Malawi singer Tay Grin wins Beffta award in London

Malawi’s hip hop star Tay Grin on Saturday enriched his profile when he scooped the Best International African Act  award at this year’s Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (Beffta) Awards presented at Hippodrome London.

Tay Grin, received two nominations, for Best International African Act and Best Music Video for his new song The Beach.

In the first category, Tay Grin was competing against continental music giants among them P-Square, Davido, Timaya, Zahara, Awilo Longomba, Dr Sid, Olamide, Sautisol and R2bees.

For “Best Video”, Tay Grin faced Mafikizolo for the video Khona, Jose Chameleon for Wale Wale, Mr Jayvic’s I Love Africa and the remake of Pharrell Williams Happy (We’re from Luton).

Tay Grin also delivered a  fiery performance at the event.

“I just want to thank every single person who voted for me. It’s really a dream come true to win a Beffta award,” Tay Grin who was accompanied by his relation Tinali Alfazema told Nyasa Times.

Beffta Awards, the brainchild of Kenyan television presenter on BEN TV,  Pauline Long , were created to honour and celebrate talented personalities in entertainment, filming, television and arts.

“It’s a breakthrough for Malawi to get nominations in Beffta and let alone for an artist to win,” Long said in an interview.

Malawi deputy high commissioner to Britain, John Tembo Jnr,  who attended the Beffta’s on Friday and Saturday, said it was “delightful” for Malawi to pick an award for the first time.

Other Malawians who  were nominated included Rose M’mangisa and Alexina Phiri.

M’mangisa, who is the current Miss Malawi UK title holder, was nominated for a Beffta Award under the Best Beauty Queen category while Alexina Phiri, who is the former Miss Malawi UK, was nominated for Best Former Beauty Queen.

Phiri, who is a trained lawyer, said she the nomination for such a top international award was “a great honour.”