A new Generation of Tshivenda Reggae Artists win big at TSHIMA 2020
The winners of the 7th edition of TSHIMA 2020 (Tshivenda Music Awards) were announced on 28 December 2020 on a virtual show streamed Live on TSHIMA FB page. Ras Canly, Rasta Bathu, Jahman Mudengu won in the critically contested categories. A new generation of artists propelling Reggae Music in the Limpopo region, taking over from their childhood heroes who have been unapologetically and consistently pushing Reggae Vibes and thereby placing Reggae Music in its rightful place, at the forefront of music produced in the Limpopo.
Inaugurated in 2012, the initiative was envisioned to unearth new icons and future pioneers in an attempt to preserve the rich history and musical heritage of Vhavenda people; and Reggae is the music that consistently permeates through out the Region. The Reggae Category has been one of the highly contested category since the inception of the Awards. Previous winners of the Best Reggae albums over the years are Colbert Mukwevho (2012), Burning Doctor (2013), Jah Soldier (2015) and Ras Canly (2017), Jah Lady Doris (2018) and Just-Ice (2019).
TSHIMA 2020 Winners
Ras Canly – Best Tshivenda Artist of the Year | Best Overall Male Artist of the Year
Ras Canly has been a consistent contender in the awards, he won Song of the Year award in 2017, making it the first Reggae Song to win this highly contested award. This year he was nominated in 4 categories, including Song of the Year again, and Best Reggae Album. He is proving to be the innovative front runner of the new Generation of Limpopo Reggae artists which is dominated mainly by the foundational artists. Ras Canly is not only popular in the Reggae scene, but throughout the region music and entertainment scene, proven by his win of the Male artist of Year award. This is also fueled by his many collaborations with artists from other genres, particularly in the VendaRap genre. The Destiny Riddim track from his album, The Journey is a prime example of his innovative collabs.
Rasta Bathu – Best Tshivenda Newcomer of The Year
21 year old Rasta Bathu has fully stamped his presence in the scene and had already released two studio albums with songs on high rotation on the regional radio stations . He teamed up and featured his childhood hero, veteran Shufflers Ragimania who is quite popular in the region. Ever since his appearance on Phalafala FM (a South African radio station broadcasting in the TshiVenda language mainly in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces) earlier in the year, he has been the artists most talked about and it is therefore quite fitting that he won in this category.
Jahman Mudengu – Best Tshivenda Album of the Year
Jahman Mudengu is the nephew of well liked Reggae veteran Jahman Chiganja who passed away in 2018. He used to play instruments for his uncle. His first album Mavu a la vhathu – Rest in Peace Jahman Chiganja is a dedication to his uncle, and it includes some tracks that they performed together.
TSHIMA Loves Reggae.
Check out the full list of the Winners here at TSHIMA