It is almost a month since the passing of Crown Gospel Awards founder, Zanele Mbokazi. Her family, colleagues and friends have vowed that despite her departure from this world, they wish to continue her legacy and the way she has paved for gospel artists in the 16 years of the award's existence.

BITTERSWEET

This was announced during a media briefing attended by her husband Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule, Crown Gospel Awards board member Sthembiso Mtshali, creative director Siyanda Mwandla and project manager, Njabulo Shangase recently. A year before her passing, Zanele signed a seven-year deal to host the then Durban-based awards in Johannesburg, and that is what the committee now responsible for the awards will continue to do. "These will be the best award of all time,"said Mwandla.

The upcoming 17th Crown Gospel Awards will take place in November. "Zanele always emphasised that the Crowns were bigger than her. The Crowns have become an institution and not just an awards ceremony. She was 100% correct, she is no more now but we still continue," Mwandla added.

Mwandla said having to continue without her is tough. "It's a bittersweet moment just to take the baton and continue when we have lost the founder. But the show must go on indeed. When I look and trace back where we started, I am in awe. Having been part of it since 2008, we have grown," he said.

THE JOURNEY

Bishop Nkambule praised his late wife for the job well done. "It's an unfamiliar turf to be here in the absence of Zanele. But we are here to celebrate her legacy, keep her memory alive and celebrate her achievements," he said. "She was a phenomenal woman and larger than life. She was a big dreamer and made things possible. She created things out of nothing. She had the ability to bring the non-existence into being," he said, adding that, "It's not easy but we must go on.'

MEMORIES

Andile Ka Majola who was the very first gospel artist to win an award when the ceremony was first started said is grateful the awards are still going ahead. "Mam Zanele gave us something special. At other awards ceremonies, we only had one category, but she came and gave us the Crowns,' he said. "As artists, we would fight over the Crowns, we would even fight with Mam Zanele when we din't win and she would call and resolve things.' He recalled journey of the awards. "We would fight mostly over the Song Of The Year. Those are the beautiful moments, all done in good faith. We wish to continue with the legacy and Mam Zanele's vision," he added.