Organizers of the popular annual Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (Roil BAA) have honored the late hip hop musician Cal Vin, real name Mgcini Calvin Nhliziyo who tragically died on Sunday after a hit and run accident in Luveve.
Roil BAA organizers decided to name the Outstanding Hip Hop award after him for this year as a way to honor him.
Cal Vin ‘The King of Kasi Rap’ was already a nominee for the Roil BAA 2020 edition. Prior to that, he had won the Roil BAA Hip Hop award for three consecutive years.
“… RoilBAA would like to advise that we are retiring Calvin from this year’s nominees list. We will honor him by naming the Outstanding Hip Hop award after him for this year. The award will now be called The Calvin Mgcini Nhliziyo Hip Hop Award,”
“The multi-award-winning artist will forever be engraved in the RoilBAA DNA. Not only was he a nominee, but four acts from his stable, Kontrol Tribe, made it into various categories for this year’s awards.” said event organizers in a statement.
According to The Chronicle, organizers of the Roil BAA also revealed that they were working on a tribute for Cal Vin.
“We are also working on a tribute for Cal Vin slated for the actual awards on the 28th of November, 2020.”
Cal Vin ‘Dat Luveve Boy’ as he was affectionately known, left a huge gap in the music industry. His untimely passing has robbed Bulawayo and the world of a promising musician and artist whose fame inspired other marginalized rappers.
“We say to the whole of Zimbabwe, find comfort. We also take this moment as we did in life, to thank you Calvin Mgcini Nhliziyo for putting Bulawayo and Zimbabwe arts on the world map. Thank you for all the music. Thank you for lighting up our stages and thank you for inspiring and seeing beyond yourself by affording others a platform. “Intaba enkulu idilikile, but you will forever be in our hearts. Heaven has gained an angel. Rest In Peace King Kong” reads the statement.
Meanwhile, event organizers and choreographers are organizing a roadshow for Cal Vin to celebrate his life.
He is going to be buried on Sunday in Bulawayo. On the other hand, police still haven’t arrested anyone in connection with the incident as they are still looking for a white Mazda Familia that was involved in the hit and run.
