One of the continent’s biggest music platform, AfriMusic Song Contest has just concluded with a bang with South Africa’s music new-find, Nonzwakazi, announced as the 2019 title winner. Unveiled last week via social media, the Durban-based singer took the honors with her song Phakama Mbokodo.
Following successfull runnings for two consecutive years, organisers are excited to announce that they will be taking Nonzwakazi to the 64th EuroVision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel in May. Tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Swedish pop group ABBA, and UK’s Brotherhood of Man, both of whom achieved runaway success after winning the 1974 and 1976 Eurovision contest respectively, the songstress will perform Phakama Mbokodo and two other songs from her forthcoming album to an international audience.
Prepare to meet SA’s next big thing in music
While there, she’ll have the opportunity to fly the South African flag high as she takes to the stage alongside contestants from 42 countries. The EuroVision Song Contest takes place in TelAviv from May 14 to 18 with a series of musical performances, street parties and culinary events among highlights planned for the week-long entertainment extravaganza. The Eurovillage, which will be erected within the promenade of Tel Aviv’s White City takes an audience capacity of 20,000 spectators. According to 2018 figures, the event is televised to a quaranteed 200 million mass viewing globally.
About AfriMusic Song Contest
Since opening doors two years ago (2017), the AfriMusic Song Contest has made incredible strides in the global music industry. The competition is aimed at providing exposure and opportunities to talented songwriters, composers and musicians across the African continent.
In 2018, Swazi singer/songwriter Symphony, real name Zanele Cele won the inaugural AfriMusic Song Contest. He was subsequently flown to Lisbon Portugal, to take part in the EuroVision Song Contest. (Here’s a link to Symphony’s breathtaking performance at the Eurovision: https://studio.youtube.com/video/YQy8QbuaBOI/edit)
AfriMusic going global
All thanks to Nonzwakazi’s 2019 victory, organisers are now extending the competition to South africa. To this end, it has been decided that the 2020 AfriMusic national selections and finals will be hosted on South African soil for the first time. While the competition is currently rolled out on digital platforms, plans are underway to have live shows in the form of concerts – hosted in the winning country.
“Much like the EuroVision Song Contest format, the aim is to broadcast the live finals in each participating country that has qualified, as well as online streaming to a global audience,” publicist Suzie Vicente tells NOWinSA, adding: “The AfriMusic Song Contest’s objective is to showcase Africa’s talent on a global platform and to increase tourism and skills transfer to the host African country.”
For more info on the competition, visit: www.afrimusicsongcontest.com
