BULAWAYO – Radio DJ and legendry music producer Oskido has declined a nomination by the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards – stating he is not Zimbabwean.

Oskido, real name Oscar Mdlongwa, had been nominated in the category of Outstanding Arts Personality from Outside of Bulawayo. The awards will be held on June 29.

“Please note that Oskido was born in Brits, South Africa, and was raised in Bulawayo therefore he doesn’t qualify for the nomination,” James Mathenga, a publicist from Oskido’s Kalawa Jazmee stable told the Bulawayo Chronicle.

Kalawa Jazmee spokesperson Scotch Mathenga said the nomination had not been welcomed.

“Yes, Kalawa has rejected Oskido’s nomination. I can’t really delve into the reasons why, but the rejection is true,” Mathenga said.

Oskido’s father, Esaph Mdlongwa, is a founding member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He was the party’s first organising secretary and is a former MP for Pumula-Luveve.

Not much is known about Oskido’s mother, but his father once told journalists that he met her while working in South Africa.

Oskido would spend his childhood in Zimbabwe before returning to South Africa where his music career started.

The Metro FM DJ hosts an annual concert in Bulawayo called the ‘Kalawa Homecoming’ and has previously spoken fondly about his childhood years in the city.