UMP Music Awards back after 4 years

The UMP Music Awards are making a return this year after a four-year break, organisers Chitoliro Productionz have announced.

The music awards were suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the organisers say they used the prolonged break to reflect, realign and elevate the awards to international standards.

Has hailed the return of the awards: Kell Kay.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, the UMP Music Awards executive director Ken ‘Zizwa’ Limwame said this year’s edition will not just celebrate Malawi and African music, but will also ignite a music elevation movement within Malawi and across the African continent.

“We initially took a break due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a couple of more years of reflection so that we present the country the biggest music award platform and also positioning ourselves internationally,” he said. 

According to a press release from Chitoliro Productionz, the awards will honour artists in 30 categories both from Malawi and Africa.

The 30 categories have been divided into sub-categories such as core categories, genre specific categories, performance and visual excellence, African/regional/international categories and special recognitions.

One of the major changes in the returning awards has been a relook of the selection process structure, an aspect that has proved contentious in most of the award platforms.

The organisers said this year, the selection process will involve a combination of a panel of experts, public voting and date-driven analysis to ensure a fair and transparent process.

Limamwe said: “We have restructured and revamped the entire event, including the nomination and voting processes to ensure a more transparent, fair and exciting experience for all stakeholders. The awards promise to be bigger and better with new categories and exciting performances.”

The awards will be held between October 21 and 27 at Cape Maclear in Mangochi alongside the annual UMP Festival; The Elevation.

Limamwe said the music awards will be the climax of the week-long festival which will also feature art exhibitions, music, fashion exhibitions, film and culture displays, music and dance performances, Cape Mac Film Festival and Miss UMP Beauty Pageant.

Afro-pop musician Kell Kay is a previous multiple winner in the UMP Music Awards and he has hailed the return of the awards. He said music awards add credit and confidence and help in building profiles of artists.

“Such awards open one up to new audiences and clients as they offer a unique endorsement. In other countries they do have plenty of awards and it is sad that we only have few such platforms here. The return of these awards is a welcome development,” said Kell Kay.

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