Luanda — The Angolan singer, songwriter and producer Eduardo Paím last Thursday in Luanda said that he will continue to contribute to the valorisation and promotion of Angolan music, having in view the research work he has been doing, as well as collaborate with other artists.

Eduardo Paím was distinguished last Thursday with one of the awards of the National Arts and Culture Prize for this year, in the music category, for his contribution to the development of Angolan music, in a career that spans 33 years.

The artist is often cited internally as the main pioneer of the new generation music style known as Kizomba, which mixes local urban rhythms with the French Antilles Zouk music.

Speaking to ANGOP, on the fringe of the gala, the artist said "a prize of this dimension is a responsibility because it was awarded by the Culture Ministry, so this comes to give more value to artists".

To the musician, who is also known by the nickname "General Kambuengo", the award means recognition of the work he has been doing for over thirty years, considering that his albums have been released in several foreign countries, and also he has worked with many Angolan artists in the expansion of the Kizomba style.

The event was enlivened by the singers Matias Damásio, Lina Alexandre, the instrumentalist Sanguito, the Muntuenu and Os Pescadores dance groups, as well as the writer Manuel Rui Monteio who recited some of his poems, among other artists.

The gala was also attended also by the Culture minister, Rosa Cruz e Silva, and the Mass Media minister, José Luís de Matos, among other personalities.