Launched in 2018 and already a hit with artists and the Bapedi nation including all the dialects communities, Sepedi Music Awards (SEMA) are back with exciting initiatives which will surely add more spark and glamour in the annual celebration of Sepedi music.
Sepedi Music Awards, as they are affectionately known, have also invited Sepedi female MC’s to participate in the search for a 2019 edition co-host. This is R10, 000.00 (Ten-Thousand-Rands) cash winner takes all. The SEMA’s hope this first of its kind initiative will launch the winner’s career and set them on a path to bigger and better things in the Emceeing industry.
As if that is not enough, a brand new category for a Best Sepedi Radio Presenter has been introduced and is open to community radio, online radio, and national radio presenters.
Sepedi Music Awards are run by Media House of Africa in partnership with a host of the corporate sector and provincial government departments.
The SEMAs are the only South African music awards celebrating the culture, heritage, and music of the Bapedi people and are held annually to celebrate artists, producers, songwriters and cultural dance groups who are creating music and art using the Sepedi language and drumming to the African Kiba beat. The SEMAs believe in artist empowerment and awards all winners with cash prizes and statuettes in each category, including The Honorary Sepedi Music Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Only singles and albums first released between September 1, 2018, and August 31, 2019, are eligible for entry.
Project Manager for Sepedi Music Awards, Mr. Neo Pheeha, says in 2018 there were challenges with many artists who were not able to work with the website electronic submission platform, either owing to technical glitches or people not being aware of how to use the download platform. You can download your entry form by clicking [here].
To make things easy for every artist, a Whatsapp line has been established to submit work and so is email sepedimusicawards@gmail.com.
Neo says the 2019 edition of the awards will also honour all 2018 inaugural winners and called on South Africans to support musicians who are recording, producing and performing music using indigenous Sepedi and Khelobedu languages: “Music, like books, is a great vehicle to reach people from all corners of life. The 2019 SEMA edition will surely unearth more talented artists across South Africa who are proud to produce their music using the Sepedi language,” he said.
Neo says activations leading up to the main awards will be held at strategic points in all Limpopo regions to raise awareness.
He adds that: “our previous awards in 2018 really showed us that it is important for us to keep in touch with real people especially in our villages and townships to ensure that we encourage more artists to produce music in Sepedi and further recognize those who work tirelessly to promote the music.”
This year’s awards feature 19 categories across all musical genres as evidenced below:
SEMA 2019 CATEGORIES:
- BEST SEPEDI RADIO PRESENTER 2019
- BEST SEPEDI COMEDIAN 2019
- SEPEDI KING/QUEEN OF sePEDI RAP 2019
- BEST DINAKA/KIBA GROUP (MALES) 2019
- BEST MAKGAKGASA/DIPEPETLWANA GROUP (FEMALES) 2019
- BEST SEPEDI AFRO POP ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI HOUSE MUSIC ARTIST/ GROUP 2019
- BEST KHELOBEDU ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI AFRO SOUL ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI TSA MANYALO ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI REGGAE ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI GOSPEL ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI KWAITO ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI AFRO JAZZ ARTIST/GROUP 2019
- BEST SEPEDI COLLABORATION (ANY GENRE) 2019
- BEST SEPEDI POET 2019
- BEST SEPEDI ALBUM 2019
- BEST SEPEDI MUSIC VIDEO 2019
- SEPEDI SONG OF THE YEAR 2019 – previously scooped by King Monada.
Categories not open for entries (from received entries, SEMA judges will decide who qualifies for the category)
- Sepedi Artist of the year 2019, previously scooped by Pleasure.
ENTRIES AND SUBMISSIONS:
Entry forms must be completed and submitted via the SEMA Whatsapp (072 665 1456) number and must include the following:
- A prescribed number of copies of the entered album or single
- Any other material required for the particular category
- Entry fee for the SEMAs is FREE
- Artists who prefer not to do online submissions can physically submit their entries at local radio stations in
- their residential areas.
ELIGIBILITY:
Only singles and albums first released between September 1, 2018, and September 31, 2019, are eligible for entry.
DEADLINES:
The 2nd Annual Sepedi Music Awards (SEMAs) officially opened for entries on September 2, 2019. The closing date for entries is September 22, 2019, at 00:00 (midnight) which means artists and their record labels have a period of three weeks to submit their entries.
JUDGING:
A Sepedi Music Awards (SEMA) panel adjudicates all the categories in the awards, with the exception of the SEMA Special Award namely Lifetime Achiever. The SEMA panels of judges are reviewed annually and are selected for their expertise in their respective fields with no interests in the music industry or the artists themselves. Once a submission or entry is made by an artist/band to the SEMAs, such an entry is then vetted to check if it’s in accordance with SEMA rules and guidelines. If such an entry is legitimate and meets our entire entry requirements, it is then forwarded to the SEMA judging panel for consideration. Entries that do not meet the requirements will be automatically disqualified.
NOMINATIONS, SEPEDI MUSIC AWARDS LECTURE, AND AWARDS:
Sepedi Music Awards (SEMA) will announce all nominees at the Sepedi Music Awards official launch on September 28, 2019, and the main event of the awards will be held on October 26, 2019. As per Sepedi Music Tradition, the SEMAs will also host its Sepedi Music Awards Lecture which deals with Sepedi music culture and talk about traditional music origins and encourages music makers to produce more music indigenous languages.
For more information, please contact 072665 1456.
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