A Night of Glitches and Glory: Cynthia Mare Shines Amidst an Underwhelming ZIMA Ceremony
written By:
Oudney Patsika,
the Chief Editor at
Sona Headlines
& Marketing Officer at
Sona Solar Zimbabwe.
Original reporting by Melissa Mpofu.
The 2014 Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA), held at the Harare International Conference Centre, was billed as a night of glamour and celebration for the nation's top musical talent. While it certainly had its moments of brilliance, particularly for the evening's biggest winner, Cynthia Mare, the ceremony was ultimately marred by a series of avoidable glitches that left many in the audience underwhelmed. From technical failures to logistical missteps, the event struggled to live up to its promise, raising important questions about the state of event management in the local arts industry.
A Series of Unfortunate Glitches
The event was plagued by a host of technical issues that detracted from the overall experience. Poor sound output and unimpressive lighting were consistent problems throughout the night. The absence of a proper podium for award recipients created an awkward visual, and some presenters' attempts at humour fell flat, contributing to a disjointed atmosphere.
A significant blow to the event's credibility was the failure of South African Idols judge, Randall Abrahams, to appear. Billed as a special guest presenter, his absence was a major disappointment. ZIMA chairman Joseph Nyadzayo later confirmed that the organization had failed to secure funds for his air ticket and accommodation, forcing the no-nonsense judge to cancel his trip.
A Missed Opportunity for Artistes
Perhaps the most glaring omission of the night was the failure to play clips of the nominated and winning songs. For many local artistes who struggle for airplay, an awards ceremony is a rare and invaluable platform to showcase their work to a wider audience. Instead, as winners were announced, attendees were often left whispering, "By the way, which song is this?" This robbed many deserving artistes of their moment to shine, forcing some, like Sebastian Magacha and Cynthia Mare, to sing acapella portions of their winning tracks upon accepting their awards.
The Night's Bright Spots
Despite the organizational shortcomings, the Zimbabwean arts community showed up in full force. Artistes thronged the venue, and the live performances were a highlight. International Achievers' Award recipients, Mokoomba, delivered a world-class act, while Zimdancehall star Souljah Love captivated the audience with his hit "Ndini Uya Uya." The crowd also showed immense love for man-of-the-moment Tocky Vibes, chanting his name throughout the night, despite him not being nominated.
While Cynthia Mare dominated the awards count, the night's biggest winner was arguably music legend Dickson "Cde Chinx" Chingaira. He was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which came with a house in Sentossa, Harare, in recognition of his immense contribution to the arts industry. In presenting the award, ZIMA chairman Joseph Nyadzayo praised Cde Chinx for teaching the nation about resistance and unity.
2014 ZIMA Winners List
- Best Traditional Music: Jah Prayzah (Tsviriyo)
- Best Contemporary Choral Music: UFIC Choir (Devine Solutions)
- Best A’capella: Black Umfolosi (Summertime)
- Best Sungura Music: Sulumani Chimbetu (Syllabus)
- Best Hip Hop Music: Tehn Diamond (Tehn Diamond)
- Best House Music: Khuxxman (Vumelani Isangoma)
- Best R&B/Soul Music: Audious Mtawarira (House of Stones)
- Best Afro Pop Music: Ex Q (Music Bank)
- Best Dancehall Music: Souljah Love (Ndini Uya Uya)
- Best Jazz Music: Ruzivo and Clare Nyakudyara (Ndega Zvangu)
- Best Traditional Gospel Music: Mathias Mhere (Anoita Minana)
- Best Contemporary Gospel Music: Sebastian Magacha (Tinaye Faithful God)
- Best Collaboration: Sanni Makhalima and Umsindo All Stars (Zvachose)
- Best Single of the Year: Cynthia Mare (Zuvarimwe/Dai Zvaibvira)
- Best Music Video Of the Year: Nick Compas (Ingoma – DJ Stavo)
- Best Producer of the Year: Sani Makhalima (Evolution Reloaded)
- Best Engineer of the Year: Obediah Matulana (Isimbazo/Chimbadzo)
- Best Male Artiste: Souljah Love (Ndini Uya Uya)
- Best Female Artiste: Cynthia Mare (Songs My Mother loved)
- Song of the year: Leonard Zhakata
- Best Newcomer: Malimbah (African Sun)
- Best Duo/Group: UFIC Choir (We are Family)
- Best Album of the Year: Jah Prayzah (Tsviriyo)
- International Achievers Award: Mokoomba
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dickson Chingaira
Author's Commentary by Oudney Patsika
An awards ceremony is more than a party; it is a critical platform for industry validation, artist discovery, and cultural documentation. The technical glitches at the 2014 ZIMAs, especially the failure to play the music itself, represent a fundamental misunderstanding of this purpose. While celebrating our artists with red carpets and limousines is commendable, the true honour lies in showcasing their work with the excellence it deserves.
The night belonged to Cynthia Mare, yet the ceremony failed to fully amplify her victory and that of many other winners. The immense support from the artists and the public, despite the flaws, proves that there is a deep hunger for a credible, well-executed national awards show. It is a call to action for organizers and the corporate world to invest in the details, because it is in those details—a sound clip, a video, a well-lit stage—that an artist's career can be truly elevated and a nation's musical heritage properly celebrated.
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