Local famo giants eye awards

MASERU — Two local famo giants — Phoka Special and Kheola — say they hope to win big in this year’s edition of the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMAS) after they were nominated for the best Sesotho album and best video categories.

Phoka Special has been nominated in the best Sesotho album while Kheola will be competing in both the best Sesotho album as well as the best video category.

The two musicians fall under KOL Productions.

The Seventh Annual SATMA Awards 2012 will be hosted in East London in the Eastern Cape Province on October 27.

Phoka Special, whose real name is Phoka Moloi, told the Weekender the nomination was confirmation that his music was growing.

“This is the first time I have been nominated and I am very happy because it means my hard work is paying off.

“I thank my fans for their support,” he said.

The musician said he hopes to win in the best Sesotho album category.

“With every competition one winner is expected but I am praying to God that I win,” he said.

Phoka has been nominated for his latest album Hlabeng Tsa Butha-Buthe, an album that features the 2009 SATMA award winner Morusu.

Kheola is competing in the best Sesotho album and best video categories with his album Kheola Bana ba Lepoqo No 7.

The song, according to KOL Productions managing director Molefi Mabote, has been receiving massive airplay on South African Broadcasting Corporation radio stations and all local radio stations.

“Of all the 12 artistes under KOL, these two were the top selling artistes,” Mabote said.

Kheola, born Khaebane Nthule, told the Weekender in a separate interview that the nomination was an indication that he should continue working hard.

“I intend to leave a mark in the famo industry and I am very happy that since 1999 with the nine albums I have released, I am now seeing the growth and fruits of my hard work,” he said.

Kheola is vying with the likes of South African diva, Zahara, in the best video category.

“I am having sleepless nights because Zahara is big competition but I don’t stop praying that God blesses me,” he said.

Kheola added: “I urge Basotho to use their South African numbers to vote for both me and Phoka because if we win, it will not only be our glory but that of the country.”

Mabote said: “This is a prestigious year because we are having a Mosotho being nominated in the same category as Zahara. We are very happy with the achievement.”

“I hope Basotho will support us in this journey. “These achievements do not only elevate the status of the individual artistes, but also our traditional music, especially if we can win against a world-class artiste like Zahara.”

He said the nominations had helped raise the profile of the artiste and entrenched the company’s name as one of the finest in the music industry representing famo artistes.

SATMA Awards were introduced in 2005 to promote, preserve, uplift, develop, stage multicultural exchanges, honour and award traditional musicians across racial and ethnic backgrounds.