Radio calls Jay-Z local and himself international at AFRIMA conference

May 23, 2015

Shortly after spitting vitriol directed at promoter Balaam during the Gudlyf concert, Radio alias Moses Ssekibogo of the Gudlyf Radio-Weasel duo fired at Ugandan musicians for being ignorant and having pointless greed during the All Africa Music Awards conference at Hotel Afric

By Solomon Muleyi

Shortly after spitting vitriol directed at promoter Balaam during the Gudlyf concert, Radio alias Moses Ssekibogo of the Gudlyf Radio-Weasel duo fired at Ugandan musicians for being ignorant and having pointless greed during the All Africa Music Awards conference at Hotel Africana earlier this week.


His plight was that; rather than cry foul, a stance that exposes their dirty linen to the International market, the local musicians should instead focus on correcting their mistakes from inside as opposed to telling the world about their problems.

"The AFRIMA guys have come here to help promote Uganda's music to the international level but rather than help them help us, we are instead bombarding them with aimless questions." queried Radio.

He then pointed out that not many of the local musicians present at the conference could express themselves in the queen's language the way he does, another dart at braggadocio that sent the audience (musicians, producers, promoters, journalists and other stake holders in Ugandas music industry that were available at the Afrima conference) in Rwitz room a Africana ablaze with laughter.


The AFRIMA committee during the conference

What he voiced was, however, a sound argument. As, rather than ask the All Africa Musical Awards officials how best they could embrace the awards especially in the direction of promoting their music, most of them were instead critical.  

A certain musician even asked how he could earn from his music videos being hoisted on the AFRIMA website for nomination.

And like that, he became the umpteenth recipient of the explanation that the music hoisted on the website would be for the purpose of nomination and that they weren't making money off it.  

Radio, perhaps went overboard when he found it plausible to mention boisterously, how he owns one of the Afrima awards unlike any of the Ugandan musicians in the room.  

But it held a lot of inspiration when he said that when he and his counterpart, Weasel Mayanja, were called at the BET award ceremony, they were deemed international and the famous American rapper Jay-Z, local.

He was not the only one with the dramatically executed speech. Another upcoming artist refused to communicate in English but rather, ordered for a translator. Only, his speech was punctuated by a series of reiterations of arguments that had already been fronted.
Cindy would also later drop a sensible word or three, commending the Afrima officials for bringing the awards on ground.

The conference was held to discuss how Ugandan Musicians could get nominated for the All Africa Music Awards and be a part of the many African Musical artists that walk away with the Gold plaques given to the winners at the event that is held in Lagos Nigeria every year.


Musicians posing for a photo after  theAFRIMA conference

AFRIMA Regional Director, Eastern Africa, Mike Strano and AFRIMA Project Director, Adenrele Niyi received at the venue attendees which included celebrated Ugandan music artists such as: Ragga/Dancehall sensation, Nutty Neithan; Afro-pop princess, Cindy Sanyu, Folk Music star, Joel Sebunjo; Afro-soul diva, Lilian Mbabazi; R&B crooner, Michael Ross; star vocalist, Irene Ntale; Dancehall artist, Vampino; Rappers extraordinaire, Navio and The Mith and 2014 AFRIMA Winners of the Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall category, Radio & Weasel, among others.

While introducing AFRIMA, Ms. Adenrele Niyi stated that Uganda was coming under focus for the important stakeholders' conference because of the vibrant music industry.

She added that beyond awarding trophies to artistes for their creative works, "AFRIMA is very keen on engaging the people who are critical to the awards process to give them a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Without the artistes and music professionals there can be no awards to give out. The International Committee of AFRIMA will appreciate the support of the Ugandan music industry to prosecute the 2015 AFRIMA and this is why we are here today".
 

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