Season 4
The Crown Gospel Music Awards are a platform to salute and award excellence in the Gospel Music Industry. The Awards are hosted annually with a spectacular event of music and dance.
Winners are given a symbolic crown used as a metaphor for the real crown that Gospel musicians hope to get at the end of their journey – in Heaven.
The ICC Arena on 6 November was singing the tunes of celebration and honour as giants in the gospel music industry locked horns.
The biggest award of the night was the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year it was awarded to Lindelani Mkhize. His predecessors - Rebecca Malope, Benjamin Dube and Sizwe Zako - set a high bar for him.
His involvement in music, especially the gospel genre, speaks volumes. Mkhize was the unanimous choice among the Crown judges. His Best Contribution to African Gospel award at the 2nd Africa Gospel Music and Media Awards, reiterated the judges' choice.
Solly Mahlangu proved to be the judges' and the public's favourite this year as he walked away with the coveted Best Gospel Artist award. Sipho Makabane won the title last year. The Siyabonga Jesu star scooped most of the awards including Best Gospel Song and Best Male Gospel Artist.
In the three new categories this year - Best Gospel TV Show, Best Gospel Radio Show and Best Gospel Community Radio Show - the public had to vote and the ultimate winners were One Gospel's House of Praise, Ukhozi FM's Indumiso and Vibe FM's Umthombo Wokuphila, respectively.
The couple Nqubeko Mbatha and Ntokozo Mbambo took home the awards for Best Gospel Producer and Classic of All Times respectively. A superb finish to celebrate Mbambo's birthday.
From outside our borders Swaziland's Bakhe Dlamini held his country's flag up high as he walked away with Best Newcomer while Moipei Quartet took the Best of Africa award all the way to Kenya.
The Government of KwaZulu-Natal once again threw its weight behind one of the province's highlights, the Crown Gospel Music Awards.
2011 Winners
Best Worship Album
Israel Mosehla – Uyinkosi Yamakhosi (Crown Him King)
Nqubeko Mbatha - In The Presence (Forever I'll Worship)
Word and Life - I Will Love You (Sing to His Love)
Katlehong Gospel Choir - Uyingcwele (In God We Trust)
Best Jazz (Solo/Group)
Nathi Zungu - Trust in Me (I Am)
Lebo Sekgobela – Mhla Singena Ekhaya (Ithemba Lami)
Swazi Dlamini - Mkhothameleni (Gospel Meets Jazz)
Percy Ntunzi - Uphi Umhlobo (Halebokwe)
Best Gospel Producer
Abe Sibiya – You Only (Live in My Heart)
Nqubeko Mbatha – Abamethembayo (Crown Him King)
Big Boy Mlangeni – Liyangenelisa (Liyangenelisa)
Peak Aye – Press On & Amasotsha (Knock Knock)
Best Afrikaans Gospel
Rozanne Visagie - Heer u Ken My (Broken Fence)
Gwendoline - Living Ball (Woord)
Joe Niemand - Ek Sal Nie Bang Wees Nie (Ek Sal Nie Bang Wees Nie)
Mupia Johnson - Trap die Duiwel (Trap die Duiwel)
Best Church Choir
True Faith – Umahluleli (A Re Kopaneng)
Katlehong Gospel Choir – In God We Trust (In God We Trust)
The New Galile Church – Encwadini Yokuphila (Ngeliny Ilanga)
Sefofane Gospel Choir – Ingelosi (Ingelosi)
Best of Africa Gospel
The Moipei Quartet - The Little Brown Church (In the Land of Lion)
Frank Chimpanzi (Yesu Alikho)
Samuel Massingarela (Wamilele Wamilele)
Bakhe Dlamini - I'm Healed (I'm Healed)
Best Male Gospel Artist
Donny (Basheshe Bahleka)
Israel Mosehla (Crown Him King)
Sfiso Ncwane (Baba Ngiyavuma)
Solly Mahlangu (Mwamba Mwamba)
Best Female Gospel Artist
Hlengiwe Mhlaba (Laphalala Igazi)
Kholeka Sosibo (Siyakuvuma)
Thobekile Mkhwanazi (Yehla Mlilo)
Veliswa Sikeyi (Sibonga Wena)
Best A Capella
Beyond Vocal - We Bless Your Name (Hold On)
Abanqobi - Bayojabula (Bayojabula)
Reality 7 - Amen (Amen)
Jasper Ministries - Landzela (There is No One Like God)
Best R&B Gospel
Ambani Ramaru - All My Life (All My Life)
Fifty 50 - Thina Sobabili (Kazi Kuyoba Njani)
Themba Khoza - Jehovah (Jehovah)
Andiswa Mbantsa - Dithaba/What a Mighty God (Living God)
Best Rap Gospel
Themba Simelane - My Hope (Representing Jesus)
Justice Simamane - Indluzela (Indoda)
Fifty 50 - Can't Give Up (Kazi Kuyoba Njani)
Peak Aye - The Way (Knock Knock)
Best Rock Gospel
Abe Sibiya - You Only (Live in My Heart)
The Plain Truth Band - Taking it Higher (We Are the Shining Ones)
Justice Simamane - Indluzela (Indoda)
Neil Higgins - Saved (Microphones on Street Corners)
Best DVD
Tshwane Gospel Choir - Mahlo a Bona ke Metsu (Modimo wa Mehlolo)
Oupa Montshiwagae (Spirit of Praise)
Kgotso Makgalema (New Dawn)
Reality 7 - Amen (Live in Concert)
Best Engineer
Lwazi Mngomezulu - Talitha Cum (Hamba Nami)
Shadrack Ndlovu (Kulungile Baba)
The Plain Truth Band - Taking it Higher (We're the Shining Ones)
Paseka Hlatshwayo - The Way (Knock Knock)
Best Newcomer
Bakhe Dlamini - I'm Healed (I'm Healed)
Kgotso Makgalema (New Dawn)
Dominion - I'll Run to Him (I'll Run to Him)
Tshwane Gospel Choir - Mahlo a Bona ke Metsu (Modimo wa Mehlolo)
Best Gospel Group
Tshwane Gospel Choir
Soweto Spiritual Singers
Abanqobi
Reality 7
Best Traditional Gospel
Dumi Mkokstad (Sizwile)
Pastor Ncanda (Ngegama Lakho Jesu)
Fikile Mlomo (Linda Uthandaze)
Thobekile Mkhwanazi (Yehla Mlilo)
Best Gospel Music Video
Dominion - I'll Run to Him (I'll Run to Him)
Reality 7 - Uyanaka (Reality in Concert DVD 1)
Nobathembu Mabeka - Thula Wazi (Thula Wazi)
Katlehong Gospel Choir - Glad I Know You (In God We Trust)
Best Songwriter
Thulani Ndlovu - Akasoze Angidele (Kulungile Baba - Sfiso Ncwane)
Cyril Mbongwa - Umusa (Umusa)
Babo Ngcobo - Talitha Cum (Hamba Nami - by Sgwili)
Sifaniso Bophela - Akehluleki (Akehluleki)
Best Contemporary Album
Patrick Duncan (Worship in Colour)
Neyi Zimu (Modimo o Phahame)
Dominion (I'll Run to Him)
Nqubeko Mbatha (Forever I'll Worship)
Best Praise Album
Solly Mahlangu (Mwamba Mwamba)
Kgotso Makgalema (New Dawn)
David Dayo (Praise Altar)
Sifaniso Bophela (Akehluleki)
Best Amazion
The New Galile Church - Encwadini Yokuphila (Ngeliny Ilanga)
Enyonini Mission - Ebumnandini (Ebumnandini)
Vuma Zion - Adam (Vuma Zion)
Thulani Manana - Uyoya Na Phezulu? (Uyoya Na Phezulu?)
Believers in Christ - Umusa (Umusa)
Ikhaya Labangcwele - Uthembekile Ujesu (Uthembekile Ujesu)
Ukuphila Kwezikhova - Lomkhosi Ongaka (Munya Umlamuleli)
Igalathiya Ibandla - Jehova Vez Injongo (Siyabavimbela Vol 9)
Best Gospel Artist
Solly Mahlangu
Sfiso Ncwane
Israel Mosehla
William Sejake
Best Gospel Community Radio Show
Phumzile Mlangeni - Asimdumise (Kasie FM)
Lefa Pheto - Lefa Pheto Gospel Tunes (Thetha FM)
Wiseman Mpunzana - Umthombo Wokuphila (Vibe FM)
Sipho Kaleni - Local & Intnl Gospel Sound (Radio Pulpit)
Best Gospel Radio Show
Khanyi Magubane - Living Sounds (SAFM)
Siyabonga Mhlongo - Soul Sunday (Igagasi FM)
Thami Ngubeni - The Sacred Space (Metro FM)
Simphiwe Peter - Ezomoya (Tru FM)
Sbu Buthelezi - Indumiso (Ukhozi FM)
Best Gospel Song
Solly Mahlangu – Siyabonga Jesu (Mwamba Mwamba)
Donny – Basheshe Bahleka (Basheshe Bahleka)
Israel Mosehla – Oa Halalela (Praise & Worship Enc)
Sfiso Ncwane – Kulungile Baba (Kulungile Baba)
Best Gospel TV Show
I Want to Sing Gospel (SABC2)
Big Up - Big Up Tv (SABC2)
It's Gospel Time (SABC2)
Abe Sibiya - Praise Mix (One Gospel)
Abe Sibiya - House of Prayer (One Gospel)
Classic Of All Times
Kholeka - Owahlatshwa
Dumi Mkokstad - Bek Ithemba
Ntokozo Mbambo – In The Shadow
Pastor Ncanda - Ngegama Lakho Jesu
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lindelani Mkhize
About the Awards
The Crown Gospel Music Awards are a platform to salute and award excellence in the Gospel Music Industry. The Awards are hosted annually with a spectacular event of music and dance.
Winners are given a symbolic crown used as a metaphor for the real crown that Gospel musicians hope to get at the end of their journey – in Heaven.
The Crown Gospel Music Awards concept is a brainchild of Zanele Mbokazi, founder and President of the World Gospel Powerhouse. The idea came about in 2006 and two years later the first ceremony was held in 2008, in the presence of thousands of gospel music loyalists.
After much deliberation, knocking on various doors and endless meetings, the concept of the Gospel Music Awards showed fruition. The name of the Awards had to be chosen. It could have been he SA Gospel Music Awards but the vision was to go beyond RSA borders. Then Reflections Gospel Awards also came up, but something was missing.
Crown Gospel Music Awards sounded aspirational and attainable. The Crown (Umqhele) signifies the ultimate award that will be adorned to all His servants in Heaven on the last day.
The idea was, and still is, to salute the sons and daughters in the gospel music industry under various categories. To date the Awards boasts more than 30 categories.
The winners are awarded a Crown, for their sterling contribution in the gospel music industry.