23 Sep 2020

The sixth edition of Yarona FM Music Awards, YAMAS, will be held on September 26.

In an interview, Yarona FM station Manager, Kelly Ramputswa said the awards would be held virtually via Now Channel on DSTV Channel 290 and on the Yarona FM Facebook page.

She said initially this year’s YAMAS were  to be held at the University of Botswana (UB) Campus Indoor Sport Centre, but that due to the COVID-19 pandemic they had to be postponed.

Although the dates have been changed, she said voting lines for nominees remained the same and were opened on September 8 and would close on September 23.

“YAMAS will be held over the weekend, there will be no public attendance, but it will be produced for broadcast and on other digital platforms,” she said.

Ramputswa further noted that Yarona FM had partnered with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) and First National Bank Botswana (FNBB). Mascom has also contributed cash towards the awards.

Ramputswa revealed that an artist nominated under the song of the year category would get P45 000 as prize money while the artist of the year would receive P35 000, the best male and female artist would each walk away with P20 000 and all other winners from other categories would receive P10 000 each.

Meanwhile, Ramputswa said Yarona FM was aware of the hardship that befell the creative industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said through the YAMAS they intended to assist some of the artists and creatives involved.

“We decided to gift participants money and we are hopeful that the little they receive would make a difference, especially that most of them had not been able to perform due to COVID-19 protocols that lead to the suspension of many events,” she said.

Yarona FM presenter, Loungo Pitse and Kedi Molosiwa will host the awards while artists such as ATI, Mophato Dance Theater, Girly and FME DJs will perform during the ceremony. Ends