27 Sep 2020

The 2020 Yarona Fm Music Awards (YAMAs) were held virtually September 26 on NOW! Channel and Yarona Fm facebook page platforms.

Hosted by Leungo Pitse and Kedi Molosiwa, the sixth annual YAMAs ceremony was presented from Capitol Cinema in Gaborone with no person in ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HanC bagged the two biggest awards of People’s Artist of the Year as well as Song of the Year for his rejection song with DJ Kuchi.

HanC has scooped Song of the Year award for three successive years now.

Girly of the Dlala Ngamla kwaito hit also shined as she bagged two awards for Best Kwaito Single for the hit song and the Best Female Single for the same hit song.

 FME DJs were also toasts of the moment as they received two awards of Best RnB single for pelo and best collaboration. Another talent that bagged two awards was Phologolo for Best Hip Hop Motswako single of Re MaAfrika as well as Best Male Single.

Eric Ramco was awarded the Hall of Fame award as recognition for his contribution to the music industry. He paved the way for many artists in Botswana. Tumi Ramsden, former Yarona Fm presenter, was also the recipient of the prestigious Icon Award.

The show opened with ATI’s charm performance of his hit Stimamolelo and Komirisoo.

He gave a crisp choreography with his perfect fashion colour coordinated attire with his dancers. ATI embraced the new normal setup and gave a fabulous performance despite the circumstances.

Girly, once a backup dancer for Vee, also gave her best performance displaying the lessons of Daddy Skizo whom she was recording at his studio.

Despite the COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing protocols, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare applauded Yarona Fm management for a spectacular virtual event.

Rakgare said government recognised the significant role Yarona Fm has played and continues to play in the development of the music industry in Botswana.

He said the station has unearthed and nurtured young talent and given many an opportunity to grow and gain work experience.

He said as custodians of the creative industries and youth empowerment, the ministry found it paramount to synergise efforts with Yarona Fm through NOW!, a youth television channel, which strives to empower the youth in the film and television industry by purchasing exclusive rights to broadcast the YAMAs 2020 on NOW! Channel.

Award ceremonies such as the YAMAs, the minister said,  although a glitz and glamour affair, activate a number of sectors in the creative industries such as fashion design, hospitality, transport and tourism.

As the country migrates to the digital terrestrial space and the fourth industrial revolution, Rakgare said the ministry welcomed the challenge presented by COVID-19.

He said the youth empowerment ministry was committed to position NOW! Channel as a regional and global television brand that would compete with well-known TV channels across the world. BOPA