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The 16th Annual Crown Gospel Awards which took place Sunday 26 November for the first time in Johannesburg, Gauteng, left the province bowled over by the star-studded event which packed an entire stadium dome to capacity and tickets sold out. Music fans and gospel music supporters travelled from across the country and others travelled as far as Swaziland, Botswana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe to support their country’s nominees such as Canaan Nyathi from Zimbabwe who won Best Gospel Artist for 2023 and has received hype from Zimbabwe music fans who voted for their own and made sure he brings the award home. Others traveled from Botswana and came in with big numbers voting for their very own Tsepo Lesola who won the Best of Africa Gospel category for Botswana. Nigerian fans took to social media that next year they will vote in big numbers for their own OV Prince and will make sure he brings the award home. The event captivated by stunning performances and appearances from popular faces such as Shauwn Mamkhize who made a grand entrance in her diamond silver piece which lit the stage with tiny crystals as she presented 2 nomination categories. Rebecca Malope also entertained the guests with her humor and grace of how music videos have evolved over the years from when she started her music career, she presented the Best Music Video and best collabo nomination categories.
The awards had over 300 A-listers, Influencers such as MIhlaly Ndamase graced the awards with her stunning white and gold piece, the event was well attended by local actors, musicians, TV and Radio personalities, music execs and industry veterans such as Sophie Ndaba, Khaya Dladla, Ihashe Elimhlophe to name a few.
The hosts Rorisang Thandekiso and Khaya Mthethwa kept the audience captivated with their catchy lingo, top tier tv hosting skills with an execution of over 5 designer garments which left the audience flabbergasted.
Founder of the Crown Gospel Awards, Inspirational Speaker, radio and television presenter, businesswoman and producer Zanele Mbokazi started her media career over 2 decades ago in the 1990s and producing her first Crown Gospel Awards event in 2008 in KZN which then moved to Johannesburg, Gauteng for the first time in 2023. The awards have become the biggest gospel music and gospel production event in Africa and has also attracted gospel musicians from across the African continent to enter the competition and also attend the event every year which has added a boost to Gauteng tourism and hopes to collaborate with the province to deliver iconic world class venues like the FNB Stadium dome they were held in last night. The awards will broadcast on SABC 2 on Sunday, 3 November 2023.
Zanele says she hopes to expand the awards not only in South Africa, but other african countries with a music gospel following including the USA where international gospel musicians can share the stage, perform and also be nominated for Crown Gospel awards in order to open the awards to all gospel musicians in the world who want to get recognized and celebrated for their beautiful music.
Mbokazi also aims to take the Crowns digital through gospel films that they will be shooting in 2024. One of her film pieces that she’s producing is the untold story of Rebecca Malope and the documentary behind the Crown Gospel Awards which will unfold the 16 years of the cost of the crowns. The power house will also release its first ever documentary titled: The Cost of the Crowns to be announced soon…
“The Crowns are no longer about me or the nominees or the winners but the people who support the music, attend concerts, download and vote for the musicians when time comes. The crowns are a family event and caters for the whole family (mother, father, son, daughter and siblings) everyone can relate to the crowns and this year we have the youngest performer Ndumiso Zungu, a nine year old boy who left the audience in awe at the awards, showing us that young people also have a place at the awards to showcase their talent Today people dislike you because they didn’t win, next year they come back and win and forget about last year and love you again. People promise to endorse and support the crowns and sometimes they don’t show up at meetings and don’t take our calls but we continue pushing and trying to put on a world class production because”, says Zanele.
“My goal is to show others – through my own life as an example – that living your wildest dreams is a possibility, no matter your start in life. Will you join me as I inspire and educate you on how I created my dreamlife to give people the courage to DREAM AGAIN and achieve a total Money Turnaround through my speaking, books, coaching and annual event which has paved the way for many local musicians and gospel artists to grow in their music careers and build successful brands that have longevity and purpose.” says Mbokazi.
Part of the Crowns CSI programmes this year includes a star search competition which ran across the provinces and the winner of the star search competition was funded to kickstart their music career, top quality studios to record their Album, mix and mastering budget, help them with distribution and performances so they can sustain themselves and keep producing quality music. The programme is an initiative created by Zanele which hopes to give young people the opportunity to promote their music talent.
WINNERS OF 2023 CROWN GOSPEL AWARDS
1. MASIBUYELE KUJEHOVA HONOURED WITH A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
JUMBO WINS BIG AT THE CROWNS with 127 571 votes, Jumbo won the Best Gospel song of the year award with his well loved song – Makabongwe uJesu.
He was followed by the nominees who got:
No 2 got 20 072
No 3 got 9821
No 4 got 7191
While receiving his award It actually became evident when he was performing – as the entire dome marquee erupted and people rushed to the front to dance.
2. THE CROWNS SHOWCASE SFISO MABUZA – THE NEW GOSPEL RISING STAR (WINNER OF THE GOSPEL DREAMS TALENT SEARCH)
Other winners include:
Best Jazz song: Swazi Dlaminini
Best Accapela: Yithi Laba Gospel Singers
Best Rap: Vovee and LG
Best Community Outreach: Letia Mawelane
Best Producer Producer: Khaya Mthethwa for 3C Live
Best New Comer (2 WINNERS): Sibusiso Nzima (KZN) & Soso Maholwana (Eastern Cape)
Best Clap and Tap: Spiritual Gospel choir
Best Gospel Itende: Londiwe Spe Nxumalo (Swaziland)
Best Video KingD Collaboration: Swazi Dlamini and Phutuma Tiso
Best Live recording: Gershom Ntimane Group
Best Gospel Group: Thembisa Gospel Group (Ekurhuleni)
Best Worship Song: Collen Maluleke
Best of Africa Gospel: Tsepo Lesola (Botswana)
Best Traditional: Butho Vuthela Song
Best Writer: Dumi Mkokstad (EC)
Best Classic: Joseph Tshawane
Best Contemporary: Mnqobi Nxumalo
Best Praise: Tebs David
Best Female: Sindi Ntombela
Best Male: Jumbo Album 3C
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Date published: 07/12/2023
Feature image: Zanele Mbokazi – Founder of Crown Awards 2023. Photographer: Steve Kabuya
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