The brand new Kenyan-sculptured Pulse Music Video Awards (PMVA) trophy was unveiled today ahead of the grand ceremony taking place in Nairobi later this evening.
A creation of Bespoke Soapstone Limited, the trophy was vetted among other creative trophy presentations in a competitive process aimed at giving the new trophy originality as well as a Kenyan identity. The final selection comes with a musical clef symbol, a winner's podium, and a performance stage. It is capped with a star to symbolize the epitome of entertainment.
Bespoke Soapstone Limited, run by Mogusu Momanyi has been promoting Kenyan creative soapstone works locally and abroad. The fine final PMVA trophy was a collaborative work between Bespoke Soapstone and the Standard Group PLC PMVA committee and creative teams.
"We wanted an original masterpiece, a Kenyan original, that is unique and creative, speaking into the elements that define PMVA. The base of the trophy is a musical stage and podium that represents the creative theatre spot while the G clef defines the process of music making. The star speaks of glorification and the outstanding shining aspect of a winner," says Stevens Muendo, the Standard Group PLC Entertainment and Lifestyle Editor.
"The Grammy Awards, the oldest music awards ceremony and most prestigious one in the world has carried the tradition of the statuette presented to winners as a gold-plated gramophone over the years. The MTV award statue is also unique and as the home of entertainment in Africa, Standard Group PLC wanted the PMVA trophy to be unique," Muendo says.
The name Grammy is homage to the gramophone and its revolutionary impact on the music industry while PMVA is the offshoot of Pulse Magazine, the pioneer and longest-existing weekly entertainment pullout in the region.
Meet our Lead Sculptor
The lead sculptor Joshua Isoe, tells a creative story born out of adversity. Having been in this business for 30 years now, Joshua sculpts the most intricate, beautiful, fine art out of stone.
After clearing High School in 1991, he hoped he would secure a job at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Unfortunately, this plan did not materialise so he resorted to doing menial jobs while actively trying to find something to do.
"Around 1994, having observed my brother carve out some soapstone pieces, I took a keen interest in his work. Back then, the pieces retailed at Sh3 to around Sh5 in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa. I tried it and for my first assignment, the piece was sold," says Isoe.
"A sculpture could represent family, and social ties, have a spiritual meaning or for home beautification. Hence, our products are sculpted to meet the specific client's needs. The most difficult part has been the innovation stage since most sculptors are used to the old way of designing the stone. With a little creativity now and the recent outcome of pieces, many sculptors see the possibilities in the soapstone industry. With each piece, they upskill and double their income," says Mogusu Momanyi.
"I was raised in Tabaka ward, Nyabigege area in the stony hills of Kisii. I would come across many curio shops on my way to school with pieces carved out of stone. Art has the power to compel emotions and adore the eye. With this sight, I had a deep conviction that more beautiful and intricate pieces and designs could be creatively sculpted out of stone from what existed six to seven decades ago.
"We now go back to a village that gave us a chance to go to school with the knowledge of how we can innovate together and build unique, meaningful and beautiful pieces. Pieces that remind people of unity in the home, good times, and more importantly that home is the place to be. That is the hope we have as Bespoke Soapstone Limited," Mogusu says.
