After heading the SA Traditional Music Achievers (SATMA) awards for 15 years, founder Dumisani Goba says he’s stepping aside this year to allow fresh minds to run the awards.
Speaking at the weekend during the launch of the 2020 awards, which will be held on December 5, Goba said he wanted to study towards a PhD.
He said he was happy that the idea that gave birth to the awards in 2006 was still alive and he believed people should know when to step down.
Goba said the objective of the awards was to unite all races of the country but expressed disappointment in the lack of representation of Indians and whites.
“The main objective is to... honour each other's cultures, but I don’t see much of Indians and whites’ representation in the awards. We would love if that can happen. These awards are never about me. I took a decision a long time ago that before I reach the age of 55 I must have a PhD, not for employment or money but for my legacy.
"I’m going to further my studies. Some people think some brands are about them and don’t know when to leave the space. But here we have taught young people that we have been working with how to run this ship. This will be my last year as a leader of these awards."
He said the awards would not only bring entertainment to the province but boost the economy as well.
MEC for culture, sports and recreation Lindiwe Ntshalintshali echoes his sentiments, saying: “We would like to assure everyone that these awards are to move to greater heights and also boost the economy. Now it’s our time... we have hosted many events, including the [2010] Soccer World Cup. Our small business and the tourism sector can flourish. As you know that this province connects us to Eswatini and Mozambique. We aim to have attendance from our neighbouring countries and the other eight provinces to boost our economy,” said Ntshalintshali.
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