Vhembe demonstrated its prodigious talent at the 2022 Limpopo Music Awards (LIMA) when local reggae and gospel group Burning Fire and Venda-beats artist Lidzebe Midalo, known as LP MiDALO, went home with trophies.

Burning Fire won the award for Best Tshivenda Song, while LP MiDALO won the Best Music Video award. The awards ceremony was held at the Meropa Casino Hotel outside Polokwane on 12 November, with more than 50 of the nominees hailing from the Vhembe region.

Burning Fire’s winning song, Mukonisi, first earned them an award for Best Reggae Group/Artist at the recent South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA). The track is from the group’s second album, titled Miloro (Dreams), which was released in December last year.

The group’s senior member, Khuthadzo Mavhusha from Tshifudi village, also known as Ambasada, said that this accomplishment was a significant milestone for them. “We are very pleased, since this is our first Limpopo award. Our fans can be assured that our third album will be released by next year,” he said.

The group was founded three years ago by Mavhusha, Ronald Mahumele from Tshaulu village (also known as DJ Light) and Rudzani Mbengeni from Tshifudi village, aka Mufeelister. The collaboration between the three singers produced a unique reggae sound, laced with gospel vibes and melodies.

Lidzebe Midalo’s video, Bona Fide, is from his first official EP, titled 0950, released in February last year. For this singer from Maniini, who goes by the stage name LP MiDALO, it was his first award since he started his music career eight years ago. “I feel very blessed and dedicate this award to every upcoming musician, to encourage and remind them that anything is possible and that they should never give up,” he said.

Burning Fire and LP MiDALO work under the same record label, Director Maboko Music, a division of Director Maboko (Pty) Ltd. Their music is available on most music platforms, including YouTube.