BLU*3 reveal dream after Kisima Awards
Jul 15, 2005
UGANDA’S Coca-cola popstars, BLU*3, recently won the Kisima Awards for Best Ugandan video and Best group/artiste of the year in Kenya. Three days later, they were invited to Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Awards, where they had been nominated for Best East African Group/artiste of the year.
UGANDA’S Coca-cola popstars, BLU*3, recently won the Kisima Awards for Best Ugandan video and Best group/artiste of the year in Kenya. Three days later, they were invited to Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Awards, where they had been nominated for Best East African Group/artiste of the year. Raphael Okello spoke to them about their experiences.
QUESTION: You won Best Video and Artiste/Group of the year during last week’s Kisima Awards. Did you expect to win anything?
Cinderella: No. We thought we would just perform and stay at the function for a few minutes so that it doesn’t look so bad or like we wanted to leave and go to sleep.
Didn’t you also expect to win during the PAM Awards last year?
Jacky: Not really. Well, it was nice just being nominated. But there is something I didn’t understand. Someone might misunderstand me for this, but for best video we expected to at least be close. If it wasn’t (Chameleone’s) Jamila, I expected our Frisky to take it, not (East World’s) Foda!
Q: It sounds like you guys have beef with the Foda Boys.
Jacky: No! Sincerely, people can bare witness. I mean if we are talking about quality of pictures and creativity not graduation ceremony videos, Jamila was first priority then Frisky.
Lillian: I am sure those guys (East World) were also surprised to take it.
Q: You were nominated for five different categories at last year’s PAM Awards, but walked away with nothing. Why do you think you did not win anything?
Jacky: There was a way in which we didn’t measure up to what the people wanted. We just let it (PAM Awards) go. We had to go back to the studios and figure out another way to produce songs that will be acceptable to Ugandans. Frisky was good, but we were too urban.
Q: So, do you expect to win anything at this year’s PAM Awards?
Jacky: With PAM awards, you cannot be sure because it is people who vote. I think this time round BLU*3 has been much more accepted with Hitaji and Kanchachanche. So, we have to wait and see.
Q: Have the Kisima Awards and Kilimanjaro nominations made any difference in your lives?
Cinderella: I do not know about the others but the audience’s reaction and the awards encouraged me. When you get an award, you know you are being appreciated and you get inspired to do something else.
Lillian: Everywhere we went people recognised us. Most of them asked us to give them our best. It felt very gratifying to know that we are accepted throughout East Africa.
Q: Where do you think are the majority of your fans?
Jacky: I don’t know. We have been accepted in Uganda, but we were performing for the first time in Tanzania and Kenya. That could explain why the crowds were excited about us. So, it is difficult to say.
Q: Sema and Wakilisha (Coca Cola Popstars) of Kenya and Tanzania broke up. Some Ugandans expect you to break up. What do you think?
Lillian: BLU*3 is strong. We cannot predict the future, but we hope to stay together.
Cinderella: The papers said one of us is pregnant and would quit.
Lillian: I am not pregnant. People should know that I have never been pregnant and I am not about to quit the group. Cinderella: Fans should also know that I do not smoke. I go out these days and someone offers me a cigarette!
QUESTION: You won Best Video and Artiste/Group of the year during last week’s Kisima Awards. Did you expect to win anything?
Cinderella: No. We thought we would just perform and stay at the function for a few minutes so that it doesn’t look so bad or like we wanted to leave and go to sleep.
Didn’t you also expect to win during the PAM Awards last year?
Jacky: Not really. Well, it was nice just being nominated. But there is something I didn’t understand. Someone might misunderstand me for this, but for best video we expected to at least be close. If it wasn’t (Chameleone’s) Jamila, I expected our Frisky to take it, not (East World’s) Foda!
Q: It sounds like you guys have beef with the Foda Boys.
Jacky: No! Sincerely, people can bare witness. I mean if we are talking about quality of pictures and creativity not graduation ceremony videos, Jamila was first priority then Frisky.
Lillian: I am sure those guys (East World) were also surprised to take it.
Q: You were nominated for five different categories at last year’s PAM Awards, but walked away with nothing. Why do you think you did not win anything?
Jacky: There was a way in which we didn’t measure up to what the people wanted. We just let it (PAM Awards) go. We had to go back to the studios and figure out another way to produce songs that will be acceptable to Ugandans. Frisky was good, but we were too urban.
Q: So, do you expect to win anything at this year’s PAM Awards?
Jacky: With PAM awards, you cannot be sure because it is people who vote. I think this time round BLU*3 has been much more accepted with Hitaji and Kanchachanche. So, we have to wait and see.
Q: Have the Kisima Awards and Kilimanjaro nominations made any difference in your lives?
Cinderella: I do not know about the others but the audience’s reaction and the awards encouraged me. When you get an award, you know you are being appreciated and you get inspired to do something else.
Lillian: Everywhere we went people recognised us. Most of them asked us to give them our best. It felt very gratifying to know that we are accepted throughout East Africa.
Q: Where do you think are the majority of your fans?
Jacky: I don’t know. We have been accepted in Uganda, but we were performing for the first time in Tanzania and Kenya. That could explain why the crowds were excited about us. So, it is difficult to say.
Q: Sema and Wakilisha (Coca Cola Popstars) of Kenya and Tanzania broke up. Some Ugandans expect you to break up. What do you think?
Lillian: BLU*3 is strong. We cannot predict the future, but we hope to stay together.
Cinderella: The papers said one of us is pregnant and would quit.
Lillian: I am not pregnant. People should know that I have never been pregnant and I am not about to quit the group. Cinderella: Fans should also know that I do not smoke. I go out these days and someone offers me a cigarette!