My PAM award nominations bet for 2007

Aug 23, 2007

NOMINATIONS for the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards 2007 by the media and artistes close this week. The nominees will be officially announced on August 29 after an audit by Ernst & Young, an audit firm of international repute.

NOMINATIONS for the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards 2007 by the media and artistes close this week. The nominees will be officially announced on August 29 after an audit by Ernst & Young, an audit firm of international repute. Jude Katende predicts prospective contenders

Lady Luck seemed to have shone bright on the new artistes this year. With runaway successes such as Manzi Wa Nani, Mazongoto, Kambeere Naawe, the likes of Clever J, Dr. Hilderman and Sarah Zawedde look set to carry the day at this year’s PAM Awards in November.

In a similar realm are artistes like Ronnie Banton (Kawuna and Tonywa Novuga), Toolman (Kisumuluzo) and Felippe (Without You/Magara Ganje). Ignored for a long time, Sophia Nantongo’s (Amaggwa) prospects of winning that glass accolade finally look bright.

The categories under which the artistes will be nominated are:

Best Hip Hop Act / Single
Last year’s Best Hip hop contenders BSG Labong, Lyrical G and Rocky Giant could bounce back.

Rocky Giant and Lyrical G’s collaboration on Kazannyo is a clever bet for both single and group categories.

Others are Bella’s Dodo, Jose Chameleone and Prof. Jay’s Sivyo Ndiviyo as well as the UTAKE Anthem, a collaboration between Uganda’s hip-hop aficionado Babaluku, Tanzania’s Bongo Flava star AY and Kenya’s Jua Cali.

Best Afro Beat Act/Single
Sweet Kid has Kiba Kibi, a duet with Bebe Cool. The latter also has Bafudde, a possible contender here.

However, Bobi Wine is still a firm favourite with his Kiwani, Kicommando and Abalungi Balumya.

Others are The Dream Girls with Weekend and Jiggy, Shana with Maisha ni Fupi, Qute Kaye’s Sibwendowoza together with two duets Gyetwasokela (featuring Priscilla Kalibala) and Osindise Asitamye (featuring Iryn).

Others are Ngoni’s Mimi na Wewe featuring Tanzania’s AY), Chagga, Sophia Nantongo, Doreen Mutibwa and Catherine Kusaasira.

Best Gospel Artiste/Single
Judith Babirye, Father Anthony Musaala, Wilson Bugembe and Juliana Kanyomozi’s Kanyimbe can comfortably compete for the single slot.

Best Cultural artiste/ group
Annet Nandujja & The Planets are favourites.

Best Folk Pop artiste/group
Richard Kaweesa may appear here.

Best Kadongo Kamu single and artiste/group
Last year’s contenders were Mathias Walukaga, Abdu Mulaasi, Paulo Kafeero and Fred Sebatta. With no major releases, Walukaga might again take both slots.

Best Ragga artiste/group
Ragga Dee and Bobi Wine could bounce back alongside Bella with Dodo which can also make it to Hip hop.

Best Reggae artiste/group
Kid Fox, who was nominated at Kenya’s Kisima Awards, may appear here. Other sure bets are Madoxx Ssematimba, Sweet Kid and Bebe Cool.

Best R&B single
Juliana Kanyomozi, Blu*3 with Burrn, Ndibera Nawe and Sanyuka Nawe should be strong contenders alongside Felippe with Without You/Magara Ganje. However, Michael Ross’s Yooyo could be favourite.

Best Live band
Last year’s nominees were Bantu’s band, Jeckacki Band, Eagle’s band, and Afrigo band. With no serious competition in bands, all could bounce back although Jeckacki and Eagles are better bets.

However, apart from Afrigo, the rest of these bands hardly play any live instruments when recording save for the saxophone. They synthesise the sound in studio. They are only considered because they perform their songs live.

Best Live band single
New songs from Ronald Mayinja, Sophia Nantongo and Haruna Mubiru’s popular hit Yeggwe, are serious contenders here.

Northern artiste of the year
This year, BSG Labong, Bosmic Otim, Grace Atim, Brazen Rule, Muddy Ranks, Gibo Mambo could be favourites if their performances at the regional launches are anything to go by. Others are DJ Languna and Dogman.

Western artiste of the year
Lady Mariam, Felippe, Moses Kigambo, Agatha Kafooko and Emily Mwebaze.

Eastern artiste of the year
Kalikwan and Eng. Kateregga are favourites.

Best Female artiste
Iryn Namubiru, who won the category last year, may bounce back but with strong competition from Juliana, Nantongo and Zawedde.

Best male artiste
Last year’s winner Bobi Wine may bounce back, competing with Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone, Ragga Dee, Dr. Hilderman, Ronald Mayinja. However my bet is on Bobi Wine and Mayinja.

Artiste of the year
2007 could have Wine as favourite alongside Mayinja, Bebe Cool and Sophia Nantongo.

Song of the year
Bobi Wine’s Kiwani is favourite. Others are Mazongoto, Africa, Yeggwe and Gwogye Mukyalo.

Video of the year
Serious contenders are Kannyimbe (Juliana), Sivyo Ndivyo (Chameleone), Welaga Ki? (Grace), Burrn (Blu*3), Uganda Tanzania Kenya (UTAKE anthem) (Babaluku, AY& Jua Cali), Abalungi Balumya (Bobi Wine and Nubian Li), Mazongoto (Dr.Hilderman), Nimechoka (Kid Fox), Kiba Kibi (Sweet Kid and Bebe Cool).

Best New Artiste
The Dream Galz, along with Dr. Hilderman, Toolman, Ronnie Banton, Felippe, Zawedde, Nantongo, Clever J and Kid Fox may appear here.

Audio producer of the year
Henry Kiwuuwa who produced Iryn’s Newaddeyo and Empisa Zo as well as Juliana’s Kibaluma and Toolman’s Kisumuluzo is a serious contender.

Other producers are Travis Kazibwe who produced Haruna Mubiru’s Yeggwe, Aydee & Pato of Ngoni who produced Michael Ross’s Yooyo and Sarah Zawedde’s Kambeere Naawe.

Others are Tony Houls (Kiwani, Abalungi Balumya), Allan Okia and Washington Ebangit (Sweet Kid & Bebe Cool’s Kiba Kibi), Washington Ebangit (Bafudde, Prison and Kamungoolo co-produced with Deno), Steve Jean (Blu*3’s Sanyuka Nawe, Ndibeera Naawe, Burrn, Juliana’s Kannyimbe), Clever J (Manzi wa Nani), and Henry “Kiwa” Nsereko (Mutima Gwange by Chagga).

Songwriters
Last year’s nominees Mr. Saxess, Steve Jean, Titi Tabel, Sylver Kyagulanyi, could easily swing back in 2007. Others are Dennis Rackla and Oscar Muwonge.

Lifetime Achievement award
The winner is chosen by the judges but fallen Kadongo kamu artiste, Paulo Kafeero might win since he is fresh in people’s minds.

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