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Zimbabwean star presenter and top model Vimbai Mutinhiri turned on her style when she co-hosted the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, the biggest awards show on the continent in so far as television is concerned.
The AMVCAs which are now in second year running were held at Eko Hotel and Suites at Victoria Island, Lagos.

I was there once on a different occasion and it’s not surprising that the venue has become the home of the AMVCAs.

As you might be aware, Victoria Island, which is some kilometres away from the mainland boasts scenic views and cleaner environs.

Though I didn’t enjoy the weather locals who are used to such high temperatures easily go about their business without breaking a sweat.

It’s sad I couldn’t attend the awards show since MultiChoice are not extending their invites to this side of the continent.

But like many others who enjoy African movies I had to watch the awards show from the comfort of my own home, in fact, because the AMVCAs take long you can’t be anywhere except home.

This year it was no exception what with performances in between the awards.

I thought Davido was great with “Skelewu” and so was Flavour of the “Sawa Sawa le” fame.

I know the Zimbabwe version of the song goes like: “ Anokara adhakwa”, you should listen to it.

Viewers were also taken through the red carpet with the likes of Eku Edewor and Denrele Edun. I really wonder what makes Denrele tick.

It would be interesting to find out from him where he gets his crazy ideas not to mention the hairdos.

He has featured in a number of shows on Africa Magic including the Channel o Music Awards.

Back to the stage, everything seemed perfect from the word go although last year it was just Vimbai and IK Osakioduwa who presented the show but this time there were three presenters including a newbie Osas Ighodaro.

I know Vimbai was last year the subject of criticism from Nigerians who accused her of a wrong accent and many other things.

However, this time she was on point. She turned on her style and oozed with cool confidence.

She really made us proud to be Zimbabweans.

She silenced her critics who unlike last year were out to discredit her.

Unfortunately, it was Osas who blundered throughout the show.

One Nigerian critic Charles Nova had this to say:
“Expectations were high for this year’s edition and many practically grovelled for the invitation

“The presenting threesome ( no pun intended) of IK Osakioduwa, Vimbai and Osas Ighodaro came on the podium to kick off the show proper. IK and Vimbai were quite at ease all through the night when they had their slots but Osas seemed to be trying to catch up with the other two.

“Throughout the night she put up a spirited performance but there were a few stumbles over some words as she followed the teleprompter and she seemed overtly mechanical most times. Perhaps, as she goes on over the years, she would find her rhythm.

“However, the three presenters had some impressive costume changes in the course of the night which looked good to me.

Vimbai was spot on as a co-hostess and put up a confident performance.

“We all know the artistic prowess of IK and he didn’t fail in writing his own lines when it mattered. Osas was just the last end of the salami who could have done with a bit more greasing.

“Besides Osas’ bleeps and blunders, we had a poor sound quality perhaps it goes with the venue.

“It was really bad for those who watched from home especially during performances. Organisers could have done more to improve on the quality of sound.”

Word has it that the sound was even worse in the auditorium. However , the biggest blunder at the awards was the terrible mix-up of names and categories.

We had the likes of John Okafor and delectable Monailsa Chinda who mistakenly presented Hausa nominees instead of “Best Actress in a Yoruba movie”.

I am sure not many of us realised there was a mistake unless if you’re Nigerian. Frankly speaking, to the rest of Africa whether Yoruba or Hausa, there isn’t much of a difference to the rest of Africa, when you watch one production you’ve seen them all.

But thanks to Okafor more popularly known as Mr Ibu for raising the alarm that there was a mistake. He shouted: “Na Yoruba dem give us”.

Basically, the awards ceremony was painstakingly too long and I’m told a number of viewers quit half way through the show.

And it is my hope that next year Zimbabweans won’t be watching the AMVCAs for the sake of Vimbai but because there would be other Zimbabwean productions running for the awards.

On a different , there is one music video which is making a lot of waves on most satellite channels. Y-Tjukutja a track that features four producers – Mapiano, Xelo, DJ Clap and Maphorisa – collectively known as Uhuru. On the heels of producing Mafikizolo’s smash hits “Khona” and “Happiness” the four-piece takes to the spotlight with a second taste of their own kwaito-house.

Sophomore LP “Our Father” is one of biggest tunes for 2014 – with lead single “Y Tjukutja” a sure shot for dance-floor anthem of SA’s dawning hot and heavy days.

The track also features the talents of house legends DJ Buckz, Oskido, Professor and Yuri-Da-Cunha.

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