Sangie bags her first award as Gwamba gets ‘Artist of the Year’ honour in Malawi UMP

After taking the country’s music industry by storm with her reggae vibes, female singer Sangie continues to make headway into her music profession as she won her first award on Sunday.

The 21-year-old was announced among the 2015 Urban Music Party (UMP) Awards winners, bagging the Best New Artist accolade.

The Ndirande-bred singer, who is slowly becoming a Lilongwe resident, was competing against other rising artists Tsar Leo, Black Nina and Teddy.

“We have won this together,” Sangie said to the fans in her acceptance speech during the UMP Festival at the BAT Ground in Blantyre.

She added: “I’d like to give a shout to the team behind Sangie, my managers, producers, the media and all of you for the support”.

During the awards, which were part of the UMP Festival run by Nde’feyo Entertainment, hip-hop artist Gwamba won the Artist of the Year award. He was facing stiff competition from Nepman, Sangie and Janta.

The Producer of the Year award went to Blantyre-based Tricky Beatz, producer of two of the songs that were up for Song of the Year; Nepman’s “Na Lero” and Martse feat Kell Kay’s “Mwano”.

Martse and Kell Kay were the ones who went home smiling after their song came top against “Na Lero”, Janta’s “Divorce” and Sonye’s “Tsika”.

After missing out on the Artist of the Year and Producer of the Year, singer-cum-producer Janta scooped Video of the Year for the song “Divorce”.

Apart from the five categories, there was a special category for Lifetime Achievers and two awards went out to the late dancehall icon Mafunyeta and South Africa-based Criminal A, one of the pioneers of hip-hop music in Malawi.

The UMP, a celebration of urban music and culture in the country, attracted mammoth crowds of over 4,000 fans who came out to revel with their favourite artists as they celebrate the growing industry.

The party, hosted by Mphatso Chaluluka aka Junior C and ex-Big Brother Africa housemate Sipe, started with a 15-minute fashion show, before rapper Genii Blakk took over to take the fans through an MCs Battle.

Local urban artists including King Jillz & Josh, BarryOne, Home Grown African, Trumel, Young Kay, Tech Dali, Daredevilz, Trap Squad, Mafo, Diktator, Piksy, Sangie, BarryOne, Bucci, Sonye, Martse, Janta, Blakjak, Fredokiss and Gwamba performed at the event.

Zambia’s Chimzy Kelly was the guest artist and he was warmly welcomed by the Malawian fans as he dished out his hit tracks “Dorika” and “Malonda Ndi Kumbuyo”, which are making waves in Malawi.

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