By McLloyd Kudzingo
Renowned film interpreter and actor, Akila, comedian Enifa Chiwaya and musician Zeze Kingston were the biggest winners at the Entertainers of the year award ceremony held on Saturday night at Bingu International Convention Center (BICC) in Lilongwe .
Akila won the Actor of the year award and the biggest award of the night, the ‘Entertainer of Entertainers award’ after getting more votes than all the other nominees.
Chiwaya popularly known in the theater circles as ‘Nanyoni’, won the Best female dramatist award and Best female stage dramatist award while Zeze who also performed at the event won the Artist of the year award whith his song ‘Kusangalala’ winning the song of the year award.
Miracle Chinga received Female gospel artist of the year award and couldn’t hold back the tears as she stepped onto the podium to dedicated the award to her late mother, songbird Grace Chinga who answered God’s call some seven years ago.
Retired broadcaster, Pearson Chunga received the Director General’s (DG) award for his great contributions towards the media industry in the country and for being one of the pioneers of the Entertainers of the Year program.
Another recepient of the DG’s award was Agllyna Kumilonde who is one of the co-presenters of the Ankhoswe program on MBC.
The state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) started the Entertainers of the Year Awards in 1975 but took a break in 2005 before being revived in this just ending year.
Below is the full list of the recipient of the 2023 Entertainer of the year awards.
SPORTS
Footballer of the year – Patrick Mwaungulu
Netballer of the year – Mwai Kumwenda
Football team of the year -FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
Netball team of the year -Mubas Queens
MEDIA CATEGORY
Radio personality of the year (Male) -Kizito Kachapira
Radio personality of the Year (Female) – Chikondi Phinda
Radio program of the year – Bwande by Deus Sandram
TV personality of the year (Male) – Brian Banda
TV Personality of the Year (Female) -Doreen Banda
TV Program of the Year-Tonde Wadula
Best Dj of the year – Joy Nathu
Best social media entertainer- Innocent Kumchedwa
MUSIC CATEGORY
Secular Artist of the year (Male)-Zeze Kingston
Secular Artist of the year (Female)- Temwa
Gospel Artist of the year(Male)- Steve Muliya
Gospel Artist of the year (Female)- Miracle Chinga
Secular song of the year -Kusangala by Zeze Kingston
Gospel song of the year-Alibe Vumbulutso by Gloria Kampingu Manong’a
Secular band group of the year -Mibawa Band
Gospel band group of the year -Ndirande Anglican Voices
Music video of the year – Kambuzi by Zonke Too Fresh
Upcoming Artist of the year – Pop Young
POETRY CATEGORY
Poet of the Year (Male) – Robert Chiwamba
Poet of the year (Female)- Beatrice Ligomeka
Poem of the year – Mulandu Ogwilirira
DRAMA CATEGORY
Best female Radio dramatist- Enifa Chiwaya(Nanyoni)
Best male Radio dramatist- McBen Kochi
Radio drama program – Pamajiga
Best female TV dramatist of the year- Ruth Simika
Best male TV dramatist of the year – Maxwell Makande
TV drama program of the year -Tonde Wadula
Best female stage dramatist -Enifa Chiwaya (Nanyoni)
Best male Stage dramatist – Che Mandota
Best Stage drama of the year- Kwathu Drama Group
Best Actor of the year – Akila
Best Actress of the year -Flora Suya
Local film of the year – Kado
Director General’s Awards – Pearson Chunga and Agllyna Kumilonde
Entertainer of Entertainers -Akila
