Fast rising Afropop singer Lamont Chitepo collected his first Zim Achievers Award last Saturday at a sold-out gala at the Cumberland hotel in London.
He was honoured with the Music Artist of the Year gong which had some fierce contenders in the mould of Charly Kay, Busi Mhlanga, Laura Denenga, Sungura outfit Kambo Boys and Tsungai Tsikirai.
This is his second award after receiving the 2016 Male Artist of the Year at the Zimbabwe Music and Arts Awards (ZIMAA UK)
Speaking to Zimbuzz the ecstatic Chitepo said the award will forever serve him as a reminder of the great works he is doing.
“The award made me realise that God created me for a purpose and a plan,” he said.
“It is very difficult for a musician in the diaspora to remain motivated as our music is pushed mainly through social media and the internet.
“So many times I have wanted to give up on music but after this award it is clear that I have a mandate to release and empty myself off of all the talents that God has given me,” he added.
Chitepo plans to take his music globally but his eyes are firmly set on his home country Zimbabwe.
Last December he held two gigs at City Sports Bar and Jazz 24 /7 with musician Andy Muridzo.
He also shared the stage with Tendai Dembo, Minister Michael Mahendere, Leonard Zhakata and Kudzi Nyakudya at a fund-raising event in the capital.
He said his fans should brace themselves for new music and collaborations.
“It (the award) marks the beginning of a great journey where there is going to be a lot of hard work.,I am currently working on a mixtape which we will launch at Prisma Night Club in Birmingham on the 5th of August 2017,” he said.
The mix tape titled ‘Gumi ReMbada’, he said is a precusor in preparation for his full album coming in 2018.
Awards founder Conrad Mwanza congratulated all the winners and thanked those who attended the seventh anniversary of the awards.
“We have been doing this for seven years. Sometimes we have got it right and there are times where we have got it wrong but, we have continued to persevere and run with the vision that started as an idea in conversation,” he said.
“It is not easy to put on an awards show of this magnitude. We have a team, both at organising level and at panel level who work tirelessly for months and I salute their efforts.
“We had an overwhelming response this year and we are grateful to all those who attended, who made it memorable and, who continue to support the vision and the brand.
We hope to come back bigger, better and even stronger next year,” he added.
