Welcome to My Weekly Column – Mananigo! Let’s talk North West Media Awards

By Ananias Ndlovu

Let me take this moment to welcome you to this weekly column, where we’ll get to engage, share, and hopefully inspire each other. But before we dive in, let’s start here: who is Ananias Ndlovu? Some of you know me simply as “Mananigo.” I’m a journalist by profession, but I wear many hats—I’m a father, a husband, a brother, and a friend. At my core, I am a humble man with an unwavering passion for personal growth, both for myself and for those around me. I genuinely want to see people flourish in their pursuits, whatever they may be.

I’ll be honest, I’m not one for nonsense, and I do take my time to engage meaningfully. But, regardless of whether you love or hate me, know this—I will always wish the best for you.

Now, enough about me. Let’s talk about something very close to my heart this week: the North West Media Awards. In my 25-year career in media, I have never taken on a more challenging project. I initially thought, “It’s a simple way to acknowledge my colleagues in the media—just a small way to say, we see you, and thank you for your work.” But, iyooo, let me tell you—it’s been anything but not simple.

My team and I? We’ve been crucified left, right, and center. And the funny thing is, we don’t fully understand why. We’re not making a profit from this initiative—quite the opposite. It costs us money, time, and, believe it or not, some friendships. Yet, we persist. Why? Because we love it, and we believe in it. We are grateful to those who take it seriously, and, despite the challenges, it’s growing. It’s not quite where we want it to be yet, but we’re getting there.

Our advisors are doing a fantastic job. The judges? They’ve been nothing short of amazing. The partners who’ve stuck with us have been a blessing. And our nominees—wow—absolutely fabulous. This year, we have over 200 nominees! That’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of media practitioners across the province.

Voting and judging are well underway and will continue until the 15th and 30th of November 2024. To our voters—you’re the backbone of this project, and I must thank you from the bottom of my heart. But we’re not done yet. We still need more partners and sponsors to make these awards what we envision for the North West—a platform of recognition, growth, and inspiration for all in media.

These awards aren’t just for us—they’re for you, North West. Let’s make them the best in the country. Your input, your ideas, and your support are always welcome. We’ve got opportunities for everyone who’s willing to come on board and help us elevate our tech-challenged industry.

So, let’s push for the best, and not entertain negative energy. I love you all, and together, we can make this happen.

Let’s do this!