Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is doing the most to put our creative industries on the recognition map. Yesterday marked the beginning of the Ministerial Recognition Creative Awards.
As part of honouring South Africa’s Creatives’, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Minister Zizi Kodwa, yesterday evening, Thursday, 20 April 2023, hosted the ‘Celebrating Our OWN’ Gala Dinner, a recognition event to pay homage to renowned Grammy Award winners within the Cultural and Creative Industry.
The event was hosted at the Galleria Conference & Events Venue in Sandton. This occasion is intended to recognize South African Grammy Award winners since 1965; by honouring and paying tribute to the first icon who paved the way, such as Ms Miriam Makeba best known as “Mama Africa”, five time Grammy Award Winners – Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Lebo Morake, three time Grammy Award Winners – Soweto Gospel Choir, Wouter Kellerman, Nkosinathi Maphumulo best known as Black Coffee and our recent 2023 Grammy Award Winners as a trio: Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman and Zakhele Madida, best known as Zakes Bantwini.
The event also highlighted the executive actions and policy proposals of the government that honour the creative sector while elevating the spirit of the nation as they drive nation building by celebrating South African excellence in the arts on a global stage, promoting and advancing the creative economy. Furthermore, also elaborates on the mandate of the department and government on our gains of democracy.
Minister Kodwa and Deputy Minister Mafu were not only recognizing the Grammy Awards winners but were also acknowledging those who received Grammy nominations as artists making in roads on a global stage exporting South African music and culture to the world and other forms of arts.
The ceremonial gala dinner was graced by both past and recent Grammy Awards winners, as well as various celebrities, icons, and legends of the Cultural and Creative Industry.