“Take this (event) as an iPhone 1. iPhone 2 (next year's awards) is on the way and it will be a better upgrade,” That's what the ZAA boss Conrad Mwanza told attendees of the 2011 Zim Achievers Awards Ceremony conceded sheepishly of “teething problems” in putting together the second annual event of the gong gig.
Shambolic and amateurish with a touch of glamour? That is the most apt bitter-sweet description by The People's Hub of Saturday’s Zimbabwe Archivers Awards (ZAA) held at London’s swanky Mermaid theatre centre. For all its noble intentions, top notch venue facilities and star attractions, the event fell face down where it mattered most: the show presentations. The hopelessly unprofessional production was marred further by pathetic sound, technical problems and inept presenters detached from the mainstream UK-Zimbabwe cultural scene.
The show’s hosts were US-based beauty queen, Cynthia Muvirimi and UK-based actor Denver Issac (real name Denver Mangwiro). Muvirimi was dazzling in a red number, and trod cautiously on safe grounds reading everything from script; while Issac provided comic relief in a punk-look and frumpy two-piece suit, with a turned-up “don’t touch my shoes pants”
Refreshing and rousing as it was for Shingayi Shonhiwa, front-lady of the popular British pop group The Noisettes, to grace the stage, her personal limits to her Zimbabwean roots were made apparent by an overtly naff appearance littered with a series of broken Shona pronouncements. Also on show and acquitting themselves better was the current British and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing champion, Derek Chisora, prodigious actress Chipo Chung who has starred in the TV sci-fi hit, Dr. Who and the former Miss Zimbabwe turned Soul singer Karen “Zuwa” Stally.
Amidst the glitches, there was however no letting to the crowd’s morale on the night which proved a major coup for the event’s organisers. It also gives Mwanza and his team some notes for an obvious homework exercise, to improve next year’s showcase.
Sir Henry Makiwa is our guest blogger and writer based in the United Kingdom check him out HERE and make sure you follow him on TWITTER