Channel O urges Zim musicians to submit their video production

South African popular music channel, Channel O has urged Zimbabwean musicians to submit their video production for consideration by the station, Daily News reported.

Lee Kasumba Channel O Manager for Africa speaking to Daily News from South Africa said that not much was coming from Zimbabwe.

"There has not been high rotation of Zimbabwean music on the channel. Musicians interested in having their music aired on Channel O can take their videos to our Multichoice office in Harare and they would be transferred to us. The music videos have to be of high quality," said Kasumba.

Zimbabwe's music acts have over the years produced quality work that can qualify to be aired on Chanel O.

Kasumba said she was impressed with Zimbabwe's 75 percent local content on music aired on radio.

"Channel O is about celebrating Africa through music and serving people," said Kasumba.

The music station did not give any priority to certain music genres but merely focused on giving presence to African musicians. The station plays different music genres ' house, hip hop, R &B, Kwaito and Afro Pop.

The DSTtv channel is based in South Africa, Johannesburg and Kasumba said the station employs Video Djs from across Africa contrary to perceptions that they employed mainly South Africans.

Kasumba said the channel's goal was to be seen as partners of music makers in Africa and to service the continent better musically.

Channel O's major challenge was to service the whole continent. "There are different people on the continent who need to be catered for. There are so many people to entertain. However, we strive to do our best to entertain the continent," she said.

Channel O holds annual music awards for African musicians.

The awards have 14 categories that include the best male and female artists, best dancehall, best Afro pop and Best Kwaito.

The award ceremony would be held on November 11 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This time around, the only original African awards feature multiple artists with two or more nods ' making it an open field for nominees in the 14 categories as they make a bid for the votes of Channel O viewers throughout the continent.

This longstanding, public-voted awards event sees a massive 10 videos in contention for the hugely prestigious Most Gifted Video of the Year award ' ensuring it is a tough choice for fans.

One of the strongest bids will come from Ugandan artist, Navio whose video production; Keep Moving is up for Most Gifted Video of the Year, Most Gifted Male Video and Most Gifted Hip Hop Video.

Also making a play for attention is hotshot South African artist Zakes Bantwini whose Wasting My Time clip has earned him a nod in the Most Gifted Video of the Year category as well as Most Gifted Male Video.

The Durban-based artist is up against one of Africa's undisputed heavyweights in both categories in the form of Nigeria's D'Banj with his Mr Endowed (Remix)' featuring Snoop Dogg.

South African newcomer, AKA also has a strong showing in this year's Channel O Music Video Awards: he's up for Most Gifted Hip Hop Video, Most Gifted Video of the Year as well as Most Gifted Newcomer for his hit Victory Lap.

In the Most Gifted Newcomer category, AKA is vying for the title in a field that includes Nigeria's Wizkid, Uganda's Keko, Nigeria's Ice Prince, Zambia's Zone Fam and South Africa's Kwesta in one of the most exciting categories at this year's event. Most Gifted Hip Hop Video meanwhile has AKA toughing it out against Jesse Jagz featuring M.I. and Ice Prince, Nigeria, Proverb featuring Lungelo South Africa, Navio, Uganda and Collo, Kenya.

In a music scene dominated by male artists, Lira, South Africa and STL, Kenya have made an impact over the past year ' and it shows in their double nominations in the Most Gifted Video of the Year and Most Gifted Female Video categories. Lira is up for the video Phakade and STL's Lookie Lookie has her in contention in both these categories, as well as Most Gifted Dance Video.

Also making a splash over the past year on Channel O is Samklef's Molowo Noni featuring Wizkid, D'Prince and Ice Prince. The video from the Nigerian and his collaborators is in the running for Most Gifted Video of the Year.