The 19th Icebolethu Crown Gospel Music Awards have announced their nominees, featuring some of the biggest names in gospel music and emerging artists from South Africa and other parts of the continent. The awards will take place on November 15 at the Durban ICC. Notable nominees include gospel heavyweights Ntokozo Mbambo and Dumi Mkokstad. Mbambo is nominated with multi-award-winning gospel group 3C Live in the Best Worship Song category for "All Hail".
Dumi Mkokstad is also nominated in the Best Worship Song category for "Ngu Jesu (Bayede)" and has been nominated for the best songwriter. Other nominees in the Best Worship Song category include Elle Tisane for "Matsohong" and Breakthrough Worship ZA featuring Khaya Mthethwa for "Live Again". The awards feature nominees across a wide range of categories, including Male Gospel Artist, Female Gospel Artist, Radio Presenter, and Gospel Album.
The nominees for Male Gospel Artist include Sibusiso Nzima, Canaan Nyathi, and Ntokozo Ngongoma. In the Female Gospel Artist category, nominees include Phiri Elle Tisane and Newie. The Best Gospel Album category features nominees such as Tshwane Gospel Choir for "Harmony of Prayers Part 1" and Max Mqhakayi for "The Effluence".
The Best Newcomer category features nominees such as Ezile Jikijela, Gundolawe Ramudzuli, and Nothando Zulu Mphotholozi. Other categories include Best Traditional Gospel, Best Praise Song, and Best Classic of All Time. The Best Song of the Year category features nominees such as Umlazi Gospel Choir The Original for "Lalel’indaba" and Ndumiso Zungu for "Songena Ngemithandazo".
Artists from around the continent are also represented in the nominees. In the Best of Africa Male category, nominees include Sphiwo Ndoni from Eswatini and Tatenda Mahachi from Zimbabwe. The Best of Africa Female category features nominees such as Nothando Hlophe from Eswatini and Sesame from Botswana.
The Best Gospel Group category features nominees such as EBMQ (Evangelical Best Men Quartet) and Impact Co. The Best Gospel Producer Album category features nominees such as Tshwane Gospel Choir for "Harmony of Prayers Part 1" and Breakthrough Worship ZA for "Breakthrough Worship ZA Volume 1 & 2".
The awards will recognize the best in gospel music, with categories such as Best Gospel Live Event or Recording, Best Contemporary, and Best Clap and Tap. The nominees for Best Collaboration include UN-LTD and Sibusiso Nzima for "Nobody Greater featuring Vashawn Mitchell" and Banele Mahlangu for "O Ya Halalela featuring Dr Tumi".
Key points
- The 19th Icebolethu Crown Gospel Music Awards will take place on November 15 at the Durban ICC.
- Ntokozo Mbambo and Dumi Mkokstad are among the nominees for the awards.
- The awards feature nominees from South Africa and other parts of the continent.
