Founders Note

“SATMA Awards journey was the most difficult one in my life but I have personally gained a lot of experience and shared my vision of uniting different ethnic group regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation or religious believes, with South Africans, African continent and the Globe. The level of tribalism, racism & any kind of discrimination I believe it  must end. The one powerful instrument to achieve this is through our mother tongue music which speaks to our souls. I have seen people singing together, dancing together and sharing food together during the SATMA Awards events over the past 15 years.

I have witnessed cultural groups from different ethnic groups parading, dancing and singing together through the SATMA Awards events. We have not done enough but the light is becoming brighter and we have hope & faith that one day, we will see a human-being  first beyond any race or culture and not seeing a Xhosa, Tsonga , Ndebele, Khoi San etc. One day we will realize that color of the skin does not define a person but we are defined by humanity, love & faith. I have seen a lot of young people supporting the SATMA Awards events, which shows that there is hope that one day we will come together & celebrate our heritage without being given names of race or ethnicity.

When I was the CEO of this brand, I worked with different people from different ethnic groups. I learnt to love our cultures, love South African Languages and embrace people of the world also to see them as humans not anything else. We must embrace our heritage, we must embrace who we are, we must love our music, our cultures and ourselves. We can build wealthy nation using our heritage; we can create many jobs and business opportunities using our heritage. Time will come whereby our heritage will be recognized as one of our economical pillars.

Over the years SATMA Awards, have been supported greatly and we would like to give a special thanks to the founding partners of the SATMA Awards, some of whom are still with us to this day: Ukhozi FM, which came on board before the whole of SABC became a broadcast partner which were followed by uMhlobo Wenene, the National Heritage Council of South Africa – custodians of our heritage, SABC, especially SABC Radio & SABC 1, National Lotteries Commissions, National House of Traditional Leaders, Ithala Bank, KZN Provincial Government and eThekwini Municipality (which joined us later).

We would also like to extend our gratitude to some of the first corporate companies that once supported us: Old Mutual, ABSA KZN SizweNtsalubaGobodo, Ngubane & Co. Shepstone & Wylie Law Firm, SABC and Cell C-KZN. Our special thanks also go to the Eastern Cape, KZN and North West Provincial Governments for hosting very successful events over these 15 Years. This appreciation also goes to many individuals who have contributed in building this brand to what it is today: Mr. Welcome Bhodloza Nzimande, The late Prof. Joseph Shabalala, Adv. Mancotywa, The late Mr. Mvuso Mbebe, Adv. Mpofu, Mr. Zola Key, Mr. Sabelo Silinga, Mr. Mangaliso Buthelezi, Ms. Zandile Ndzimande, Ms. Nonyamezelo Sotomela, Mr. Jayson Faber, SATMA Awards team members over the years and many others who made a huge contribution towards building our nation’s pride.”