Kwacha Music Awards Not A True Reflection Of The Zambian Music Industry
The Kwacha Music Awards has continued with a span of very serious divisions among artists and music fanatics, having been on halt for nearly 3 years, the Award show was expected to come back as bigger and better. But so much to the contrary. It is not reflecting or representing the true nature of the Zambian music.
As earlier reported, the confusion started with the nominations as some artists were left out some of the categories and hence felt they were not well represented and eventually had to withdraw from the Awards, and also voiced out their views which were backed by their fans and fellow musicians.
One of those artists who came out was Jae Cash whose album ‘’Chawama John Howard’’ was left out in the category of best albums, AOY. Though after being nominated in other categories, Cash felt there was no reason for the album not to be there, whether it would have won or not.
Other artists to follow that path was JEMAX and DRIMZ who also withdrew in their respective categories stating that the nominations were not properly carried out.
But the blow came when some fans decided to show Yo Maps what they term as ‘’Discipline’’ by a Social Media campaign movement called as the Disciplinary Committee. This came in when alleged that Yo Maps’ wife, Kidist Kifle interferes with his work and that she allegedly insulted his fans. So the said ‘’committee’’ stood in numbers to discipline Yo Maps by diverting their votes to Chile One Mr Zambia, whom they claim is more humble than Yo Maps .
This brought Chile One at the center of attention, which seemed that some fans paved a simple way for him to scoop 5 awards at the show. Song of the year, best mainstream, best Copperbelt artist, best male up-comer and best Afro fusion Awards beating all big artist who have been on the scene for a time now including Yo Maps who have great songs in the mainstream and this shows that the wins are not the true reflection of the Zambian industry.
This sparked some debates, with some artists failing to come out in the open to air their views where they think these awards were not well thought out.
The biggest question others are asking is how Chile One can win best artist from the copperplate against Y Celeb who has been arguably the best artist from that province.
It seems like the organizers of the Kwacha Music Awards acted on people’s emotions rather than looking at who really deserved the awards at the end of the day as Paul Kruz has put it. If the awards are meant to push artists to put in their best, the winning pattern did not reflect that and so puts it in a shaky situation where art is now taken for granted and we will not be seeing more quality in the music but quantity that will not be certified.
Paul Kruz writes
On merit Chile One deserved 1 award, he doesn’t have a song bigger than Tidwale, Msimbi and Ama lebanese. He doesn’t have any song bigger than any of Yo Maps songs but as long as you reward people based on Facebook trends and emotions, you end up rewarding mediocrity. Don’t get me wrong Chile One is a good artist but him beating Yo Maps, Y-Celeb, Roberto, Chanda Na Kay, Aqualaskin/Ama lebanese guy is absurd.
Yo Maps deserved at least 4 awards last night but whoever was the final say replaced his name with Chile 1 and i hope Chile One realizes that he didnt deserve 4 of those awards and instead gets to work.
And while you are doing this to Yo Maps in the name of discipline, watch his trajectory closely he is about to be Zeds biggest Export and most of you will wish you treated him with the respect he deserves. NIPANO TULI!!
Surely in the next chapter, it can be hypothesized that will see a drop in artist participation as clearly seen that some artist feel threatened to speak out in fear that the so called Disciplinary committee will retaliate and take action against the artist. This will create a ripple effect where the Award Show will be wrongly influenced in the future.
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