“Just before everyone drives out of Johannesburg to their various holiday destinations, we felt that this would be a better way to get them into the festive season singing songs of praise with us just for one last time this year,” said co-founding member Lindelani Mkhize.

Mkhize said the recording would feature new members selected from auditions held around the country last year.

“For Joyous 16, we shift the focus to the literal meaning of ‘joyous celebration.’ We want to rejoice and revel through music. The sound is going to be more light-hearted with a lot of sing-alongs and ensembles within the big group,” he added.

The band recently wrapped up its 2011 tour with a well-received concert at the Ayoba Festival at Montecasino.

Tickets to the concert are priced between R150 and R300 and can be booked via Computicket or any Shoprite/Checkers outlet.

The talented singer will be joined on stage by a Pretoria vocal group called Bafana Ba Sebesho on 11 December.

Music is always one of this festival’s main attractions. Each year, the line-up features a range of artists from different genres, including jazz, kwaito, gospel and rock. Other top musicians billed to perform this year include Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai and The Parlotones.

The two-week-long festival will also feature performances in comedy, dance and drama.

Tickets are available at Computicket.

The pair’s traditional wedding will take place on January 22 at Mbokazi’s family home in Thornwood, Mariannhill and a white wedding will follow in three months.

Mbokazi and Nkambule met last year at a church seminar in Swaziland and engaged in the country in December last year. The engagement ceremony was attended by a host of celebrities including Ukhozi FM’s, Dudu Khoza and First Lady, Nompumelelo MaNtuli Zuma.

The God-fearing businesswoman is known for promoting the local gospel music sector. Over the years, Mbokazi has hosted numerous gospel-oriented radio and television shows, authored three acclaimed books and founded the prestigious Crown Gospel Awards.

Pastor Vusi Dube of the Ethekwini Community Church in Durban, who is the spokesperson for the wedding, says preparations for Mbokazi’s big day are going well. Dube says a date for the wedding will be announced soon.

Announcing the partnership kwaito artist and AMAHA leader Doc Shebeleza said the church is committed to working with disadvantaged societies in South Africa.

“Whatever you do, you need God to be part of the programme. At AMAHA, we come from different religions and beliefs, but having a partnership with the church will help us spread the awareness message. The church talks about HIV. They talk about condoms. They work with many people. We need to contribute positively to life and it’s very important to work together to achieve this,” said Shebeleza.

He added that musicians from AMAHA will perform at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on New Year’s Eve.

“More than 94 000 people will fill the stadium to welcome 2011 with dance, song, music and prayer and AMAHA will provide live entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening,” he added.

Artists on the bill include Deborah Fraser, Pure Gold, Sputla Sebogodi (Kenneth Mashaba in Generations), Benjamin Dube, Tshepiso and Nhlanhla of Mafikizolo.

“At the end of the year people think about many things and are worried about different issues, but we can all pray together. We can all have one vision and ask God to sustain us spiritually for the New Year,” he said.

The Soweto-based channel recently introduced a new gospel music show called ApoZion Top Ten, which is promoting lesser-known gospel music such as Apostle and Zion music to thousands of music lovers.

ApoZion Top Ten was officially launched late last month at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto where a number of top gospel acts performed. In addition, the show rates new music videos from Zion groups around the country.

Soweto TV spokesperson Reverend Franz Dhlamini says, “Since Soweto TV gave Zion groups a platform on Saturdays and Sundays there has been a lot of improvement.  People are starting to familiarise themselves with these lesser exposed sounds.”

ApoZion Top Ten airs every Saturdays from 8am to 9am. Soweto Community Television is also available on DStv channel 150.

Besides gospel music shows, Soweto TV’s programming line-up includes gospel talk shows, sports, entertainment and women-oriented talk shows.

The show, entitled Ivangeli Game Show, tests contestants’ knowledge about gospel music. In one of the categories contestants have to sing their favourite gospel songs and hymns. Prizes include gospel CD’s and DVD’s as well as hampers.

‘I’m thrilled to host South Africa’s first gospel game show and really looking forward to learning more about this genre of music,’ said Nkosi.

One Gospel’s second show, I Just Wanna Praise, kicks off today at 17:00. The show allows viewers to call in and request their favourite gospel music videos, as well as send special dedication messages to friends.

The show will feature new material and some new faces drawn from the nationwide auditions staged during the 2010 tour, a number of whom were discovered at the Durban leg of the auditions in July this year.

Tickets for this once of event go on sale on Thursday, November 25 at Computicket outlets nationwide.

For Joyous Celebration founders and members, Durban has been the breeding ground for numerous young musos who have graced the Joyous Celebration stage in the last 14 years of the project.

“Following the sold old out show that was part of the 2010 tour in Durban, we thought it only fitting to come back to Durban to honour our fans, the province and the city for their continuous and endless support over the years by staging not 1, but 2 recording shows,” says Jabu Hlongwane, co-founder of the ensemble.

“This recording will be a special one. We are also inviting our fans to list their favourite songs on the Joyous Celebration family Facebook page that they would like to hear us sing during this live recording,” adds Hlongwane.

Known for their symphonic blend of traditional and western gospel, Joyous Celebration has enjoyed many accolades since its inception. This year, the group is nominated in the Metro FM Music Awards for Best Urban Gospel. To vote for Joyous Celebration, SMS Best Urban Gospel + Joyous Celebration to 34764.

The event will be a three-country extravaganza, featuring Lesotho’s legendary gospel artist Tshepo Tshola, Botswana’s Lebogang ‘Lebo Gee’ Moitoki and Winnie Mashaba.

In a bid to help up-and-coming musicians in Botwana, the three musos will hold workshops on the 26th of November. “To me, the knowledge we shall give during the workshop is even more important than the singing I will do the next day. The knowledge that the upcoming artists will acquire will help them reach the levels of Tshola and others,” says Mashaba.

Mashaba is one of the most-loved female gospel musicians in South Africa. She has won many accolades, key among them, a nomination for a 2005 Kora Music Award.

She grew up in Steelpoort, Limpopo and began singing when she was in primary school. Her debut studio album Exoda 20, released in 2000, sold over 25, 000 units and opened many doors for her in the music industry.

The film, which is being produced by Cuba Ikaneng, tells a story of two homeless brothers working hard to make ends meet.

Ikaneng has produced and directed numerous musical and religious shows including Gospel Time, The Cell C Gospel Music Festival and Big Up which won a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for best talk show in 2008. His recent television credits include writing and directing four films for etv’s Ekasi Stories.

According to the choir’s marketing and events manager, Basil Dube, production of the film will start in two weeks time and some of the choir members will also take various acting roles.

For the past six months, the 50-member choir has been entertaining audiences around Tshwane townships including Soshanguve, Mabopane and Winterveldt. The choir boasts a host of highly talented singers including Mammie Ntshauba and Ndivhuwo Matumba who is famously known for his rendition of the popular song, ‘Wanga Murena’.

Dube says Abasebenzi will be released on DVD and will be showcased at various film festivals and community centres around the country in early 2011.

Fraser, who was initially not nominated this year, is now up against The Plain Truth, Margaret Motsage and Thembi Seete in the Best Music Video category. According to the awards’ spokes person, Wendy Sithole, Fraser had the second most votes after Jub Jub and automatically became a replacement.

The Crown Gospel Music Awards were created 3 years ago to recognise South African gospel musicians. Three categories, namely Best Gospel Song, Classic Of all Times and Best Gospel Artist are voted for by the public. Fans can vote for their favourite musos by sending an SMS with the name of the musician to 34069 or calling 084 198 3292.

The winners will be announced at the ICC in Durban on November 21.

Others nominees include:
BEST MASKANDI: Kwenza, Intombi kaJehova, Mfiliseni Magubane, Bonakelew
BEST DVD: Songs & Psalms, Lusanda Spiritual, Uche, Andile kaMajola
BEST NEWCOMER: Bukiwe, Reality 7, Sgwili and Babo, Linah Mahlangu
BEST R&B/RAP: Fifty50 Family, Sir J Afrique, Simply Chrysolite, Intense
BEST JAZZ: Jo Anne Q, Lulu Dikane, Karabo Mongatane, Sfaniso
BEST MALE: Sfiso Ncwane, Tshepiso, Sechaba, Israel Mosehla
BEST FEMALE: Veliswa Skeyi, Kholeka, Lusanda, Winnie Mashaba
BEST SONGWRITER: Percy Ingle, Babo, Joel Maposa, Andile kaMajola
BEST GOSPEL GROUP: Ncandweni, Abanqobi, Worship House, IPCC
BEST TRADITIONAL: Kholeka, Veliswa, Thobekile, Sechaba
CLASSIC OF ALL TIME: Lusanda, Hlengiwe, Lundi, Abanqobi
BEST MUSIC VIDEO: The Plain Truth, Deborah Fraser, Margaret Motsage, Thembi Seete
BEST WORSHIP ALBUM: Tshepiso Motaung, Kholeka, Andile kaMajola, Israel Mosehla
BEST PRAISE ALBUM: Tshepiso Motaung, PS Ncanda, CRC, Uche
BEST GOSPEL ARTIST: Sfiso Ncwane, Sechaba, Sipho Makhabane, Winnie Mashaba
BEST GOSPEL SONG: Sfiso Ncwane, Uche, Zaza, Khanyisa
BEST GOSPEL PRODUCER: Big Boy Mlangeni, Sipho Makhabane, Babo, Joel Maposa.