SW Radio Africa scoop award at Afro-Brits Awards

By Lance Guma
28 July 2008

The Eland Road Pavilion in Leeds, UK was the venue for the inaugural Afro-Brits Awards, put together by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Natty Zvimba this past Friday. At a glittering ceremony attended by the Mayor of Leeds, SW Radio Africa came away with the award for Best Contribution to News Media, beating off competition from Voice of Africa Radio, People’s FM, Channel Africa, Zimnet Radio, Afro Sounds FM, Choice FM and New Zimbabwe. The winners were selected via the online voting of over 10 000 members of the African-British community, who visited the Afro-Brits website.

Zimbabwe national football team captain and Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari won the award for Male Achiever of the Year, beating competition from Arsenal and Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor and Archbishop of York John Sentamu. Benjani failed to attend the awards after flying back to Zimbabwe to attend to his sick father. Meanwhile Dr Tsitsi Chataika won the Female Achiever of the Year in a category that included broadcasters Violet Gonda and Gerry Jackson, writers Doris Lessing, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Margaret Kamau. Chataika scooped another award for her contribution to Education in Zimbabwe.

Former Radio 2 DJ Ezra ‘Tshisa’ Sibanda won the award for Contribution to Music and Entertainment. Sibanda who was the Master of Ceremony had to temporarily hand over the microphone to co-presenter Lindiwe Mtetwa while he picked up the gong. Other winners were Bishop Levy Bailey (Religion), Thembi’s Mini Shop (Business), Theatre Under Fire (Arts), Mafaro.com (Electronic Media), Nelson Mandela (Best African Leader), SixOone Media (Community Organisation) and Ritz Recruitment (Best Company to work for).

Urban grooves singer Decibel performed during the show, as did upcoming stars Lisa Crawford who won last years MTV Wannabes show for aspiring singers. Sabrina Longo, a finalist of the same show, also sang at the awards.