By Albert Nxumalo
In a landmark development in the arts sector in Bulawayo, the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (RoilBAA) Outstanding Hip Hop award has been renamed The Calvin Mgcini Nhliziyo Hip Hop Award, organisers have announced.
This is in honour of the late rapper Calvin Nhliziyo who passed on in the early hours of Sunday.
Describing the ‘Luveve Boy’ as a local super star, RoilBAA said “The multi award winning artist will forever be engraved in the RoilBAA DNA”.
Reads part of the statement “We will honour him by naming the Outstanding Hip Hop award after him for this year. The award will now be called The Calvin Mgcini Nhliziyo Hip Hop Award.
“We are also working on a tribute for Cal Vin slated for the actual awards on the 28th of November 2020.”
A revered hip hop act -Cal Vin had been nominated for this year’s awards and to show further respect, his name will be ‘retired’ from the nominees list, organisers added The 34 year old had a stellar career that saw him bag three RoilBAA awards in the past three years and other awards at the Zim Hip Hop Awards and Zimbabwe Music Awards.
Not only was he a nominee but four acts from his stable, Kontrol Tribe, made it into various categories for this year’s awards, added the organisers. Cal Vin inspired many and set alight platforms with his polished songs.
“We take this moment as we did in life to thank you Calvin Mgcini Nhliziyo , for putting Bulawayo and Zimbabwe arts on the world map, thank you for all the music , thank you for lighting up our stages and thank you for inspiring and seeing beyond yourself by affording others a platform. Intaba enkulu idilikile but you will forever be in our hearts. Heaven has gained an angel. Rest In Peace King Kong”.
Cal Vin, the Banjalo Abantu and Zikhupan hit-maker died on Sunday just after 1AM upon arrival at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
This is after he had been involved in a hit and run car accident a few metres from his home in Luveve 5.
He was on his way home from Emakhandeni Cricket Club where he had been watching football with his friends.
On Tuesday, Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said investigations are underway.
