The SABC celebrates the spectacular success of the Summer Song of The Year 2015/16 campaign this week.
The classy celebration will see music industry insiders and some lucky fans brush shoulders. Apart from great performances, lavish food and drink, revelers at the event will witness the handover of cash prizes and brand new cars courtesy of KIA Motors to the winning musician and a lucky SABC radio listener.
The SABC Summer Song Of The Year is about seeking out and awarding a song that has no boundaries. It can be any genre or style, secular or spiritual. This is plainly, the most popular song of the year. It is a kind of unofficial national anthem, a song that explodes infectiously out of people’s cars, taverns, taxi’s and homes. It rings in every ear even after the speakers have gone quiet. Children and their minders everywhere sing it out loud because it is so popular. This is a hit. It’s as electrifying as ytjukutja; as thrilling as Kuzekuse and as memorable as Weekend Special.
The Summer Song of The Year was about empowering individual music lovers and SABC radio listeners to choose the most popular song to end 2015 and enter into 2016. The campaign saw music lovers from across the country vote via SMS to choose their favourite song of the year. Listeners had to choose their song from a list of 10 songs submitted from the SABC radio stations play listed songs for a voters roll. To be the winning song, a hit had to have at least dominated 5 SABC radio stations and receive the most number of votes from all 19 SABC radio stations’ votes combined.
The winning song of the SABC Summer Song Of The Year 2015/16 was Nomvula by Nathi chosen by a popular vote. The winner was announced on December 31, 2015 and flown to the end of year bash held at Moses Mabida Stadium in Durban.
The song was chosen through listener votes tallied across all 19 SABC radio stations. Altogether, the SABC radio stations broadcasting in all official languages reach over 28 million listeners across the country (April-Sept 2015 RAMS Diary)and even more who tune in internationally through internet streaming. This makes this competition arguably the most authentic reflection of the most loved song in South Africa. The artist who wins the Summer Song Title, Nathi walks away with R150000 in cash and a brand new car, a KIA motor vehicle.
The wining voter/listener is a resident of Siabuswa, Kwandebele in Mpumalonga, Jabulane Thomas Mabena. The 56 years old blind man won through IKWEKWEZI FM and walks away with a brand new Kia Picanto.
“We congratulate Nathi for his victory and spectacular arrival onto our music scene and playlists across most stations. Mabena’s win is a symbolic reward to his loyalty to SABC radio. He represents the unique partnership between SABC Radio, the music industry and the diversity of listeners across the country – in both urban and rural communities equalized and the ability of radio to connect them all,” says Siphelele Sixaso, Head of Radio Marketing, SABC.
The night will saw the following artists being awarded and celebrated by their peers and music industry leaders. Kwaito royalty will be represented by the king himself, Arthur for Summa ya Masumma which saw us partying the summer away as only he knows how to; Prince Kaybee for the naughty hit, Wajellwa, the inimitable Zahara for two memorable hits, Bendirongo and Imali. The Durbanites for Shumaya;
The inventive house outfit, African Roots for their catchy sing along hit Ko Morago; Teboho for Ditsietsing, DJ Bongz for Ofana Nawe and the season’s spectacular favorite, Nathi for Nomvula. The Eastern Cape born singer-songwriter has been nominated in 8 catergories. Best Male, Best African Pop, Best New Artist, Best R&B Single, Song of the Year and Artist of the Year. The music sensation, Heavy K for Umoya.
