The South African entertainment industry has joined the growing trend of recognising individuals while they are still alive. This time, the focus is on the unsung heroes behind the stars and the magic we often see on television and hear on radio.
The first-ever Behind-the-Scenes Awards (BTSAs) were held at The Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City, south of Johannesburg, on November 10.
BTSA co-founder Karabo Motlogelwa spoke to Standard Style on the red carpet, expressing his joy at the success of the inaugural event. He exclusively shared with The Standard how the BTSAs came about:
"They were conceptualised in August 2023, marking the first of their kind. Founded by Ngcebo Mdima and myself, Karabo, we established these awards to recognise and honor the creative minds behind media and entertainment brands. We noticed that many creatives were often overlooked and not celebrated enough, so we aimed to create an awards ceremony that serves as a platform where they can walk the red carpet and receive recognition for the magic they create behind the scenes, which contributes to the final product we love.
"Our goal is to foster connections among creatives from various aspects of the industry, including radio and TV production, online publication, and content creation. Thus, we designed these awards with a focus on celebrating all creatives," he told the publication on the red carpet.
"In addition to our commitment to inclusivity and diversity, we have included a category that honors organisations dedicated to creating safe spaces for the queer community. This inclusion is especially important to us, as Ngcebo and I identify as a queer couple."
"One of our special recognitions is the honorary award, which was given to Simphiwe Majola. He has dedicated over two decades to the industry without receiving proper acknowledgment."
Some of the famous brands that have passed through Simphiwe Majola's hands include Basetsana Khumalo, Bonang Matheba, Pearl Thusi, Miss South Africa, SAMAs, and most recently, he was credited for successfully curating Rihanna's Fenty in South Africa.
- Mzansi honours behind-the-scenes crews
Keep Reading
Karabo acknowledged the positive feedback they received:
"We launched the awards on August 15th, 2024, where we announced our nominees, and the reaction we received from both the stakeholders and the public was amazing. We never expected so many people to be interested in the awards, given that this is our first one. The feedback we received was that these awards are exactly what the industry needs, as we always see celebrities and famous brands winning awards but never the people behind these brands who contribute immensely to making the brand what it is today."
"We had a panel of 15 members made up of industry experts, journalists, and influencers who voted for the nominees in each category. This process ensured that deserving and worthy candidates were selected to be nominees and fairly so."
