Times Of Swaziland: ACASWA UP IN ARMS WITH SWAMA

ACASWA UP IN ARMS WITH SWAMA
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BY NHLANHLA MATHUNJWA on 13/03/2018 00:34:00


MBABANE – The MTN SWAMA Gospel Music Artist/ Group award 2018 has raised
controversy again.
It was the same case last year and it is the same case this year.
The Association of Christian Artists in Swaziland (ACASWA) is not happy that
there is a category for gospel artists in the MTN SWAMA Awards.
Last Thursday, the Swaziland Arts and Music Association (SWAMA) unveiled 25
categories for this year’s MTN SWAMA Awards scheduled for December 1.
In the list of categories, there is only one gospel category and this in the
Best Gospel Arts / Group 2018.
During the first edition of the awards in 2017, ACASWA, which is  the mother
body of all gospel artists in the country, raised a concern over the same
category.
The matter was so serious such that it had to be addressed by the Swaziland
National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) Board which is chaired by Busisiswe
Simelane.
ACASWA insisted that SWAMA should have not included a gospel category award as
they are the ones who are custodians of the country’s gospel music.
In fact ACASWA insisted that SWAMA should concentrate on artists who are under
their association.
After SWAMA released this year’s awards categories last Thursday, ACASWA once
again complained about the inclusion of the category.