By Reporter
A total of 300 nominees were last week unveiled as the final list in the first ever Janzi Awards during a star-studded event in the Sheraton Hotel gardens.
Speaking about the function, the chairperson for Janzi Award organising committee, Sylivia Owori said they had received over 75000 before reducing it down to 300 from which the winners will be announced next month.
She noted that the awards are meant to celebrate the creative industry and the role it plays in creating employment as well as its contribution to the economy.
“These awards were born out of the Gulu arrangements (where musicians visited Gen Saleh) but are also a testament that government is ready to support this industry. Government has finally given us its ear,” she said.
Owori, the director of operations at Operation Wealth Creation explained that the creative arts industry is currently undergoing a revolution but urged the need for unity for all players.
“Let us stop fighting each other. The fact that the creative industry has gone to parliament is a big step forward.
This is part of the arts and culture revolution. With the Janzi Awards, we want more creative talents discovered and celebrated.
Let us unite the country through creative arts,”Owori said.
Members of the JAA will then review the nominees after the public vote is closed on December,5 and vote for the winners in all 96 categories.
The public vote constitutes 30% of the overall winner’s vote.
The award is given to performers, who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance in the domain of music and will rotate between the different domains annually.
The full list of nominees can be viewed from the Janzi Awards website, www.janziawards.com.
The winners of the 2021 Janzi Awards will be announced on December 11 and 12 at the Kololo Independence Grounds.
Besides writing, he’s also a photographer, radio and television host.