.

The hotel’s General Manager Ramy Waheed emphasized on the need for the support.

“Amaryllis Hotel is supporting and always behind anything relating to culture and arts in Malawi and so coming into MASO Awards was a very important move just to make sure that we also appreciate the efforts of all the artists here in Malawi.” Waheed explained.

Also pledging support is CTS Courier whose General Manager Jacqueline Msiska Bokosi, believes in supporting young people.

“We have partnered with MASO Awards because the Awards are empowering the youths through arts and we as CTS also believe in empowering the youth. Malawi’s higher Population is the youth so that’s why we have decided to sponsor MASO Awards as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility,” Bokosi revealed.

CST Courier has given them 400 000 towards the event.

Maso Awards began in 2019 by Maso Enterprises with the aim of promoting local music talent in Malawi.

THE NOMINEES

Artist of the Year-Male: Driemo, Eli Njuchi, Gwamba, Piksy and Onesimus
Artist of the Year-Female: Toriah, Temwa, Leslie, Tuno and Keturah.
Song of the Year: Anana by Piksy, Gugugu by Eli Njuchi, Open your heart by Onesimus and Janta, Weni weni by Driemo and Mvetsela by Temwa and Zeze Kingston
Album of the Year: True Independence by Gwamba, 30’s by Lawi, Red Flag by Eli Njuchi, Ndabwera ndi Nkhani by Kell Kay and Mtunda by Piksy.
Best Live Act of the Year: Lawi, Eli Njuchi, Paul Kachala, Tay Grin and Lulu.
Media Personality of the Year: Priscilla Kayira, Kelvin Silungwe, Garry Samati, Super DT and Blackjack Che Kalonda.
Song of the Year (Gospel): Mwandikondera- Suffix ft Ndirande Anglican voices and Kambwiri sisters, Ulemelero Wanu- Free worship ft Praise Umali, Amao- Dear Josh, Testimony- Shammah Vocals, Vinyo watha- Mlaka Maliro.
Best Gospel Act of the Year: Shyreen Kalulu, Wendy Harawa, Apostle Chitheka, Free Worship and Suffix.
Manager of the Year: Van Ngongo, Prince Chikweba, Tonderai Banda, Kelvin Silungwe and Wisdom Phanga.
DJ of the Year: Dj Tawa, Dj Mask, Dj Joy Nathu, Dj Mighty Virus, and Dj Rubbie.