ARTISTS in this country have been honored by President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the National Orders ceremony, in Pretoria yesterday, he said unanimously that what happened there means that he has worked hard to highlight and help the people of this country in their fields.
Artists including singers, DJs, songwriters and music educators have been honored with various Khamanga awards.
Among those honored are Samuel Mhangwani in the jazz music field, Jonathan Kenneth Butler, a jazz star who hails from Cape Town and whose experiences are known around the world, Jonny Dyani, a songwriter who is also an instrumentalist, DJ Oskido, whose birth name is Oscar Mdlongwa, who is prominent in promoting budding artists in the music field.
Oskido’s contributions to kwaito music are well known and he is also a businessman and broadcaster.
Speaking after being honored with these awards, most of them highlighted their dedication to what they love and that is what led them to be honored for their work.
Oskido said that being honored with this kind of awards shows that the work they have done since the 1990s is now bearing fruit.
“Being given an award of this kind takes me back to when I first started selling vosi in the city of Johannesburg because I was trying to make a living. That business gave me the fruits to become the musician I am today. It was fruitful to work in the years when our kwaito music was ignored, but we came in and made music that was enjoyed by many people. Not being jealous and helping others made the music develop and we seem to be helping them is what got us here,” said Oskido.
He also thanked his family for supporting him, saying that believing in something eventually bears many fruits that others did not expect.
Jonathan said he is proud to be one of the artists born in this country, as he has been honored in his country with one of the biggest awards.
He said the award is for everyone born in the township who is determined to achieve their dreams in whatever they do.
He stated that he will never forget the people he met in the world who helped him in different things that affect the role of music.
The President congratulated all those who were honored yesterday and said that the country is very proud of them and the work they have done.