Chart-topper Cici will be the superstar headliner for the Eminent Video Music Awards (EVMA) taking place on Saturday.Â
The third installment of the awards will be staged ad the Linder Auditorium in Parktown, Johannesburg.
The Eminent Video Music Awards were founded and headed by Dumisani Sir Khanyile. They are described as a platform to honor and celebrate creatives for their hard work in creating music videos and related visual content connected to the local music scene.
As for Cici, singer and songwriter born Busisiwe Thwala, her top billing for the event marks a powerful return to the big time after troubled years early in her career. Her troubles included a stormy relationship with recording executive and producer Arthur Mafokate after hospitalisation from domestic violence in 2018.
The Runaway hitmaker returned home to Ladysmith to heal her wounds. And while she was on a break from music, Cici quietly married to a businessman and midyear in 2020 she gave birth to her first child.Â
This year Cici bounced back in a big way in music, featuring in Hamba Juba, one of the biggest hits in SA this year. The song by Lady Amar also featured popular vocals duo Murumba Pitch.
But Cici also had another fight this year. In September, she announced that she had handed her fight to be freed form record label Ambitiouz Records to her lawyer. Â
Yvonne Chaka Chaka honour
Meanwhile, EVMAs CEO Khanyile revealed legendary Chaka Chaka will be honored with the Benevolent award.
Speaking to Sunday World about the overall importance of the awards, Khanyile said the EVMAs recognise the creatives that work behind the scenes in creating music videos.
“Normally it is artists that get recognition because they are at the forefront. This initiative is here to celebrate and award such unseen creatives who are artists in their own right,” he said.
Khanyile added that by adding Yvonne Chaka Chaka shows the growth of the awards.
“This year is very different because we’re also growing. We will be recognising Yvonne Chaka Chaka for her contribution to the industry,” said Khanyile.
This year the EVMAs have also shown recognition of content created for digital space by introducing two new categories. These are Best TikTok Content Creator and Best TikTok Trending Video.Â
Khanyile has thanked TikTok SA for affording local music the opportunity to shine in a different way online.