Season 1
History was made at the ICC Durban Arena, on Sunday 24 August, 2008 when the Crown Gospel Music Awards took place.
In line with the "Crown", the event theme was Royalty. Guests were asked to imagine getting an invitation to dine with the king. The red carpet ceremony and arrival of celebrities and nominees on the red carpet started from 16h30.
The event was hosted by Criselda Kananda, Metro FM host and Steven Molakeng, Gospel Gold presenter, a musician and a member of all-male gospel ensemble Redeemed.
The event also saw some of the top-selling musicians collaborating on stage. The line-up was made up of South African gospel kings and queens including Vicky Vilakazi, Avante, Benjamin Dube, Jubu Hlongwane, Sipho Makhabane, Jub-Jub and Sifiso Ncwane, among others.
Swaziland-based gospel group Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors Ncandweni, who took the South African music industry by storm and were nominated twice for the awards, including Best Gospel Classic of All Time, collaborated with Best Traditional Gospel nominee Kholeka.
Three top female musicians, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Rebecca Malope and Deborah Fraser, who were competing for the inaugural Best Gospel Artist, accompanied KwaMashu Christian Church Choir will cement the whole event by performing the theme song of the awards, "The Holy Spirit".
The three-hour show ended at 21h00 and was followed by an exclusive cocktail party for the invited guests.
2008 Winners
The late Gospel legend Vuyo Mokoena was honoured at the inaugural Crown Gospel Music Awards. Vuyo, who passed away in June 2008, won his first ever award, more than a decade after he became a professional singer.
Vuyo, who was a darling of gospel music lovers, took the Crown under the nose of Sechaba, and his former collaborators, Benjamin Dube and Jabu Hlongwane.
Vuyo was voted as the Best Male Gospel Artist. The Best Female Gospel Artist award was won by multi-platinum selling diva, Deborah Fraser. The Durban-born singer made her city proud by scooping the award, which Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Ntokozo Mbambo and Lusanda were also vying for.
Benjamin Dube made up for the loss of the Best Male award when he won the Best Praise and Worship award. The Best Newcomer award was won by Maritzburg's group called PMB Sound of Salvation, a sure sign that gospel music is not going to die anytime soon.
Durban-born music mogul Lindelani Mkhize was awarded as the Best Producer. It was double joy for Lindelani when the group he co-founded, Joyous Celebration was given the honour of Best Gospel Group. The tightly contested category also featured the likes of Limpopo's Worship House, Gauteng's IPCC and the Eastern Cape's Lord Comforters.
Music boss and producer Sipho Makhabane was awarded the trophy of Best Traditional Gospel. Makhabane spotted the talent of many gospel singers in the country, and continues to promote the genre.
The legendary Condry Ziqubu's band, Condry Ziqubu Brass Band won the Best Gospel Instrumental. The Best Song Writer was awarded to Durban's singer and songwriter Andile KaMajola, whilst Umyalezo Wesikhathi were awarded the Best Accapella award.
The Best DVD was awarded to Gauteng's group The Plain Truth, an award which was also vied for by Rebecca Malope, Benjamin Dube and Joyous Celebration.
The Best Music Video was awarded to Worship House, while Galathia Indlunkulu won the Best AmaZion title.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Gospel Queen Rebecca Malope.
The complete list of winners is as follows:
Best Gospel Group
Worship House
IPCC
Joyous Celebration
Lord Comforters
Best Gospel Song
Ncandweni - Zulu Khaya Lami
Vuyo Mokoena - Njalo
Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors - Zulu khaya Lami
Mzwakhe Mbuli - The Best
Hlengiwe - UJesu Uyalalela
Best Acapella
Umlayezo Wesikhathi
Best AmaZion
Vusi Gama - Moya Wami
Eleck - Owahlawulela
Paradise Catholic Church - Bayozisola Abangakholwa
Galathia Indlunkulu - Lilodwa Igama
Classic of all Times
Hlengiwe Mhlaba - Rock of Ages
Ncadweni Christ Ambassadors - Zulu Khaya Lami
Lundi - Mphefumulo Wami
Sipho Makhabane - Izindonga
Best Traditional Gospel
Veliswa - Umhlobo
Sipho Makhabane - Ngiyamemeza
Kholeka - Linamandla Eligazi
Matlakala - Mopusto Wasebe
Best Album Contemporary Traditional
Jabu Hlongwane
Best Female Gospel Artist
Deborah Fraser
Lusanda
Hlengiwe Mhlaba
Ntokozo Mbambo
Best Male Gospel Artist
Benjamin Dube
Sechaba
Jabu Hlongwane
Vuyo Mokoena
Best Gospel Artist
Deborah Fraser
Rebecca Malope
Hlengiwe Mhlaba
Ntokozo Mbambo
Best Praise and Worship
Ntokozo
Benjamin Dube
Vicky Vilakazi
Keke
Best Producer
Lindelani Mkhize - In The Shadow (Joyous Celebration)
Percy Ingle - uJesu Usenjalo (Lord Comforters)
Big Boy Mlangeni - Dwala Lami (Veliswa)
Jabu Hlongwane and Sipho Makhabane - Jabu & Sipho (Vuso Wakho)
Best Songwriter
Andile kaMajola
Best DVD
Rebecca Malope
The Plain Truth
Benjamin Dube
Joyous Celebration
Best Gospel Instrumental
Joseph Dumako (Kuzobamnandi Kumnandi)
Thoko Mazibuko (My Worship)
Condry Ziqubu (Abanye Bayawela)
Alexandra Brass Band
Best Gospel Video
Worship House
Best Newcomer
Tshepiso
Andile kaMajola
Pietermaritzburg Sound of Salvation (SOS)
Nobathembu
Best Selling Album
Ncandweni
Lifetime Achievement Award
Rebecca Malope
About the Awards
The Crown Gospel Music Awards are a platform to salute and award excellence in the Gospel Music Industry. The Awards are hosted annually with a spectacular event of music and dance.
Winners are given a symbolic crown used as a metaphor for the real crown that Gospel musicians hope to get at the end of their journey – in Heaven.
The Crown Gospel Music Awards concept is a brainchild of Zanele Mbokazi, founder and President of the World Gospel Powerhouse. The idea came about in 2006 and two years later the first ceremony was held in 2008, in the presence of thousands of gospel music loyalists.
After much deliberation, knocking on various doors and endless meetings, the concept of the Gospel Music Awards showed fruition. The name of the Awards had to be chosen. It could have been he SA Gospel Music Awards but the vision was to go beyond RSA borders. Then Reflections Gospel Awards also came up, but something was missing.
Crown Gospel Music Awards sounded aspirational and attainable. The Crown (Umqhele) signifies the ultimate award that will be adorned to all His servants in Heaven on the last day.
The idea was, and still is, to salute the sons and daughters in the gospel music industry under various categories. To date the Awards boasts more than 30 categories.
The winners are awarded a Crown, for their sterling contribution in the gospel music industry.