Anga Makhubalo and girlfriendAfter what seemed like a boring start to the inaugural Royal Soapie Awards thanks to my partner in crime Tazteeq missing his flight to Durban, the day actually picked up as soon as I got to Durban. The Indian Ocean never disappoints especially if you are an in-lander like we the Gauteng peeps.
Paying homage to Durban artsThe Durban people are forever friendly especially the artists at the beach. Call me gullible or whatever you like, but time and again, those poor artists always guard my camera when I’m in the water swimming to wash away whatever Gauteng bad luck might have on me.
TazteeqFast forward to 17:30 in the afternoon, when Tazteeq finally makes it to Durban. We are actually running late for the red carpet as we are supposed to take pics of actors and everyone that’s in the public eye arriving. The evening started off quite well with the rented Royalty crowds screaming at the top of their voices almost getting poor actors to get nervous at the outstanding welcome.
Nomzamo Mbatha isn’t wearing this dress for the first time
Vusi KuneneI became so wary finding myself in the celebrity shuttle to the red carpet. If I had my way, media shuttle would have been great for me. I just simply could not stand the so-called outstanding welcome. This whole business of being treated like a Royalty judge is something my boy Tazteeq and I are still trying to get used to. Thank God no-one knows us.
Motlatsi Mafatshe and his woman
The ceremony was supposed to start at 20:00 but African time took centre stage as no one listened to the intercom calling everyone to get inside the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Internation Convention Centre. Shame yazi, I think the organisers picked a wrong date for the ceremony as the VVIP where I was seated and other seats were not packed to capacity. That can be attributed to the fact that last week Saturday at this time, the Metro FM Awards were going down in this very same ICC. Can you imagine peeps having to travel again to Durban, and SAA flight tickets search deep in your pocket.
Bridget Khathi nee MasingaBe that as it may, those present were determined to make the most of it. Apart from the ceremony being a very good excuse for a thespians’ reunion, it was yet another great opportunity for Durbanites to get up close and personal with the people they see every weekday in their living rooms.
The Durbanites love their actors and more especially so Isibaya. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Isibaya is to Durbanites what Muvhango is to millions of peeps in Venda and Polokwane.
Hunkey Dorry: Kgomotso and Calvin Christopher
Somizi MhlongoSpeaking of Isibiya, it was almost like the entire cast took a broom to the ceremony because they totally cleaned up, literally and figuratively so. For all the winners see:
isiBaya headlines no-show Soapie Awards
Isibaya castLater on in the night, Thembi Nyandeni is announced as the winner of the Outstanding Lead Actress - she stood up in a triumphant-like fashion, raised her hands to the air, so as to thank her dlozis for what I saw as her proudest moment of her life in the industry.
Thembi “Mkabayi” NyandeniY’all know what justice she is doing to the role of Mkabayi. I mean, who doesn’t watch Isibaya?
Khabodacious and her mom
Shaleen Surtie-RichardsShaleen Surtie-Richards was honoured with a Life Time Avhievement Award. Her soapie CV reads: Egoli: 1992-2000, Generations: 2001-2004, 7deLaan 2005 Villa Rosa 2010-2014. Shaleen announced the award was her 48th award yet she has no formal training in the acting vocation.
She went on further advising about the celebrity monster in the processes sensitizing them to the fact that celebrity status doesn’t pay the bills. She said many other things advising those starting out in the industry. My memorable moment about her award is when the entire ICC stood up and clapped until she got on stage. It was just amazing to see the respect thespians have for her.
Siya TwalaAfter Isibaya was announced as the Most Outstanding Soapie of the Year, the telenovela’s cast and crew went on stage to collect their winnings. Show director delivered a speech. However, awards goers started chanting “Ndlovu, Ndlovu, Ndlovu,” demanding they see Mpiyakhe Zungu’s mortal arch-enemy Samson Ndlovu. He moved from the back row to the front row, then disappeared.
The crowd started chanting “Ndlovu” again signaling they want him to address them. In a modest fashion, he thanked them for supporting the show and sensitized them Ndlovu comes to life thanks to a an entire team on set.
Winnie Modise and MakistoThere was that moment when boring government officials gave boring speeches and shame, poor them, they cannot even read a simple autocue #RollseEyes.
Mafikizolo lip synching Mafikizolo took to the stage performning their hit song Khona and everyone danced along but I could not help but notice they were unashamedly lip synching.
Later on in the night, they took to the stage to lip synch Happiness.
Mafikizolo lip synching....againTheir dancers are so talented they almost upstaged Theo Kgosinkwe but Theo saw his moves were under threat and quickly shaked like nobody’s business proving no singer or dancer has anything on him.
Later in in the night I spoke with him asking for a selfie and I realized he is quite a sweet thing. Kudos to you for not allowing the celebrity monster to swallow you.
Tema SobepediWorth noting about the awards is that both Generations and Muvhango went back home empty handed.
Simphiwe Ngema