Botswana artists lose at AFRIMMA
Sharon Mathala | Tuesday October 13, 2015 18:00
He scooped the transformational leader award, whilst local big shot Odirile ‘Vee’ Sento, songbird Samantha Mogwe, Hip-Hop star Game ‘Zeus’ Bantsi and jazzwoman Punah Gabasine-Molale returned home empty-handed.
Vee was nominated for the best male (Southern Africa) award, and was up against big names such as AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Stunner, Donald and another local, Zeus.
This award, however, went to AKA. Back home, Vee will contest for best kwaito/kwasa album as well as for best male artist at the coming Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Awards. Punah also lost in the best female (Southern Africa) category. She, however, did not attend the event in Dallas, as she recently return to Botswana from a world tour.
She was spotted at last week’s BOMU nominees’ announcement where she learnt of her nominations in at least two categories, best jazz album and best-packaged album.
AFRIMMAs were hosted by Nigeria’s BasketMouth along side Uganda’s own comedienne, Anne Kansiime.
AFRIMMA awards cater for all music genres including but not limited to Afrobeats, Assiko, Bongo, Decale, Funana, Genge, Highlife, Kwaito, Lingala and Soukous.
The awards are said to create a platform to promote the diversity of African music. This year marked the second edition of the African awards. Showbiz caught up with Vee, who is still in the USA: “We did not win anything, but we are still winners.
The atmosphere here is good and inspiring, it is a great opportunity for us to meet other artist from Africa and come up with possible collaborations, and also learn from each other”.
Best Male (Southern Africa) – AKA
Best Male (East Africa) – Diamond Platnumz
Best Male (Central Africa) – Yuri Da Cunha
Best Male (West Africa) – Davido
Best Female (East Africa) – Vanessa Mdee
Best Female (West Africa) – Yemi Alade
AFRIMMA Inspirational Song – Bracket feat. Tiwa Savage and Diamond Platnumz for ‘Alive’
Best DJ (US) – DJ Simplesimon
Best Newcomer – Ommy Dimpoz
Best Collaboration – AKA feat. Da Les and Burna Boy for ‘All Eyes on Me’
Best Dance Video – Diamond Platnumz for ‘Nana’
Best Video – Wizkid for ‘Ojuelegba’
Artist of the Year – Diamond Platnumz
Legendary Award – Yossou N’Dou